| MONTESSORI |
MAINSTREAM |
| Based on helping the natural development of the human being |
Based on the transfer of a national / provincial curriculum |
| Children learn at their own pace and follow their own individual interests. |
Children learn from a set curriculum according to a time-frame that is the same for everyone. |
| Uninterrupted work cycles |
Block time, period lessons. |
| Children teach themselves, using materials specially prepared for that purpose. |
Children are taught by the teacher. |
| Learning is based on the fact that physical exploration and cognition are linked. |
Children sit at desks and learn from a whiteboard and worksheets. |
| The teacher works in collaboration with the children. |
The class is teacher led. |
| The child’s individual development brings its own reward and therefore motivation. |
Motivation is achieved by a system of rewards and punishments. |
| Understanding comes through the child’s own experiences via the materials and the promotion of children’s ability to find things out for themselves. |
Learning is based on subjects and is limited to what is given. |
| Multi-age classrooms |
Single-graded classrooms |
| Working and learning matched to the social development of the child. |
Working and learning without emphasis on social development |
| Free personal time after school |
Homework |
