Your child is unique and their education should be too. Here is what makes Montessori education so special…
| Montessori Approach to Education | Mainstream Education |
|---|---|
| Highly individualized (meets the child’s unique needs) | “One size fits all” learning |
| Flexible Curriculum (based on child’s interests) | Rigid Curriculum |
| Child learns at his/her own pace | Child is forced to learn at the same pace as the rest of the class |
| Child has the freedom to choose their own work | Teacher chooses the work that the children do and when they do it |
| Child has the freedom to explore and learn on their own (child is their own teacher) | Child receives “constant guidance” from his/her teacher |
| Materials are self- correcting, encouraging independence | Teacher corrects the child (child must depend on adult) |
| Emphasis on developing the child’s whole personality (social, emotional, physical development) | Emphasis on strictly developing the child’s intellectual knowledge |
| Child is free to move around the classroom environment | Movement around the classroom is strongly discouraged (child must stay at their desk all day) |
Source: Ithaka Montessori Children’s House. (n.d.). Montessori vs preschool.