Traditional vs Montessori School
Traditional Classroom
Single age classroom
Students passive, quiet
Expectation that the child must follow the norm
Block time, period lessons. Work according to a set schedule
Teacher centered Teacher provides the help Teacher provides discipline Teacher structures what Needs to be learned & when Teacher sets curriculum
Teacher motivated. Teacher corrects errors
Working and learning w/o emphasis on soc. Dev.
Children are expected to work in groups
Student fit mold of school expectation that the student must follow the norm. Textbooks Pencil and paper worksheets and dittos. Product focused report cards
Montessori Classroom
Multi aged Classroom
Students active, talking with periods of spontaneous quiet. Freedom to move
Recognition of the individual’s developmental needs & interest
Uninterrupted work cycles. Work for joy of working and Sense of discovery. Few interuptions
Child centered learning envir. Children help & teach one another Envir. Provides the discipline Child provides own stimulus to learning
Children choose materials and subjects From interest
Motivated by self development. Self-correcting materials
Working and learning matched to the Social dev. Of the child
Children may choose to work individually
School meets the needs of children. Recognition of the individual's devevelopmental needs. Prepared kinesthetic materials with incorporated control of error specifically developmental reference materials. Process focused assessment, skills checklists, mastery, benchmarks