Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, educator and scientist opened the first Montessori school called “Casa dei Bambini” in 1907 to provide high-quality education for disadvantaged children whom many had thought were unable to learn. Using scientific observation and experience, Dr. Montessori developed her own pedagogy and created purposeful learning materials designed to foster the child’s natural desire to learn. This is how the Montessori philosophy was born.
The Waldorf method was developed in 1919 by Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian philosopher and social reformer. During the midst of a post-war climate of political and social unrest in Germany, Steiner visited the Waldorf Astoria cigarette factory in Stuttgart, Germany and was asked by the owner to develop a school for the children of the company’s employees. The birth of the Waldorf philosophy came about as a need for social and cultural renewal.

In a Montessori school, academic subjects such as math, science, writing and language are introduced when the child shows developmental readiness, usually this is around the age of 3 or 4. In a Waldorf school, on the other hand, academic lessons in math, language, and writing typically don’t begin until the age of 7, as academics subjects are viewed as something necessary but not exactly enjoyable. Instead, young children will spend their days engaging in make-believe and play.

In a Waldorf school, play is considered the child’s work and fantasy is an integral part of the curriculum. For instance, a Waldorf teacher may incorporate fantasy about fairies into storytelling and art. In contrast to the make-believe and fantasy aspects of the Waldorf curriculum, a Montessori curriculum encourages children to do real work in order to created self-sufficient and self-directed individuals. One aspect of this work is called practical life and includes activities like cleaning, cooking, and self-care.

The children in a Waldorf environment are free to use any of the classroom materials in any way they want and are encouraged to use their imagination. A Montessori school provides children with purposeful learning materials that are scientific and didactical. The children are free to choose whichever materials they want to work on throughout the day, but all of the materials serve a unique developmental and academic purpose and the work environment is carefully prepared to foster independence and concentration.

In a Waldorf classroom, all of the children are the same age and remain with the same teacher for 8 years so that the teacher and child can get to know each other well. This also allows the teacher to find the best ways of helping each child learn.

In a Montessori classroom, however, you will find children of differing ages all together, grouped according to 3-year cycles, or planes of development. These multi-age groupings promote social interactions and peer collaboration, as older students act as mentors helping their younger peers while the younger students learn from their older peers. Montessori students will remain with the same teacher for 3 years, or until they are developmentally ready to enter the next level.