Traditional schools are based on the “factory” model. Children are told what to do, when to do it, and all are expected to produce results within a narrow range of acceptability to earn a good grade. The Montessori philosophy is the result of endless hours of observation and study on the best ways of learning for a child at the appropriate time. Therefore the environment is very different from a traditional school.
In a Montessori school, children base their learning on the Montessori materials and tasks designed by their teacher rather than learning from coursebooks. The learning is based on work periods of up to three hours and not the traditional system of forty-five minute lessons with short breaks.
Overall approach:
Traditional Schools:
- Emphasis placed on rote learning
- Emphasis placed on rote social behavior
- Primarily group instruction
- Same age children
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Montessori Schools:
- Emphasis placed on cognition
- Emphasis placed on social relationship formation
- Primarily individual instruction
- Mixed age children
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Learning:
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Traditional Schools:
- Specific time allotted on projects
- Learning pace set by group
- External reinforcement of learning success
- Rewards and punishments
- Normally assigned a specific location in class
- Group participation required
- Self-care left to parents
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Montessori Schools:
- Child is allocated time to complete lessons
- Learning pace set by individual student
- Internal reinforcement of learning success
- Personal feelings of progress or lack of it
- Child is free to work in the classroom
- Group participation elective
- Method for self-care learned by sensory materials
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The role of the teacher:
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Traditional Schools:
- Teacher instructs child on concepts
- Teaching is conducted by teacher
- Teacher assigns work
- Teacher highlights child’s errors
- Teacher controls the classroom
- Teacher is the only disciplinarian
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Montessori Schools:
- Self-teaching materials help child learn concepts
- Teacher encourages collaboration with teaching
- Child chooses their own work
- Child discovers errors
- Teacher acts as guide or director of classroom
- Environment and method promote self-disciplin
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