|
MONTESSORI |
TRADITIONAL |
| Respect for
individual differences; |
Emphasis on
conforming to the group; |
| Self-motivation and child
centered learning process; |
Emphasis on grades, punishment
or rewards as motivating factors; |
| Multi-age
grouping whereby students learn “horizontally” from observation
of other people's work, directly or indirectly, |
Students grouped
chronologically to suit teachers' pre-planned class lessons; |
| Students learn at
their own pace, free to complete a project or pursue a subject
as deeply as they wish and according to personal enthusiasm; |
Subjects are
taught in lecture form and students must change classes and
attend lessons all at the same time; |
| Students learn by
practicing their subject matters while in school with the
supervision and assistance of the teacher as needed; |
Students must
practice on their own and . be graded on "busy work" or home
work that is often done without close monitoring; |
| The classroom is
used as a library or resource room for projects and studies: the
children are free to move and tire less; |
Students work at
desks and passively sit to listen to lectures for long periods.
The work period must be interrupted . frequently; |
| Knowledge is
acquired through the use of concrete materials, scientifically
designed to enhance conceptual thinking and lead to abstraction; |
Knowledge often
consists of memorization of irrelevant information . from
abstract concepts unrelated to the child's daily experience; |
| Testing is built
into the method as the third period of the "three-period-lesson"
and is applied routinely when the individual is reader. Testing
aims at self-correction, repetition and competence. |
Scheduled testing
does not take into consideration the preparation of each
individual. Students are intimidated and taught that passing is
more important than knowing. |
The Montessori
Method