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 |
