Montessori vs. Traditional Education

Education is very important especially in this day and age. What school one attends and how they perceive school to be is a huge factor in one’s life success. There has been research done in the past few years proving that students who receive a Montessori education will prosper academically more so than those who receive a traditional education (Ryniker and Shoho, 2001). Traditional schools typically follow teacher based philosophies and the Montessori education is student centered. On average, children enjoy student based philosophy classrooms. Therefore, they are much more in tuned to what they are learning and that benefits their educational career. Having fun while learning is the key to keeping children engaged.

Maria Montessori was the founder of the Montessori educational method. Maria Montessori graduated from the University of Rome Medical School and was working with “mentally deficient” children (Scotty, 2009). She always had a great aspiration to help children. The Montessori methods came about from her observations while working at the Casa dei Bambini (a daycare center in Rome). She saw how children learn naturally by things around them. Maria Montessori believed that children learned best by doing things individually and teaching themselves (Lewis, 1992). In Montessori schools children learn to deal with real life problems and how to overcome life’s obstacles. The teachers provide the children with freedom and independence.

There are basic Montessori methods. They are: The teacher must pay attention to the child, rather than the child paying attention to the teacher, the child proceeds at his/her own pace in an environment controlled to provide means of learning, and Imaginative teaching materials are the hear...

... middle of paper ...

...o receive a Montessori education will succeed academically and will know how to handle real life situations more so than those who receive a traditional method of teaching.

Resources

Kramer, R., Maria Montessori. Retrieved November 18, 2009 from the World Wide Web.

Lewis, J.J, Maria Montessor. Retrieved November18 ,2009 from the World Wide Web.

Ryniker, D.H., and Shoho, A.R., Student perceptions of their elementary classrooms: Montessori vs. Traditional Environments.

Sadker, D.M., Sadker, M.P., and Zittleman, K.R.,(2008) Teachers, Students, and Society (8th ed.).New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Schapiro,D., New Study Finds Success for Public Montessori Program.

Scotty, J., What is Montessori? Retrieved November 18, 2009 from the World Wide Web.

Wendy, R. (2006). Culture, Race, Diversity: How Montessori Spells Success in Public Schools.