Montessori Method v/s Traditional Method
Method Traditional Approach | |
Emphasis on cognitive and social development | Emphasis on social development |
Teacher has unobtrusive role in classroom | Teacher is center of classroom as “controller” |
Environment and method encourage self-discipline | Teacher enforces 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 done by teach |
Child works as long as he wishes on chosen project | Child generally allotted specific time for work |
Child sets own learning pace | Instruction pace usually set by group |
Child spots own errors from feedback on material | If work is corrected, errors usually pointed out by teacher |
Child reinforces learning by repetition and feelings of success | Learning is reinforced externally by repetition and rewards |
Organized program for learning care of self and environment (polishing shoes, cleaning the sink, etc.) | Less emphasis on self-care instruction |
Child can work where he chooses (yet not disturb work of others); group work is also encouraged | Less emphasis on self-care instruction |
