There are a few key features that differentiate a Montessori environment from a traditional classroom:
Mixed Age Groups
Rather than grouping children according to their year of birth, the Montessori environment groups children within their distinct phases of development (planes), which span over three years each.
This means that children of 3-6 or 9-12 years will be in the same environment. This not only simulates the “real world”, but also creates opportunities for peer learning and leadership – older children love helping their younger counterparts!
Freedom of choice within a highly structured learning environment
One of the hallmarks of Montessori education is promoting independence and self-direction within clear boundaries. Children have a choice between different activities and materials (never a choice not to do an activity!) and can engage with these at their own pace.
Uninterrupted 3-hour work cycles
When children are engaged and absorbed with an activity, they seldom want to be disturbed to move quickly to an unrelated subject. An uninterrupted 3-hour work cycle allows children to learn at their own pace and grasp a deep understanding of the concept that they are trying to learn. We seldom find “bored” children, as those who work faster can choose a new activity and those who need more time are afforded the opportunity to do so.
Teachers who direct and guide rather than lecture
We refer to our teachers as Guides due to the nature of them being facilitators of learning rather than imparters of content. Guides will do short presentations to introduce a new material or concept, and then observe the child or group engage with the activity and monitor progress, redirecting where necessary. The teaching style is characterized by constant monitoring and record-keeping as children progress to master a concept. Learning is differentiated according to the needs of students and may include peer-to-peer learning as well.
Montessori vs Mainstream Education | An Educational Comparison
Used with written permission from the Association Montessori Internationale / USA