The attitude and experience of the teacher in the classroom makes a difference in how children in their care learn. While school teachers need to be accredited by the state and have a college degree, Montessori teachers offer a further benefit. Providing the kindergartner with a Montessori education means the teachers in class are trained in child development. Because of their training, Montessori teachers understand how to present information in ways appropriate for the development of each child.
Public schools focus on what works for most students in the class. Some students who cannot keep up struggle, while others lose interest due to boredom. The Montessori approach is to provide a child-centered environment in which the needs of the individual student outweighs that of the group as a whole. The benefit of this method for the student just starting classes is that he will not be left behind. If he shows aptitude, he will not be bored but challenged to use all his resources. Students learn and move on at their own pace.
Not only is this method one of self-direction but also one of learning how to recognize mistakes and correct them. Montessori students learn not to wait for the teacher to find those mistakes. The students learn to judge their own work and challenge themselves to improve it, making it the best possible work. Their only real competitor is themselves.
Teachers in the Montessori system focus on the child's readiness for the next step as well as interest. With the Montessori method, each child from kindergarten on up is treated with both respect and honesty. The program promotes not only self-confidence but also the ability to adapt to new situations.
Students in a Montessori teaching situation learn how to learn. They aren't taught to memorize or do work just for the sake of doing something without understanding the material. They learn through both observation and manipulation of the objects and concepts in the world around them. The method is based on how children learn and how they process information. Because of this targeted learning style, teachers have high expectations for each student in all areas of education and maturity.
Students in the Montessori system reinforce what they've learned by assisting younger students. This not only helps them nail down skills and concepts but also gives them a sense of self confidence and worth. Students are not pitted against one another; they learn to work with and help one another.
The "Guardian" in its website article, "Research Shows Benefits of Montessori Education," reports, "Psychologists in the U.S. found that across a range of abilities, children at Montessori schools out-performed those given a traditional education. Five-year-old Montessori pupils were better prepared for reading and maths and 12-year-olds wrote "significantly more creative" essays using more sophisticated sentence structures."