| Montessori Education |
Traditional Education |
| Emphasis on Cognitive and Social Development |
Emphasis on Rote Learning and Social Behaviour |
| Teacher has guiding role |
Teacher controls classroom |
| Environment and method encourage self-discipline |
Teacher acts as primary enforcer of discipline |
| Mainly individual instruction |
Mainly group instruction |
| Multi-age classrooms |
Single-graded classrooms |
| Grouping encourages children to teach and collaborate |
Teaching is done by teacher; collaboration is discouraged |
| Child chooses own work |
Curriculum structured for child |
| Child sets own learning pace |
Instruction pace set by group |
| Child spots own errors from feedback of material |
Errors in child’s work highlighted by teacher |
| Child reinforces own learning by repetition of work and internal feelings of success |
Learning is reinforced externally by repetition, rewards and punishment |
| Child can work where s/he chooses, move about and talk at will |
Child usually assigned seat; required to participate during group lessons |
| School meets needs of students |
Students fit mould of school |
| Special help comes to students |
Students resort outside school for special help |
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