Montessori is a teaching method developed over 100 years ago by Dr. Maria Montessori. A comprehensive educational technique, The Montessori enviroment is made up of manipulative materials that are specially designed to engage students in the learning activities of their choice.
This method is geared towards letting the student, under the guidance of a trained teacher, make discoveries with materials, developing concentration, self-discipline, and motivation.
The method is to understand a student's natural learning tendencies as they come to light in prepared enviroments in a multi-age group setting.
Traditional Classroom | Montessori Classroom | |
| Pencil and paper,texbooks,and copies | Prepared kinesthetic matierial with an incorporated degree of error control using specially developed reference materials | |
| Working and learning without emphasis on social development | Working and learning matched to the social development of the child | |
| Narrow, unit-driven curriculum | Unified, internationally developed curriculum | |
| Individual subjects | Integrated subjects and learning based on developmental psychology | |
| Block time, period lessons | Unterrupted work cycles | |
| Single-graded classrooms | Multi-age classrooms | |
| Students passive, quiet, in desks | Students active, talking, with periods of spontaneous quiet, freedom to move | |
| Students fit mold of school | School meets needs of students | |
| Students leave for special help | Special help comes to students |
