| Montessori | Traditional |
| Respect for individual differences; | Emphasis on conforming to the group; |
| Self-motivation and child centered learning process; | Emphasis on grades, punishment or rewards as motivating factors; |
| Multi-age grouping whereby students learn “horizontally” from observation of other people’s work, directly or indirectly; | Students grouped chronologically to suit teachers’ pre-planned class activities; |
| Students learn at their own pace, free to complete a project or pursue a subject as deeply as they wish and according to personal enthusiasm; | Subjects are taught in lecture form and students must change activities and attend as a group all at the same time; |
| Students learn by practicing their subject matters in school with the supervision and assistance of the teacher as needed; | Students must practice on their own and be graded on “busy work” or home work that is often done without close monitoring; |
| The classroom is designed for the gathering of information and knowledge: the children are free to move and tire less; | Students work at assigned desks and passively sit and listen to lectures. The work period must be interrupted frequently; |
| Knowledge is acquired through the use of concrete materials, scientifically designed to enhance conceptual thinking and lead to abstraction; | Knowledge often consists of memorization of irrelevant information from abstract concepts unrelated to the child’s daily experience, rather than from hands on work |
| Testing is built into the method as the third period of the “three period lesson” and is applied routinely when the individual is ready. Materials aim at self-correction, repetition and competence. | Scheduled testing does not take into consideration the preparation of each individual. Students are intimidated and taught that passing is more important than knowing. |