Montessori and Standard Schooling: 3 Key Differences

The particular approach of a Montessori education has made it popular with parents for more than a hundred years. Although it is still considered an alternative method, the Montessori system is gaining ground in increasingly many communities. It began in the early 1900s, when Dr. Maria Montessori wanted to improve education of children living in her village in Italy. Today, the system has flourished on all continents. Parents seeking high-quality schooling may find it worthwhile to learn what makes Montessori stand out:

1. Mixed age classes - Typically, schools separate their students by age. At the standard pre-school in Parramatta or Wentworthville, you'll find students divided by age. A Montessori ap-proach doesn't stress the separation of different ages. Instead, students learn to work collabora-tively. They can find their own peers and develop their individual strengths at appropriate rates.

 

2. Real learning instead of test-prep - Most options for childcare emphasize how well your chil-dren will do on tests, down the road. In contrast, a Montessori approach to learning will have your child learning to enjoy reading, counting or developing other critical skills - with pleasure. As a result, young students become lifelong learners. The lessons they learn "stick" over the long term instead of being solely test-oriented.

 

3. Children learn community - When a child attends a Montessori school, the objective isn't only to improve academic skills. The other focus of Montessori education is to learn to form part of a community. When comparing various schools, assess each school's sense of community. A competitive environment can cause harmful pressure, whereas a supportive community builds confidence and ability.

 

In essence, the Montessori approach to learning is rather different than many mainstream meth-ods. However, it has shown positive results for more than a century. Many psychologists and other learning experts confirm the long-term benefits of Montessori schooling. If you're looking over your options for your children, or you just want to learn more, visit Bright Stars Montessori Preschool online at brightstars.net.au.

Author's Note

The particular approach of a Montessori education has made it popular with parents for more than a hundred years.