Montessori and Traditional Education – How Are They Different?

With many different options of getting your child educated in the best system possible, it is often discussed whether the Montessori education is a better path or the traditional one.
Well, to make your decision easy, we have decided to list all the differences between the two so that you can make the best decision.
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1. Children as Unique Individuals
In the Montessori education system, every child is treated differently according to his personality and unique abilities. On the other hand, the traditional education system educates children to learn new things and concepts in the same way.
 
2. Nurturing Independence
Montessori education teaches children to be independent learners, and they are encouraged to reach their highest potential. However, in traditional education, the children are required to follow the same curriculum or read the same books, which leaves some of the children behind as not all children are equal and of the same caliber.

3. New Variety of Learning Techniques
While the traditional education system can have some interesting learning techniques such as having quizzes and having to write down things so that they could easily be memorized, it is not always interesting and can sometimes frustrate the child and pressurize him. This is certainly not the case with the Montessori system. The concept of Montessori is to believe that each child is intelligent and just has a unique learning capability, therefore this system is carefully designed, and Montessori teachers are specifically trained to develop the child’s skills and encourage independence and freedom of expression.
 
4. Mistakes and Failures
We all believe that mistakes make us a better person, and this is how it should be. However, this is not the case with the traditional system. If you have made a mistake or have failed an exam, you are required to retake it or not be promoted at all, which crushes the child's morale, and the child also feels embarrassed. However, in the case of the Montessori system, the children are taught that mistakes are not something to be embarrassed of, but they are to be embraced and the errors should be resolved through the assistance of their teachers. As we mentioned, mistakes are a part of the learning process, and the Montessori system accepts this idea.
 
5. Thinking Outside the Box
​The Montessori system takes the "thinking outside the box" approach for their children as well as their teachers. It is not only learning for the children but also for the teachers. The Montessori learning is hands-on, experimental and investigative to help children blossom. Whereas, in traditional learning, it is all repetitive and uses memorization with seated arrangement only.