Montessori Approach to Education
-highly individualized (meets the child's unique needs)
- flexible curriculum (based on child's interests)
- child learns at their own pace
- child has the freedom to choose their work
- child has the freedom to explore and learn on their own (child is the teacher)
- materials are self-correcting, encouraging independence
- emphasis on developing the child's whole personality (social, emotional, physical development)
- child is free to move around the classroom environment
Source: Ithaka Montessori Children’s House. (n.d.). Montessori vs preschool.
Mainstream Approach to Education
- "one size fits all" learning
- rigid curriculum
- child is forced to learn at the same pace as the rest of the class
- teacher chooses the work that the children do and when they do it
-child receives "constant guidance" from his/her teacher
- teacher corrects the child (child must depend on the adult)
- emphasis on strictly developing the child's intellectual knowledge
- movement around the classroom is strongly discouraged (child must sit at a desk all day)