Montessori and Waldorf education - differences and similarities

Children begin developing from birth. They grow, perceive their surroundings through their senses, copy their environment, and constantly discover new things.

To support this development, various educational approaches have emerged, offering different methods and foundations as guidance. The so-called reform-oriented educational approaches of Montessori and Waldorf education are particularly well-known.

Both educational approaches prioritize the child. The child's education and development should progress at their own pace. The child is viewed holistically and thus supported individually. No pressure should be exerted on them, preventing them from feeling the need to keep up with others. Kindergartens and schools that teach according to these principles primarily use natural teaching aids and avoid modern technology as much as possible. The fundamental idea behind both approaches is therefore the same. Nevertheless, there are also differences:

"Help me to do it myself"

This is the approach behind Montessori pedagogy. Children have a natural sense of discovery, which should be encouraged. They should develop and expand this sense themselves. For example, they should try to find solutions to problems on their own. Order and aesthetics also play an important role in Montessori pedagogy. In kindergartens, for instance, the rooms are prepared so that the children can do everything independently and help themselves when problems arise. The teachers then observe the children. If they notice that a child is unable to achieve their goal due to the circumstances, they prepare everything so that the child can succeed next time. During play, care is taken to ensure that objects and materials are used for their intended purpose and not repurposed.

Summary in bullet points:

• Fueling a natural sense of discovery
• Children should solve problems themselves.
• Order and aesthetics
• Objects and materials should not be repurposed.

The two approaches differ particularly in this last point. In Waldorf education, imagination plays an important role in the child's development.

" Receive the child with reverence, raise it with love, and release it into freedom."

The goal of Waldorf education is for children to become creative, self-reliant adults. Lessons should place a strong emphasis on thinking, feeling, and willing. In addition to academic knowledge, artistic, practical, and social skills should also be developed. Lessons are not based on rigid, predetermined principles; rather, they are individually adapted by the teachers and tailored to the specific needs of each class. Great emphasis is also placed on fostering positive relationships among the students and children. This collaborative spirit is intended to prepare them for their future professional lives.

Here, the individual performance of each student is also taken into account. For this reason, schools do not issue traditional report cards with grades at the end of the school year, but rather a detailed narrative report. Furthermore, students cannot repeat a grade.

Summary in bullet points:

• Individual consideration of the children
• The focus is on artistic, practical, and social skills.
• Individual lessons
• Strengthening community work