FAQ
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Montessori is an approach to supporting the full development of the human being. The Montessori approach offers a broad vision of education as an ‘aid to life’. As an educational system, it is used in over 22,000 schools worldwide, and has a longer track record of success than any other educational approach in the world.
The Montessori approach to education, inspires children towards a lifelong love of learning, by following their natural developmental trajectory. Children become confident, responsible, independent learners, who trust in their own abilities. The inclusivity and positive social development facilitated by the Montessori programme forms the basis for a persistent attachment to learning and knowledge.
| Montessori Education | Traditional Education |
| Based on helping the natural development of the human being | Based on the transfer of a national curriculum |
| Children learn at their own pace and follow their own individual interest | Children learn from a set curriculum according to a time frame that is the same for everyone |
| Children teach themselves using materials specially prepared for the purpose | Children are taught by the teacher |
| Child is an active participant in learning | Child is a passive participant in learning |
| Understanding comes through the child’s own experiences via the materials and the promotion of children’s ability to find things out for themselves | Learning is based on subjects and is limited to what is given |
| Learning is based on the fact that physical exploration and cognition are linked | Children sit at desks and learn from a whiteboard and worksheets |
| Child can work where he/she is comfortable, move around and talk at will while not disturbing others | Child is usually assigned own chair and encouraged to sit still and listen during group sessions |
| The teacher works in collaboration with the children | The class is teacher led |
| The child’s individual development brings its own reward and therefore motivation | Motivation is achieved by a system of reward and punishment |
| Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline | Teacher acts as primary enforcer of external discipline |
| Child works as long as he/she wishes on chosen project | Child generally given specific time limit for work |
| Uninterrupted work cycles | Block time, period lessons |
| Mixed age groups | Same age groups |
| Working and learning matched to the social development of the child | Working and learning without emphasis on the social development of the child |
| Shared emphasis on intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development | Main emphasis on intellectual development |
| Shared focus on the acquisition of academic, social, practical and life skills | Main focus on academics |
Yes! At Cheston Montessori, we are inculcating the love for learning and preparation for life hence, when your child graduates from Cheston, your child will be ready to overcome challenges just like how your child would have overcome challenges in Cheston independently through minimal or no guidance from the teacher.
At Cheston Montessori, we believe in the strong partnership between home and school for the benefit of the child. We work very closely with parents keeping them informed of their child’s progress, how to help their child as well as getting them involved in their child’s school activities as we believe that children became more confident learners when they see their parents find time out of their busy life to get involve. It makes them feel important and present!