As a parent, you know that the first five years are 

the most formative
years of your child’s life. When it comes to choosing a preschool, many
moms and dads analyze all the available data believing that the wrong
choice will ruin Billy’s or Susie’s futures. The anxiety is definitely there—
but it doesn’t have to be! Research indicates that children in Montessori
programs have better academic outcomes. Besides just the research,
we want you to comprehensively understand the differences between a
“normal” teacher-led education and a Montessori one.
1. Montessori Is Child-Centered Education
The Montessori philosophy’s greatest difference is its emphasis on being
child-centered. What does that mean? Children all develop at different
paces, and they have different strengths and interests. While in a
traditional education every child in the class must follow one path set out
by the teacher, a Montessori education follows the individual child’s
interests using observation. Read more about this in number four.
2. The Curriculum Is Adaptable
Each child is different. Montessori schools’ flexible curriculum reflects
this fact by allowing each child to go at his or her own pace. Each age
range (0-3 years, 3-6, 6-9, etc.) has a distinct learning objective that
each student is guided toward. Students can choose what lesson they
want to learn, and teachers observe students over time to gauge their
progress. By contrast, traditional curriculum involves a singular pathway
that all students must follow.

3. Organized Décor Calms the Montessori Classroom

In the Montessori preschool classroom, the room is divided into five
subject areas: Practical Life, Language, Mathematics, Sensorial
Development, and Culture & Sciences. The classroom is organized and
uncluttered to avoid distraction and emphasize that this is a learning
space. While traditional classrooms use bright colors, posters, and
decorations to try and excite children, Montessori classrooms aim to
stimulate children’s minds with quality lessons.
4. Montessori Teachers Follow the Children
Rather than preparing a child for the classroom, teachers prepare the
classroom for the child. By observing children and taking note of their
interests and levels of understanding, Montessori teachers unveil the
unique potential in every child. They keep record of improvements,
readiness, and subject interests so that they may draw on the
information later when preparing the curriculum for the day.

5. Respect & Mindfulness Are Modeled

Teaching children manners and values involves so much more than just
teaching them to say “please” and “thank you.” Montessori teachers
know that children are always watching them, so they model good
behavior to inspire it in their students. Adults in the Montessori
philosophy must always act as they want the children to act—respectful
and mindful of others’ feelings. Besides modeling good behavior,
Montessori teachers also discuss children’s feelings to develop their
emotional intelligence. They ask questions that help children learn
compassion and empathy. Simply put, “thank you” and “I’m sorry” are
not enough for a Montessori child. They must also understand the
sincerity behind those words.

6. Montessori Benefits Children with ADHD or

Children on the Autism Spectrum
Children with ADHD or children on the autism spectrum thrive in
environments with set schedules. Fortunately, while the Montessori
curriculum is adaptable, the everyday routine is fairly consistent. Like we
mentioned above, the Montessori classroom is more organized and has
less distractions than the typical American preschool classroom.
Children on the spectrum or with ADHD also benefit from the Montessori
philosophy of modeling behavior. Because empathy and social skills are
a part of the de facto curriculum, children with autism will be better
prepared to interact in social settings.

7. Outdoor Time Is for Learning, Too!

In traditional schools, outdoor time is called “recess” because it is a
break from lessons. In the Montessori environment, however, learning
should be enjoyable in itself. Rather than seeing outdoor time as an
escape from learning, Montessori children will see it as an extension of
the classroom. Gardening, outdoor reading areas, and sensory math
materials are just a few of the enriching and educational activities
children can enjoy outdoors.

8. The Lessons Are Hands-On

Rather than sitting passively during lessons, students take an active role
in their education. They have the responsibility to approach the subjects
they are interested in, so, by design, they are extremely engaged in the
lessons. With Montessori preschool classes, the lessons often consist of
physical materials—children can literally be “hands-on” with math and
language skills.

9. Interruptions Are Minimal

Because Montessori teachers model respect, they respect a child’s
concentration. If a student is deeply engaged in their lesson, teachers
allow them to finish what they’re working on. Unlike traditional
classrooms where students are directed through each activity regardless
of their interest level, Montessori avoids interrupting children’s workflow
as much as possible.

10. Montessori Encourages Children to Love Learning

In the traditional classroom, children learn to pass tests. In the
Montessori classroom, however, we foster a lifelong love of learning in
children so that they enjoy and value their education, especially later in
life. The lessons are not mandatory per se. Instead, students are free to
approach different topics they most want to learn. Teachers give
students choices, so that while they are directed, they have personal
autonomy.

Structure of education: Kindergarten is a more structured

education system where the role of a teacher is pre-defined and
they follow the same technique for all students. The Montessori
style uses an unstructured approach where each student is
allowed to express themselves and the teacher adapts to the
students style.
Difference Between
Montessori And Kindergarten
Style Of Learning

Kindergarten and Montessori are both very different styles of learning. Yet parents have
often been confused when choosing between the two styles. The following list from
Triangle Montessori Academy (TMA) provides a detailed explanation of the two styles of
learning and education.

1. The main difference: Kindergarten is a method of education used by majority schools.

On the other hand, Montessori is a method of instruction that is used to educate. 
2. Structure of education: Kindergarten is a more structured education system where the
role of a teacher is pre-defined and they follow the same technique for all students. The
Montessori style uses an unstructured approach where each student is allowed to
express themselves and the teacher adapts to the students style.
3. Age: Kindergarten style of learning is designed for children between the ages of three to
five, which forms the base of their primary education. Montessori style is basically for
 children up to the age of six years after which it becomes optional. Studies have proven
that the Montessori approach is also quite beneficial to teenagers. 
4. Teacher Role: In Kindergarten, the teacher is the center of attention and is responsible
for deciding the methods of teaching and imparting knowledge. They decide what, how
and when the students learn about a topic or skills. Conversely, Montessori teachers are
a guide. They have a very limited role in deciding what the children learn because they
do not decide how or what the children learn. They simply introduce a topic to a student
and let that child explore the various possible outcomes for that particular topic or
problem. 
5. Learning Pace: In a Kindergarten setup, the child is expected to learn at a similar pace
as the other students or they are considered to fall behind. With the Montessori style,
children are allowed to learn at their own pace and take their own time to learn each
skill. 
6. Classroom Environment: Traditional Kindergarten style classes are designed to keep
the teacher as the focus. Montessori classrooms are designed after child behavior
observations and keeping the child as the main focus. This allows individual and focused
learning. 
 

There are various differences between the two styles of learning and both have their
own pros and cons. The parents must survey and decide which one is best for their
child. 

Contrary to the popular imagination, preschool teaching is not just about performing the
objective tasks in a routine manner. It involves a lot of subjectivity on part of teachers,
and a lot of thought goes into dealing with every child and knowing how a child can
evolve. As a result of this subjectivity, preschool learning/teaching throughout the world
have come up with different methods of teaching or different school of thought. These
various methods provide us with an understanding of different styles of teaching and fill
up the gaps in our understanding of preschool education.
Playway Method:
A very widely accepted and popular method of Play school teaching has been the
playway method. Essentially, this school of thought believes that the best way of
teaching a child is through taking up activities. The institutions rely on the heaving of
activities such as role-plays, virtual games, singing, free play, and a lot more, to teach
children. It is believed that such a method of learning brings exposure to the child in a
friendly environment with no pressure at all. The focus is entirely on the needs of the
child and the activities revolve around fulfilling such needs.
Playway method has been widely accepted by educational institutions dealing with
young kids in the age group of 3-5. It fits well with the commitment and aim of not
burdening the kids with tasks they are not yet capable of performing.
 What are the milestones of the Montessori method?
Montessori's theory identifies four planes of development that indicate what children are
motivated to learn during each stage. The planes are: absorbent mind (birth-6 years
old), reasoning mind (6-12 years old), social consciousness (12-18 years old), and
transition to adulthood (18-24 years old)

MILE STONES OF MM
ALL ABOUT MONTESSORI'S 4 STAGES OF GROWTH

 3RD JAN 2018   THINKAMAJIGS

Maria Montessori outlined four stages of growth, also called the four planes of development. The
four stages begin at birth and extend to adulthood; together they make up a holistic look at the
process of development and include social, cognitive, moral, and biological changes.

Each stage lasts for six years, but  Montessori also acknowledged that each stage was not meant to be
rigid; these are not necessarily linear stages but more like a tide ebbing and flowing. Each stage
brings a new set of needs and behaviours. There also sub-categories in each stage of growth. The
Montessori products also reflect each stage.

 Infancy/Early Childhood (Birth to Age 6)

In the first substage, the child is an “unconscious creator.” Here, the baby is not conscious of
learning, but is creating who he or she will become. Around age 3, the child becomes the “conscious
worker,” because the child is now able to interact with the world deliberately.

It is during this substage that the child begins to learn self-mastery and self-control.They have a great
need to make their own choices at this stage. During this stage, children have an “absorbent mind”;
they absorb information like sponges.

 Childhood (Age 6-12)

This stage of growth is calm and stable. While intellectual growth takes place during this stage, it is
not as intense as during the first stage. There are both physical and physiological changes taking
place during the second stage of growth as well.

Children move from the “absorbent mind” stage to the “reasoning mind” stage. Children want to
learn more about the reasons behind things. In the previous stage they wanted to know the “what,”
but now they want to know the “why.” During this stage, children also begin to think about their role
in the grander scheme of life, which Montessori called “the cosmic plan.”
 Adolescence (Age 12-18)

Physical changes become a lot more intense during this stage. Psychologically, the teenager is
unstable; he or she becomes very sensitive to criticism. Children develop “social consciousness”
during this stage, where the teenager becomes more concerned about their societal role in life.

Interestingly enough, Montessori remarked that teenagers actually regress during this stage and are
less likely to do what is expected of them. This phase is also marked by a teen’s desire for
independence.

 Early Adulthood (Age 18-24)

Physical growth is not yet complete; the same holds true for psychological development. This is the
stage of development where the adult begins to think about his or her contribution to humanity.
Essay

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