Parenting: Montessori Schools
 

I have a friend who is contemplating placing her child in Montessori schools. Anyone have any workds of advice, wisdom, etc. for her.


Pros/cons of Montessori education
Resources for Montessori parents and students

I went to a Montessori pre-school and I really enjoyed it. We were introduced to many different subjects like science and music. We got to plant a garden and play on real instruments. Whereas, my friends who went to a non-Montessori school didn't do any of that. I think that early education is different today. My son attends a non-Montessori pre-school and he is going to be doing the same things that I did with two exceptions. Next year he will have computer lessons and begin Spanish.

My friend sent her children to a Montessori pre-school and she liked it too. At that school, they let the children move completely at their own pace. My friend is very happy with the educational quality of the school.

I would say that like any curriculum or school check out references. Another friend's mother runs a different Montessori school but I wouldn't send my child there. The woman is too much of a "free spirit" and yes, she still speaks of Woodstock fondly.


resources
http://www.montessori.org/
http://www.montessori.edu/
http://dir.yahoo.com/Education/Theor...ethod/Schools/

Thanks, I found a Montessori message board as well as the first 2 sites and some Montessori Yahoo groups but more personal insight like what you provided is very helpful as well.

As someone said check make sure she examines the curriculum, and teaching style to make sure it is a true Montessori and not an American hybrid. (No sense in paying Montessori prices if it ain't the real thing :).)

As mentioned, there are now many non-Montessori schools that use the Madame Montessori's concepts. For example, Montessori incorporates all the senses in learning. So, instead of just holding up a card with a letter on it and allowing visual recognition--the concept uses a card with the letter embossed and the child also earns the feel and shape of the letter as well as hearing the name. This in turn leads to the child learning to write the letter at the same time.

It was also excellent for nuturing social skills, especially if they are an only child.

My daughter attended one from 2-1/2 to 5 years old. Best thing I could have done.

I would have loved to be in a Montessori school. There was one very near where I grew up. My parents wouldn't even consider it; it was more important to them that I have a "good Catholic education" from a Catholic school that gave a p!$$-poor secular education, than that I go to a school where I could proceed at my own pace and maybe shave a year or more off my elementary-school education.

Can you tell I'm bitter... :p

Nine of my kids have had a Montessori pre-K education. It's been fantastic--almost all of our children have achieved scholastically and I think it's partially due to Montessori. Go for it!

Thanks you all for the information and personal experiences. She greatly appreciates it.


FYI, it is a GCer, toocute, but her GC access is blocked at work.

I agree. My oldest niece attended a Montessori school. She was really advanced for her age when she left. When my sister and brother-n-law put her in the public schools, she was able to "skip" a grade. I can't believe next week, she will begin the 8th Grade. :o

If I were a parent, it would be an option for me if my local public school system (at that time) was "crappy".

From an early childhood educator and parent, Montessori is a good program for preschool, although beyond that, I don't know if I'd recommend it. My daughter is on the waiting list at the moment for our public school's montessori preschool program, for 3 and 4 year olds, but hopefully she'll make it in. For this age range, the type of learning they experience is good for their developmental stage. But, personally, I don't know if the method of teaching beyond that age is the best. But that's just my personal opinion. :D

I think you may be right. It seems geared for the early formative years only to set a strong foundation.

THANK YOU - THANK YOU Carla for starting this thread for me and thank you to everyone who responded. I can't believe CJ is 2 1/2 and it's time to start thinking about pre school. His daycare takes ages 4 months to 4 years old. He's doing VERY well right now but I'm not sure how well his daycare can prepare him for Kindergarten and beyond.


I agree with you. From what I've read about the Montesorri method I don't see keeping him in that type of program past kindergarten or the 1st grade.

Thank You again.

I went to Montessori school up through the sixth grade. Some older children need more structure, but if your child is naturally inquisitive and self-motivated about learning, Montessori is a fantastic choice. I learned so much more than I ever could have at a school that didn't allow me to work ahead.

I agree. I worked in a school that had a Montessori program through 4th grade. The older children who did well were the ones who were self-starters and were able to work with less structure. The ones who needed a more structured environment had problems with the program.

BirthaBlue4 or anyone else who agrees with her, why wouldn't you recommend Montessori schooling after preschool? At the age of four, my son reads at the third grade level, is an avid chess player, and knows the entire multiplication chart. We had to petition to get him in kindergarten because the state mandates that all kindergarteners must be five before September 1. Fortunately, we convinced the school district to meet with us and him to judge whether he was ready or not. I refused to send him to preschool again. After meeting with him, they decided that they would not only allow him to start kindergarten, but they also wanted to have teachers who were hired solely to work with accelerated students to work with him. They were a little concerned because they had never worked with a child like him, but they seem really excited about the possibilities. I want to see what they can do with him because I'm concerned about him sitting in a class with kids who are still trying to learn how to count to five, but the bottom line is that we really can't afford to send him to a private school. We considered Montessori schools a couple of years ago but we weren't really sure if they were worth the money. I think we've done a good job so far of teaching him at home, but there is always more that can be done. I just don't want him to regress. That's why I'm trying to get as much info about this as possible.

I have nothing to add but CONGRATS to your son because THAT IS AWESOME!!!!! :D Congrats to you and your family for your little genius. Thank you for being such a powerful advocate on your son's behalf. :)

Montessori of Temple Terrace
 

My daughter, Kelyce went to a Montessori school last year. She started there at 13 months and did great. She learned so much. It was unbelievable. I loved the teachers, she always brought home products of her work. The school that she went to was owned by a hispanic family who run a chain of Montessori schools in Tampa. They taught spanish as a part of their curriculum, so my daughter learned both the English and Spanish alphabet and numbers. We couldn't keep up with how much she was learning. One day we were trying to get her to count to 10 by saying every other number (we'd say 1, she'd say 2 and so on) and she counted all the way up to 20!
They also did a lot of performing arts activities, they had a winter concert and everything- she wasn't even 2 yet. I highly recommend montessori. It is a little pricey but worth it!

Montessori is great.

Another alternative learning style that is also very good is Waldorf.

Thank you so much.

We have to be advocates for our children. If we don't do it, NO ONE else will. I want to make sure my child continues to grow.

Waldorf Education
 

I just did a search on Waldorf education and I don't think it is for us. I'm really concerned about their tactics. Here is a list of what they say differentiate them from other schools:


Academics are de-emphasized in the early years of schooling. There is no academic content in the Waldorf kindergarten experience (although there is a good deal of cultivation of pre-academic skills), and minimal academics in first grade. Reading is not taught until second or third grade, though the letters are introduced carefully in first and second.

During the elementary school years (grades 1-8) the students have a class (or "main lesson") teacher who stays with the same class for (ideally) the entire eight years of elementary school.

Certain activities which are often considered "frills" at mainstream schools are central at Waldorf schools: art, music, gardening, and foreign languages (usually two in elementary grades), to name a few. In the younger grades, all subjects are introduced through artistic mediums, because the children respond better to this medium than to dry lecturing and rote learning. All children learn to play recorder and to knit.

There are no "textbooks" as such in the first through fifth grades. All children have "main lesson books", which are their own workbooks which they fill in during the course of the year. They essentially produce their own "textbooks" which record their experiences and what they've learned. Upper grades use textbooks to supplement their main lesson work.

Learning in a Waldorf school is a noncompetitive activity. There are no grades given at the elementary level; the teacher writes a detailed evaluation of the child at the end of each school year.
The use of electronic media, particularly television, by young children is strongly discouraged in Waldorf schools.

Um, no, I'm going to have to pass on the Waldorf technique. That sounds like some ol' shullbit to me.

Ditto. Soror Carolyne, thank you for providing information on the Waldorf technique. I can't get with it for my as yet unborn children. :p

Um, yeah, what she said....