Difference Between Montessori and Waldorf (With Table)

It is a strong belief in Montessori education that children learn best by playing games. Cleaning, self-care, cooking, and caring for others are all opportunities for youngsters to learn and experience real-life skills. When it comes to language, age-appropriate arithmetic and scientific teachings embedded in games and tasks are included in this method.

Academics and life skills are rarely taught to children under the age of seven in Waldorf education. They do, however, include arts and games in their programme. Children are typically divided into age groups in Waldorf education. Every year, though, the kids progress and mature as a group. Both game and fantasy, according to the Waldorf concept, play an important role in teaching for children under the age of seven, laying a foundation.

Comparison Table Between Montessori and Waldorf

What is Montessori?

Maria Montessori is the individual who is responsible for the Montessori group’s success and establishment. In the city of Rome, in the year 1907. The Montessori teaching approaches are primarily geared toward youngsters. In other words, these are child-centred schools. It is widely held in Montessori education that children learn best via play.

Cleaning, self-care, cooking, and caring for others are all opportunities for youngsters to embrace real-life skills and experiences. When it comes to language, age-appropriate math and mixing science teachings into games and tasks also work in this method. Children in the Montessori educational system are divided into three-year groups. From the ages of (12-15, 7-11, and 3-6). They’re also divided into three categories: toddler, infant, and transition.

Teachers offer the lessons to each child individually in the Montessori approach. However, there are situations when one youngster teaches another child. The teacher’s job is to guide the pupils who are in need. Montessori methods include not only imagination and play but also labour that provides experience, creative endeavours, and age-appropriate chores.

What is Waldorf?

Rudolf Steiner was the driving force behind the formation of the Waldorf School in Stuttgart, Germany, twelve years after the founding of the Montessori school in 1919. The Waldorf range of educational systems places a strong emphasis on instructors. In other words, these are teacher-centred schools.

Academics and life skills are often not included in Waldorf education for children under the age of seven. They do, however, include arts and play. Children are frequently divided into age groups in Waldorf education. Every year, though, the students progress and mature as a group.

Teachers in a Waldorf school have a traditional obligation of teaching the entire class where students are seated. The teachers teach the same topic to all of the students in class. The teachers also choose the curriculum. Both game and fantasy, according to the Waldorf concept, play an important role in education, laying a foundation in children under the age of seven.

Main Differences Between Montessori and Waldorf

1. The person who is responsible for the success and establishment of the Montessori group of schools is Maria Montessori In 1907 in the city of Rome. On the other hand, Rudolf Steiner was the main person who is responsible for the establishment of Waldorf School, after twelve years of the creation of Montessori school in 1919 in Stuttgart, Germany.
2. The Montessori group of educational methods are centrally inclined towards children. In other words, these schools are child-centred. On the other hand, the Waldorf group of educational methods are centrally inclined towards teachers. In other words, these types of schools are teacher-centred.
3. In Montessori methods of education, it is strongly believed that the kids learn through games. Opportunities like cleaning, self-care, cooking, caring for others help children in embracing real-life skills and experiences. When language, appropriate maths related to age, incorporating science lessons into games and work. On the other hand, Waldorf methods of education generally lack the incorporation of academics and life skills into children below 7 years of age. However, they add arts and play.
4. In the Montessori group of education, kids are grouped in three-year periods. From (12-15, 7-11, 3-6) years. They are also grouped into toddler, infant and transition rooms. On the other hand, in the Waldorf methods of education, kids are usually grouped by age. However, the children advance and grow together every year.
5. In the Montessori method, the lessons are taught to every child separately by the teachers. However, sometimes the lessons are taught by one child to another child. The teacher’s responsibility is to guide the children in need. On the other hand, In a Waldorf method of education, teachers possess a traditional responsibility by teaching the whole class where students are seated. All the students learn the same topic together in the class, by the teachers. The curriculum is also chosen by the teachers.
6. Montessori methods include imagination and play as an integral part but also constitutes work that fetches experience, creative endeavours, age-appropriate tasks. On the other hand, according to the philosophy of Waldorf, both game and fantasy play an integral part in education, building a foundation in kids below the age of seven.

Conclusion

Kids are divided into three-year groups in the Montessori educational system. From the ages of 12 to 15, 7 to 11, and 3-6. Rooms for toddlers, infants, and transitions are also available. Teachers teach each kid individually in the Montessori technique.

Occasionally, however, one child will teach another child the teachings. The teacher’s job is to help pupils who are struggling. Work that provides experience, creative endeavours, and age-appropriate tasks are all part of Montessori methods.

However, teachers in a Waldorf school have a traditional responsibility to educate the entire class where pupils are seated. In class, the teachers teach all of the students the same topic. The teachers decide on the curriculum as well.

References

1. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303498
2. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED464766