Montessori & Traditional Education

Based on the transfer of a national curriculum

Children learn at their own pace, following their own individual interests. The teacher is unobtrusive

Child is an active participant in learning

Understanding comes through the child’s own experiences via the concrete materials and the promotion of children’s ability to find things out for themselves

Learning is based on the fact that children learn through experience with their senses and movement

Child can work where s/he is comfortable, move around and talk at will as long as not disturbing others

The teacher works in collaboration with the children

The child’s individual development brings its own reward and motivation

Children reinforce their own learning by repetition of work and internal feelings of success

Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline

Child works as long as s/he wishes on a chosen project in an uninterrupted work cycle.

Mixed age classes

Working and learning matched to the social development of the child

Shared emphasis on intellectual, social , emotional and spiritual development

Based on helping the natural development of the human being

Children learn from a set curriculum according to a time frame that is the same for everyone

Child is a passive participant in learning

Learning is based on subjects and is limited to what is given

Children sit at desks and learn from a whiteboard and worksheets thus, not truly experiencing concepts.

Child is usually assigned own chair and encouraged to sit still and listen during group sessions

The class is led by the teacher

Motivation is achieved by a system of reward and punishment

Learning is reinforced externally by rewards.

Teacher acts as primary enforcer of discipline

Child generally given specific time for work in a set timetable.

Same age classes

Working and learning without emphasis on the social development of the child

Main emphasis on intellectual development.