| All teachers are required to be Montessori certified. |
Teachers are only required to have a High School Diploma or equivalent. |
Daycare group leaders are only required to have a High School Diploma or equivalent. |
| Teacher has supportive role in classroom activity; child is an active participant in learning. |
Teacher has dominant role in classroom activity; child is a passive participant in learning. |
Daycare group leader has a dominant role in the classroom. Their main role is to police the children. |
| Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline. |
Teacher acts as primary enforcer of external discipline. |
Daycare worker acts as primary enforcer of external discipline. |
| Instruction, both individual and group, adapts to each student's learning style. |
Instruction, both individual and group, conforms to the Adult's teaching style. |
No formal instruction. Play based. |
| Mixed age grouping |
Same age grouping |
Same age grouping |
| Children are encouraged to teach collaborate and help each other. |
Most teaching is done by teacher and collaboration is discouraged. |
No formal instruction. Play based. |
| Child chooses own work from interests and abilities. |
Curriculum structured for child with little regard for child's interests |
Unstructured |
| Child works as long as he/she wishes on chosen projects. |
Child generally given specific time limit for work |
Unstructured |
| Child sets own learning pace to internalize information. |
Instruction pace is usually set by group norm or teacher. |
No formal instruction |
| Child spots own errors through feedback from material. |
If work is corrected, errors usually pointed out by teacher. |
No formal instruction |
| Learning is reinforced internally through the child's own repetition of an activity and internal feelings of success. |
Learning is reinforced externally by rote repetition and rewards/discouragement. |
No formal instruction |
| Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration |
Fewer materials for sensory development and concrete manipulation |
Toys, blocks, puzzles |
| Organized program for learning care of self and the environment, (polishing shoes, cleaning the sink, etc.) |
Less emphasis on self-care instruction and classroom maintenance. |
Unstructured |
| Child can work where he/she is comfortable. Group work is voluntary. |
Child usually assigned own chair: encouraged to sit still and listen during group session. |
Unstructured |
| Emphasis on thinking, problem-solving, and social development. |
Emphasis on rote knowledge and social development. |
Emphasis on social development |
| All teachers are CPR and First-Aid trained |
Only one person on campus is required to be CPR and First-Aid trained. |
Only one person on campus is required to be CPR and First-Aid trained. |
| Child formulates own concepts from self-teaching materials. |
Child is guided to concepts by teacher. |
Unstructured |
