this is what i do.

a quick little comparison to put things into perspective.....

“If help and salvation are to come, they can only come from the children, for the children are the makers of men”
-Maria Montessori

A Comparison:

Traditional Education -Textbooks, pencil & paper, worksheets -Occasional peer tutoring or group work -Subject areas taught separately -Single-graded classrooms -Period lessons -Students sitting in desks & listening -Teacher-directed instruction -Students work at pre-determined pace -Students fit into district-wide curriculum -Emphasis on academic skills -Testing & standardized assessments -Grades, external rewards -Students change teachers each year -One teacher per classroom -Geared toward girl’s achievement -Memorization and remediation of gaps in skills -Rely on teacher for feedback and instructions

Montessori Education -Concrete, hands-on materials -Daily peer tutoring and group work -Integrated curriculum for more meaningful learning -Mixed-age classrooms, family-like grouping -Uninterrupted work cycles -Freedom (within limits) to move and converse -Child-centered, teacher-guided environment -Children work at their own pace -Open-ended curriculum fit to child’s needs -Emphasis on whole-child development -Authentic assessment based on daily observation -Self-correcting materials for intrinsic motivation -Student stays with same teacher for three years -Teacher and assistant in each class -Optimally designed for success of boys and girls -Repetition of skills for mastery -Encourages organization and self-reliance through individual work plans, goal setting and reflection