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What is the difference between montessori and conventional education? Montessori programs, based on self-directed, noncompetitive activities, help children develop strong self-images and the confidence to face challenges and change with optimism.
Montessori

Emphasis on cognitive structures and social
development
Teacher's role is unobtrusive child actively
participates in learning
Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline
Individual and group instruction 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, abilities
Child formulates concepts from self-teaching
materials
Child works as long as necessary on a chosen 
project until completion/ full understanding 
Child sets own learning pace to internalize information
Child spots own errors through feedback from material
Learning is reinforced internally through child's own
repetition of activity, internal feelings, sense of
success and comprehension
Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration and development
Organized program for learning care for self, others,
and the environment
Child can work where he or she is comfortable, moves and talks at will freely
Conventional

Emphasis on rote knowledge and social 
development
Teacher's role is dominant, child is a passive participant
Teacher is primary enforcer of external discipline
Individual and group instruction conforms to the
adult's teaching style
Same age grouping
Most teaching done by teacher and collaboration
may be reserved for special projects
Curriculum structured for group progress
Child is guided to concepts by teacher
Child usually given specific time for work
Instructional pace set by group norm or teacher
Errors corrected by the teacher
Learning is reinforced externally by rewards,
discouragements
Few materials for sensory, concrete manipulation
Little emphasis on community development or
classroom maintenance
Child assigned seat; encouraged to sit still and listen during group
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