Is a Montessori education for everyone?

Most children benefit from the Montessori Method. It is used around the world to educate children from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Maria Montessori's approach to education has been so successful that many private and public schools, as well as early childhood education centers, have adopted Montessori practices and philosophies.

Montessori	Traditional
Views the whole child's development.	Views the child in terms of achievement with an emphasis on the same curriculum for all students in the same grade level.
Child is an active participant in learning.	Child is a passive participant in learning.
Child can move freely and explore the classroom environment to encourage internal discipline. Teacher is a facilitator and guide.	Child is usually confined in their chair. Teacher has a more dominant and central role in classroom activity.
Carefully planned learning environment.	Teacher acts as a primary enforcer of external discipline.
Individual and group learning that adapts to student's learning styles and developmental levels.	Individual and group learning that adapts to the same curriculum for all students in the same grade level.
3 year span of mixed age groups that allows teachers, students and parents to develop collaborative relationships.	Same age grouping. One year cycles can limit development of strong teacher, student and parent collaboration.
Courtesy and conflict resolution are integral parts of the curriculum.	Conflict resolution taught separate from classroom dynamics.
Values concentration and uninterrupted time for focused work cycle to develop.	Values completion of assignments; time is tightly scheduled.
Child's learning pace is determined by him or her.	Instructional pace determined by curriculum for all group norm.
Child allowed to see their own errors through feedback from the materials; errors are viewed as part of the learning process.	Work is usually corrected by the teacher; errors are viewed as mistakes.
Learning reinforced internally through the child's reinforcement of repeating lessons.	Learning is reinforced externally by grades and rewards.
Care of self and environment are emphasized.	Less emphasis on self care and care of the environment.
Child can work where he/ she is comfortable, alone or in a group.	Child is usually assigned a specific work space; talking among peers is discouraged.
Multi-disciplinary, interwoven curriculum.	Curriculum areas taught separately.
Child learns to share leadership.	Hierarchical classroom structure is more prominent.
Progress is reported through multiple formats: portfolio of student's work, progress reports and conferences.	Progress is usually reported through report cards and grades.
Children are encouraged to teach, collaborate and help each other.	Most teaching is done by the teacher and collaboration is secondary.
Child is provided opportunities to choose their own work from interests and abilities.	Curriculum organized and structured for child based on care curriculum standards.
Goal is to foster a love of learning.	Goal is to master core curriculum objectives.