Do you know that there are differences between Montessori and traditional preschool education?

If you are new to Montessori education, this may sound very strange to you.

Below are few things that differentiate Montessori from the traditional preschool education.

Timing

In Montessori classrooms, the teachers try as much as possible to avoid interruptions to the workings of the children’s minds. This means that students spend as much time as they need on each activity. In traditional classrooms however, there is a schedule and therefore a time is set for each activity even if one child needs more time than another.

Classrooms

All Montessori based classrooms are prepared with the knowledge of the needs of each student. They include student-centered lessons and activities. Traditional classrooms are based on teacher-centered lessons or activities.

Lessons

Montessori lessons are also extremely active and hands-on, forcing children to solve problems and learn for themselves. On the other hand, more traditional pre-schools mostly teach in a way which means the students to learn more passively by listening, memorising and repeating information.

Teachers

Traditional preschool teachers follow a curriculum or a predetermined order for lessons whiles

Montessori teachers aim to guide children through activities, rather than dictate what should or shouldn’t be done.

Also whiles traditional schools set the same tasks for each child regardless of his or her learning style.

Montessori teachers follow the individual learning path and needs of each child.

Pace

Montessorians respect and even encourage a child to go at their own pace with each activity. In traditional classrooms, it is often expected that all children will complete each activity at the same pace, or stop doing it if not finished within the time allocated.

Self-confidence

In the Montessori classroom, teachers aim to help children to foster good self-esteem by understanding that they will only gain this kind of pride through their own accomplishments. Traditional preschools seem to focus more on external validation through praise from teachers or tests.

Learning

The attitude towards learning differs greatly too. The Montessori curriculum is designed to nurture a passion for learning from the student, wherein they teach themselves to love learning itself. Traditional schools have a curriculum which is all based around standardised testing processes and performance levels.

Effectiveness

Maria Montessori created the alternative educational method after thoroughly studying the ways children learn most effectively. Traditional education has shown little progress and is based on a structure which has always been a certain way.

Summary

The table below gives a summary of how Montessori education differs from traditional education.