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Harborlight Montessori
243 Essex Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: 978-922-1008
Fax: 978-922-0594
Montessori
The Montessori Difference
| Traditional Education | Montessori Education |
| Children are grouped chronologically, one age per class. | Non-graded (two or three year age span) |
| There is a pervasive emphasis on grades, merits, and social conformity. | Self-humanization is the root motivation. |
| The class is seated at desks for most of the time for group lessons. | Students work at tables, on floor:freedom of movement.The children are in direct contact with environment - i.e. natural, sensory, and cultural experiences. |
| Relatively frequent interruptions: bells, adult interventions. | Relatively few interruptions. Long blocks of time permit invaluable concentration. |
| The class, as a group, studies one subject at a time with class schedules that limit the child's involvement. | Children pursue their own self-paced curriculum, individually or in small groups, in various parts of the learning environment. |
| Postponement of cognitive development until first grade. | Critical cognitive skills developed before age six. |
| Teachers and society correct pupil's errors. | Children learn from their peers and self-correcting materials. The teacher's role is a guide. |