Different Approaches to Teaching: Comparing Three Preschool Programs

            Do you know what the Montessori, High Scoop and Reggio Emilla methods of teaching are?  Amy Sussna Klein, the author of, “Different Approaches to Teaching: Comparing Three Preschool Programs” will explain each of  their approaches to learning, in her “easy read “article.  Klein breaks the individual methods down into sections that will answer these following questions: “What is the program’s history?  What are its main components?  What is unique about the program?  How can one tell if a school is truly following the model?”

 The Montessori Method was invented by; Italy’s first female to become a doctor, Maria Montessori in 1907.  Observation is a key element in her research and  in her teachings.  Her approach  to learning is more from a scientific view.  She incorporates the five senses into her lesson planning and uses “didactic” materials in her classroom that are self correcting.  The classroom furniture is made at the children’s height; not the adults. Montessori has children of different ages blended into each classroom and stresses the importance of family evolvement in their child’s education.  The way they can make sure their method is truly being followed in the classrooms is to make sure that they are AMI or AMS certified.

The High/Scope Approach was developed by the Perry Preschool Project that was conducted by: Dave Weikart and Connie Kamii, back in 1962.  According to, Weikart and Kamii: The Perry Preschool Program: had compelling evidence which suggested that the children who were in their program; grew up with fewer arrests and had more high school graduates.  “This project was noted for being among the fewest longitudinal studies in early childhood that had significant findings.” (Different Approaches to Teaching)  Weikart, Kamii, and the help of some teachers, would work a few hours a day with underprivileged children, (ages three to four years old).  They attended staff meetings and made visits to the student’s homes.  Children using the High/Scope method are taught using the constructivist theory.  This theory believes that children learn more from interactions with their peers and the environment.   The High/Scope Foundation’s main goals are to encourage children to obtain educational goals as early as infancy.   Children are encouraged to interact with their peers and teachers in daily activities.  When a child talks, the teacher is to stop and listen.  The teacher’s scaffolds the child with open ended questions.  One of their major components of the High/Scope framework is called “Plan-do-review”, it’s explained as followed,” Children are encouraged to: 1) plan the area, materials, and methods they are going to work with; 2) do, actually carry out their plan; and 3) review, articulate with the class-room community what they actually did during work time. The review time helps children bring closure to their work and link their actual work to their plan.”  Schools that use this method have teachers who record their observations using the, “High/Scope Child Observation Record.”

The Reggio Emilia Approach to learning has slowly evolved over the years.   Reggio Emilia is a small town in Italy.  “The Reggio Emilia School’s, have been named the ten best school systems in the world”, by Newsweek Magazine.  They use the environment as a way to demonstrate and discuss school projects.  The approach is called “Documentation”, it is the foundation in which the children will build their knowledge on.  Children work together (co-constructing), discussing, and exploring projects with their peers.  They use “Flowcharts”, which will document the “beginning, middle and end, or past, present, and future” to research and discuss the process with the students.  Using co-construction while discussing the flowcharts, will serve two purposes: First, it will be a way to look back at problems and second, collaborate with one another to come up with solutions to them.  Teacher’s, who use this approach to learning, will use reflections as a tool for improving their teaching skills. They encourage their student’s by; acknowledging their students accomplishments and documenting the child’s education.   

Many of the preschool’s and head start programs have incorporated all three of these methods into their classrooms.  They have furnished the classrooms with child size tables and chairs so that the students can now sit more comfortably.  Children ranging in ages of 3-5 are now integrated into classrooms.  Students learn through play, they are encouraged to explore their environment and socialize with their peers.  Many parents are stepping forward and becoming more involved in their child’s education.  Teachers use documentation and flow charts in their classrooms; to record the student’s observations.  I find that all three methods of teaching; have their own unique qualities that can benefit the students.  In our head start program we utilize each one of these methods; and find them to be very successful in teaching our students.