Montessori
All teachers are required to be Montessori certified. |
Teacher has classroom role in classroom activity; child is an active participant in learning. |
Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline. |
Instruction, both individual and group, adapts to each student’s learning style. |
Mixed age grouping |
Children are encouraged to teach, collaborate, and help each other. |
Child chooses own work from interests and abilities. |
Our classrooms maintain a low teacher to student ratio policy which ensures optimum learning and individualized academic instruction.
1yr olds: 1:6 2yr olds: 1:8 3-6yr olds: 1:12 |
Child works as long as he/she wishes on chosen projects. |
Child sets own learning pace to internalize information. |
Child spots own errors through feedback from material. |
Learning is reinforced internally through the child’s own repetition of an activity and internal feelings of success. |
Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration |
Organized program for learning care of self and the environment
(polishing shoes, cleaning the sink, etc.) |
Child can work where he/she is comfortable, moves around and talks at will (yet disturbs not the work of others ); group work is voluntary and negotiable. |
Emphasis on cognitive structures and social development |
All teachers are CPR and First-Aid trained |
Child formulates own concepts from self-teaching materials. |
Developmental
Teachers are only required to have a High School Diploma or equivalent |
Teacher has dominant, active role in classroom activity; child is a passive participant in learning. |
Teacher acts as primary enforcer of external discipline. |
Instruction, both individual and group, conforms to the Adult’s teaching style. |
Same age grouping |
Most teaching is done by teacher and collaboration is discouraged. |
Curriculum structured for child with little regard for child’s interests. |
Generally follows the state mandated policy of:
1yr olds: 1:6 2yr olds: 1:8 3yr olds: 1:12 4yr olds: 1:12 5yr olds: 1:20 |
Child generally given specific time limit for work. |
Instruction pace is usually set by group norm or teacher. |
If work is corrected, errors usually pointed out by teacher. |
Learning is reinforced externally by rote repetition and rewards/discouragement. |
Fewer materials for sensory development and concrete manipulation |
Less emphasis on self-care instruction and classroom maintenance. |
Child usually assigned own chair: encouraged to sit still and listen during group session. |
Emphasis on rote knowledge and social development |
Only one person on campus is required to be CPR and First-Aid trained |
Child is guided to concepts by teacher. |
Daycare
Teachers are only required to have a High School Diploma or equivalent |
Daycare worker has a dominant role is policing the children. |
Daycare worker acts as primary enforcer of external discipline. |
No formal instruction. Play based. |
Same age grouping |
No formal instruction. Play based |
Unstructured |
Generally follows the state mandated policy of:
1yr olds: 1:6 2yr olds: 1:8 3yr olds: 1:12 4yr olds: 1:12 5yr olds: 1:20 |
Unstructured |
No formal instruction |
No formal instruction |
No formal instruction |
Toys, blocks, puzzles |
Unstructured |
Unstructured |
Emphasis on social development |
Only one person on campus is required to be CPR and First-Aid trained |
Unstructured |