Peek into an early-grade classroom at a Montessori school and you are likely to see children of different ages moving around and talking, free to explore a variety of activities. Each activity will advance learning and development, but may not include instructions on exactly what to do and when.

A Montessori school is an environment with plenty of materials for hands-on learning, and children are encouraged to focus on -- and often stick with -- activities that pique their interest. This stands in contrast to traditional school, where students in the same grade generally move through a structured and scheduled curriculum.