How is it different?

A comparison between some montessori and traditional classrooms.

Montessori	Traditional
Child sets their own learning pace, to internalize information.	The pace of instruction is set by the teacher according to the group's norms.
Child works as long as he or she wishes on a chosen project.	Children are only given specific times to work on project.
Child formulates their own concepts from self-teaching materials.	Child is guided through concepts by the teacher.
Teacher has unobtrusive role in the classroom: Child is an active participant in learning.	The teacher is dominant: child is a passive participant in learning.
Child chooses own work based on their interests and abilities.	Curriculum is prepared with little regard for the child's own interests.
Mixed-age grouping.	Single age-group grouping.
Children are encouraged to teach, collaborate, and help each other.	Most teaching is done by the teacher, and collaboration is often discouraged.
Child can work where he or she is comfortable, moves around and talks at will (without disturbing other's work). Group work is voluntary and negotiable.	Child is assigned a chair, required to sit still and listen during group sessions.
Child spots own errors through feedback from material.	If work is corrected, errors usually pointed out by teacher.
Learning is reinforced by practice, and internalized by feelings of success.	Learning is reinforced by rote repetition and through external reward and punishment.
Instruction, both individual and group, adapts to each child's learning style.	Instruction, both individual and group, conforms to the adult's teaching style.
Emphasis on cognitive structure and social development.	Emphasis on rote recitation.
Environment and method encourage self-discipline.	Teacher acts as discipline enforcer.
Multi-sensory materials encourage physical exploration.	Fewer materials for sensory development and concrete manipulation.
Parental involvement and understanding of Montessori methods are encouraged and offered.	Little effort placed on parental understanding of learning process.

Reprinted from The Jewish Montessori Society