| TRADITIONAL |
MONTESSORI |
| Child is a passive participant in learning |
Child is an active participant in learning |
| Classrooms composed of the same age group |
Classrooms composed of mixed age groups covering a three-year span |
| Students are expected to sit at assigned desks or tables |
Students choose where in the classroom they want to work and can move about freely |
| All students work on the same subject at the same time and a block of time is allotted for each subject |
Students work without interruption for a long work cycle choosing what, when, and for how long they will spend on each task. |
| Discrete subject matters |
Cross-disciplinary thought is encouraged |
| Adult centered classroom with teacher owning expert status and discipline |
Child-centered classroom with students sharing ownership of learning and discipline |
| Use of work-sheets, rote learning, and textbooks |
Use of manipulatives and materials that appeal to each age group, children encouraged to investigate primary source materials and formulate their own questions |
| Focus on end-product, test scores and grades |
Focus on process and learning for its own sake. Grades are not given. |
| Emphasis on competition |
Emphasis on collaboration |
| Teacher gives lesson to the whole class |
Small group lessons based on individual needs of students. Students are encouraged to pursue learning independently. |
| Standards based learning |
Inquiry based learning |
| Students are expected to be within the norms of what is average for their grade level. |
Students have the opportunity to advance at their own pace, without limits. |
| Main focus on academics |
Shared focus on the acquisition of academic, social, and practical life skills. |
