| Montessori |
Other |
| 1. Active individualized learning through stimulating, multi-sensory teaching
materials |
1. Passive class learning through teacher-centered class lessons,
paper work. |
| 2. Multiage class in a natural social environment that includes a wide range
of ages and fosters self-motivation. Students work for their own sense of
accomplishment. |
2. Chronological grouping necessitates external rewards such as grades,
competition and social conformity. |
| 3. Freedom of choice involves decision making. Students select work and move at
their optimal pace. |
3. Class curriculum demands that students cover the same work at the same time with no regard
for individual ability. |
| 4. Individualized program allows each child to work independent of the class. |
4. Group learning involves subject being taught to the entire group. Students are affected by
the progress of the class. |
| 5. Balances academic work with freedom of movement |
5. Periods of intense effort are alternated with periods of physical activity. |
| 6. Interrelation between subjects |
6. Subjects are not interrelated. |
| 7. Independence is fostered by activities that encourage independence. |
7. Dependence is promoted since all activities are initiated by the teacher. |
| 8. Self-evaluation occurs as students learn to evaluate their work objectively through the
use of self-correcting teaching materials and individual work with the teacher. |
8. Class comparison occurs as work is evaluated and graded by the teacher. Students
evaluate themselves against the best and worst in class. |
| 9. Class-student-teacher interaction enables complete and precise evaluation of student’s
progress academically and socially. |
9. Class oriented teaching prevents close interaction between individual students and
teacher. Standardized tests necessary to determine student’s progress. |
| 10. Reality oriented education maintains concrete first-hand experience as the basis
for abstraction. |
10. Abstract education has students learn through mechanical memorization. |