Santa Monica Montessori School

Montessori vs. Traditional Teaching Methods

Montessori Metod Traditional Method
Emphasis is on cognitive and social development Emphasis is on social development
Teacher has unobtrusive role in classroom Teacher is center of classroom as "controller"
Environment and method encourage self­ discipline Teacher is primary enforcer of discipline
Mainly individual instruction Group and individual instruction
Mixed age grouping Same age grouping
Grouping encourages children to teach and help each other Most teaching is done by the teacher
Child chooses own work Curriculum is structured for the child
Child discovers own concepts from self teaching materials Child is guided to concepts by the teacher
Child works as long as he wishes on cho­sen project Child is generally allotted specific time for work
Child sets own learning pace Instruction pace is usually set by group norm
Child spots own errors from feedback of material If work is corrected, errors usually are pointed out by the teacher
Child reinforces own learning by repetition of work and internal feelings of success Learning is reinforced externally by repetition and rewards
Multi-sensory materials for physical explo­ration Fewer materials for sensory develop­ment
Organized program for learning care of self and environment Less Emphasis on self-care instruction
Child can work where he chooses, move around and talk at will (yet not disturb the work of others); group work is voluntary Child usually assigned own chair: en­couraged to participate, sit still and listen during group sessions
Organized program for parents to under­stand the Montessori philosophy and partici­pate in the learning process Voluntary parent involvement
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