5 Differences Between Montessori and Traditional Teaching

At Starwood Academy of Frisco, we empathize with the challenges you may face as a parent in picking the right school for your child. If you are actively considering a Montessori education but are finding it hard to decide, you are not alone. By shedding some light on key differences between Montessori and conventional education, we hope to help you along towards making a quality decision.

For over a hundred years, the Montessori method has dedicated itself to not only teaching children important skills, but also raising them with a strong sense of independence, self-confidence, and self-awareness. Our classroom methods are designed to facilitate this transformative process.

We have guides, not teachers.
Conventional classrooms are teacher-led, but a Montessori classroom is student-led. We believe that the most effective way your child can learn is through the process of self-discovery. That is why our guides are there not to dominate, but to collaborate with your child and help him or her along in their process of learning.

An Individual plan for every child.
In a conventional classroom, a child is constrained to learn within the boundaries of a pre-determined curriculum delivered over a set timeline. As a result, children fail to develop confidence in the acquired knowledge. In a Montessori classroom, every child has their own individual plan, crafted around their own interests and motivations.

A self-paced, prepared environment.
In a Montessori school, the child gets to work on carefully designed hands-on projects uninterrupted, at their own pace. They can walk around, talk, and interact with their peers and guides. This allows the child to truly understand and internalize their task, while developing confidence in their abilities.

Mixed age groups.
Children are placed in groups within a 3-year age span. Students within these groups tend to teach each other as well, and we encourage that. Your child will make progress dictated by his or her pace of learning and when they are ready to move on – not by their grade level.

Self- over externally imposed discipline.
The environment in the Montessori classroom will naturally help your child develop self-discipline in their daily work, a habit that sticks with them for the rest of their lives. This is very different from the external discipline imposed in a conventional classroom that withers away the moment the pressure is removed.

A Starwood Academy of Frisco education emphasizes a strong educational foundation for your child that encompasses not only intellectual, but also social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of their development. This cultivated inner strength will help your child become well-adjusted and prepared to face any challenge thrown at them with ease.

To learn more, contact us at (972) 885-8585 and we’ll be happy to answer any questions.