Montessori or Traditional Child Care?

Choice and freedom are an integral part of the Montessori classroom. There is generally a three-hour work cycle in which each child may choose his own work and is allowed to concentrate, uninterrupted, until he is satisfied. The children are free to move about the classroom, talk to peers, and collaborate with one another.

The older children in the classrooms share their knowledge with the younger ones, reinforcing their knowledge and teaching them leadership. The younger children are inspired by the things the older children can do and strive to grow to that level themselves.

Competition is minimized because every student is not expected to have reached the exact level of learning as their peers. Each child moves at his own pace.

This closely simulates the real life experiences that we have in families, work environments, and other social settings. The children learn to socialize and communicate with a diverse group of people.

A Montessori teacher is simply a guide stepping in when they see a child is "stuck" or ready to learn a new skill. In a Montessori environment the focus is on the students not the teacher. This allows the children to learn independently, with the guidance and support of a teacher whose primary focus is observing how a child learns, and tapping into those styles and approaches that work best for the child.

In most traditional preschools the children are taught educational concepts in a group by a teacher. The Montessori education philosophy emphasizes the development of a child at the cognitive, social, and emotional level. Children learn on their own, at a pace they are comfortable with, and work with a large number of educational materials according to their own choice. Because of this, learning becomes an exciting process for them which lead to concentration, motivation, and self-discipline. The love for learning comes naturally to them. The materials are self-correcting, allowing the children to concentrate on their work until they are satisfied with their completion of the process.

The Montessori method of education is designed to support different learning styles, helping students learn to learn or study in a way that is effective for them. Students progress as they master new skills, building on their experiences and moving ahead as quickly as they are ready. The children move through a logical progression from the initial lesson to repetition with help or input from the teacher, to independence and mastery. The teacher keeps records of where the child is in this process, looking for signs of mastery and readiness to proceed. An inventory of the lessons and projects completed by each student is reviewed frequently.

Rarely are "grades" or "report cards" used in a Montessori setting. Instead, progress along a continuum of learning is measured.

Individual progress is a key to Montessori education. Therefore, individual assistance is seamlessly built in to the learning environment. Children are not singled out if they need assistance in one area, they are simply provided that extra attention in the comfort of their classroom. If special help is needed that is beyond the teacher's scope, specialists are also integrated into the classroom and work closely with the teacher and family.