by Purple Doodles

Created on: February 05, 2009

The Montessori philosophy is based on the principle that the child is a self-directed individual who is capable of exploring, learning and perfecting knowledge and skills if the right conditions are provided for him. It is based on the belief that nature has laid out a certain roadmap for the early childhood phase and that every human being is born with the basic tendencies to explore, and learn. When one accepts this basic human tendency and is willing to accept the essential goodness and inevitability of nature and without qualifications or exceptions, the approach to learning and education becomes very different from what we would see in a traditional school.

When there are conceptual differences between a Montessori school and a traditional school, there are bound to be differences in the role of the teachers as well.

o In traditional schools, teachers are expected to teach. They follow lesson plans that require acquainting the student with facts, knowledge and information. Under the Montessori approach, teachers are expected to help the student discover. They follow a child's cues to determine readiness for different learning and seek to acquaint the student with the scientific bent of questioning and demonstrations that will ignite the power of the child to learn by himself.

o Another big difference in the Montessori approach is the role of parents or the caregivers. A Montessori school is not the only place where learning happens; it is an extension of the learning that happens all the time. Consequently parents and caregivers need to realize this and complement this. They need to be steeped in the Montessori approach and materials so that they are able to provide a learning environment at home that is in principle similar to the Montessori philosophy.

And there will be differences at an operational level as well. Here are some of the key differences in approachs

o Since a Montessori approach has a big role for parents as well, a Montessori school will encourage parents to come and observe their children in the school.

o A Montessori approach takes its cues from the child's evolving interest. Therefore the lesson plans are not rigidly structured. They stay flexible and adaptable to the child's evolving desires and readiness.

o Since a Montessori approach is student-led, the child has to ask for help. This encourages self-reliance. However in a traditional school, the teacher leads the way and the student follows wherever the teacher takes him.
o The primary teaching methodology in a traditional school is lectures. In a Montessori school demonstrations and guided discovery are the primary modes of education.

o Unlike in a traditional school where the child has to abide by a series of rules within the school community that are enforced in a matter of discipline, in a Montessori approach, expectations to children are set through a series of suggestions and explanations as to why certain things have to be done.

o A Montessori school will not imply pressure on the student to do things according to a pre-determined schedule. The child sets his own pace. A traditional school creates an environment of compliance, by judging each student against the rest of the pack.

A Montessori school environment truly removes the baggage of pedagogy and looks at the child and his learning environment through a fresh pair of

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