Opinion of Montessori education? (VANITY)

Self | 2.18.05 | Basselope

[Basselope]

I am seeking advice and opinions about Montessori schools. We have a toddler and are starting to consider his educational options. While I know this is early in the game, it has also been brought to my attention that many private schools have waiting lists that are months or years long!

If anyone has had experience with the Montessori program for their youngsters (preschool, elementary, homeschooling with Montessori method, etc), I would be very grateful to read about it. I know there are other programs, such as Waldorf, but am not as familiar with that approach.

Thanks in advance.

[shattered]

My advice is this - every school is different. There are awesome public, private, and montessori schools.

The only way to get an idea is to visit and ask questions.

Every Montessori is different just as every private or public school is. It has a lot to do the the school administration and the vision that they have for the school.

My ds had a wonderful preschool experience, but the director left the same year he did and the school went downhill. Good luck deciding!

[nmh]

I spoke of a friend of mine and my brief encounter with them.

I sent my daughter to a private preschool. It was a Christian preschool and she loved it. They did the usual things - learning to read and write the alphabet, sounds, sound out words, write numbers and counting some addition, stories, sing songs arts and crafts, play time and she had a ball. There was a time to "learn" and social time.

[nmh]

"How long did your children attend?"

In case I wasn't clear, we did NOT attend Montessori. It's a chain school and they're the same - lack of structure and a leftist type philosophy which is core to ALL their schools.

[jimt]

It's very dependent on the particular school, and even more so on the teachers. Also, be very aware of the level of parental involvement !

We quit a Montessori preschool after my daughter was disciplined for crying. She was not a whiney child - far from it - the "teacher" was an idiot.

My daughter's elementary years ran from very good to barely acceptable. There was a fair amount of turnover is the teaching staff - not at all a good sign. School meetings were very poorly organized. It was not unusual for them to start 30 to 45 minutes later than scheduled. That said, my daughter seemed to learn pretty well.

Montessori middle school was much better. While they did some weird touchy-feely stuff, most teachers knew their subjects and presented them well. School meetings came off like clockwork. Well organized, no time wasted. At the end, though, it was running about $10K per year.

My daughter is now in a government high school. I'm very pleased. At every school meeting more parents turn out than there are kids in the school.

[zencat]

My son attended Montessori preschool for several years. He did quite well and bonded with the instructors, whom I felt were very dedicated to the children.

The only caution I would advise, is that due to the minimalist discipline/structure, it may not be for every child. My child received structure from home and was able to sort of follow his heart (within limits) of Montessori.

[bboop]

You can learn a lot by visiting the particular school. Theories are great, but your child is in the classroom with THAT particular teacher and under the leadership of that particular Principal. We liked the concept of Waldorf until we visited the school. It was beautiful, great playground. The teacher would stay with the same kids several years. She said, "We do Unit Studies. Ours will be on Astrology (for the two-three years I have your child)." Um, no thanks.

[SE Mom]

I sent my son to Montessori for two years before Kindergarten- mornings only. I asked, and was invited to observe for several days before deciding.

I went to two different ones in my area to discover what if any, were the differences between them. I was comfortable and pleased with what I saw at both of them.

Most of the time was spent playing and learning was a byproduct of play. I didn't want my son starting "school" too soon anyway. There was discipline, structure and respect.

Two of the teachers were on the local Republican committee- and I never observed any "agenda" being pushed by the teachers.

My son has happy memories of his time there- as do I.

[knews_hound]

My niece attends one.

She is a very high maintenance kid, constantly needs to be the center of attention.

The unstructured environment is bad for her, rather than doing her work, she wanders around dancing and trying to gain attention.

But, it seems that the "teachers" are trained to not interrupt her, it is good for her "self esteem".

The kid is a walking disaster area. Completely disrespectful, undisciplined and an all around brat.

Your mileage may vary.

Cheers,

knews hound

[Aggie Mama]

My advice to you would be to relax a bit. There seems to be so much competition these days to get children to be prodigies or little adults at such a tender age. Does your church/synagogue have a Mother's Day Out program? I think it's much more important to have a reinforcement of your values than it is to have 4 yr olds painting like Monet.

I agree with the poster that said that children need structure and organization, and they also just need to be children. Socializing, finger painting, music, centers, and playing outside should be a part of any good school. Make sure you take some a tour of the school that you decide upon. Are the teachers happy to be there, are they interacting with the kids or could they care less? I think you might have better luck in a church-based preschool b/c most of the teachers are there simply for the children, and not for the paycheck.

[Dick Vomer]

I was the President of the School Board and helped to start a school that has Montessori and thematic in the upper grades..

http://www.charlotteacademy.com/

I would recommend the Montessori up to the 1st grade and then would go to a more structured learning. It was funny in that the kids will learn certain stuff with incredible insight and depth, but then if you ask them to tell you the time on a clock... Huh?

I've done research into several Methods of education and have found that the number one predictor is "Parental Involvement". In other words if you consider education important and somehow convey that to your children... it will be important to them. But if you expect to drop your kids off, then pick them up as little geniuses... not going to happen. Spend time with them.... you're going to be a bigger influence than any school.

The other key is , what do you consider a "good education". Is it :High SAT scores? Ability to do independent learning? The ability to read manuals and interpret data? Entry into an "Ivy League" school? The always vague... "be as good and they can be?"...

That's what makes education a very complex subject .... and fun.

[Spirited]

It depends on the teacher.

Montessori demands excellence in a teacher and that is hard to find.

[trumandogz]

If you think American colleges are Liberal you have never been in a Montessori classroom or known a Montessori teacher. You have to remember that Montessori is FRENCH!

They promote a Free Will Education for children. Okay kid, you do not want to do math? No problem. Do some Art or sing a song. Run around the room if you like. Perhaps after lunch we can go to a save the Whales Rally or even a pro abortion protest.

[annyokie]

Maria Montessori was Italian.

My boys each went to Montessori preschool and Kindergarten. The classes were small and they were taught by Catholic nuns (order of St Francis.)

By the time they were four, they could read, write, do simple math and picked up after themselves without being told. It was a wonderful experience for our children.

[biscotti]

I love my son's Montessori school; it has everything I wanted in preschool:

1. Gentle, caring, but firm teachers

2. A wealth of stimulating materials

3. Unstructured, self-directed learning (There are dozens of didactic Montessori-specific puzzles and games for the children to explore on their own.)

4. Structured learning (writing, reading, math, art, gym, science)

5. Unstructured outdoor play

6. An emphasis on practical life, academic, and social skills

7. Good, friendly kids

8. A firm stand on disruptive play, noise, and behavior

9. Progress reports

Montessori stresses independence. Independence requires self-control. Montessori gives the child environment where he can learn to be independent by making his own decisions (what will I play with today?), by taking care of his own needs (getting his own snack), and by following his own interests. A child who cannot control his impulses will not be benefited by this environment; he needs more structure. Montessori provides some, but probably not enough, for that type of child's personality. You know your child.

If your Montessori lacks structure, and has degenerated into a free-for-all, it won't benefit your child. Interview a couple of schools in your area and talk to your neighbors about where they sent their children. Don't worry about getting your child into a school. If your child hates one school, you can always try to enroll in another one; children are always moving around and there are mid-year openings.

One negative about Montessori: Unless your school pulls from predominantly one town, your child's friends will be from many different towns, and will not be in kindergarten together (if you send your child to public school).

[Basselope]

Thanks so much for your replies. It certainly is enlightening to hear about so many different experiences.

I am just beginning to THINK about preschools. Clearly I am not ready to jump into this pool yet. My son is only 2, and I know that it will be a year or more before we even try to enroll him.

As always, I like to have as much information as possible to make an educated decision, especially since it will effect my son's life.

I will respond privately to a couple of you who invited me to do so (for more info on other types of schools). Thanks to all who took the time to reply!

Regards,
Leigh Ann

[ETERNAL WARMING]

No. As Cleel says, "Some kids need more structure than Montessori provides." Children need structure.

[Basselope]

I've seen the 'not enough structure" comment a few times with regard to the Montessori schools. Is it just a free-for-all? Kids running the asylum?

The schools I've looked into (admittedly, I am just getting started) in my area don't really outline what a kid does during the day (at least not on their websites, I am sure I'd get more info by visiting the school itself)...

Thanks,
Leigh Ann

[elisabeth]

I attended a Montessori preschool from age 2 until 5, and I am now a certified Montessori teacher and taught in a Montessori school for a year.

I think the school itself is much more important than the method used. When I begin the search for a preschool for my own child, I will consider the following:

1) Is the school a school/daycare, or just a school? Schools that provide extended hours are not going to be as education-focused as schools that are only open during regular school hours (e.g., 8:00 am to 3:00 pm). In addition, at "schools" that are really more daycare-style, there will be more behavior problems. This is because I think that children WILL act out when they are at a daycare for ten hours a day away from their parents. 90% of the kids with behavior problems at the school where I worked were the daycare kids who were there all day, every day. The teachers had to spend most of their time trying to keep these kids under control, and actual teaching time was greatly diminished as a result.

2) What is the student/teacher ratio? Ask when you call the school for information, and then verify it when you visit. When you visit the school, are the teachers spending time teaching, or are they spending time disciplining children and trying to keep them under control?

Are the teachers Montessori certified? If so, what type of certification do they hold? Also, look around the classroom. You really shouldn't see many/any "toys." That is, you shouldn't see stuff like Dora the Explorer dolls or too many legos. Rather, you should see high-quality wooden materials like blocks, glass pitchers for pouring, math activities, sandpaper letters, etc. Also, try to see what kind of books are displayed in the classroom. Is it high quality children's literature, or crummy books that you would buy at a Walgreens or a CVS? Make sure it is the school's policy not to show kids videos. What the heck are you paying for if you send your kids to a school that regularly shows them videos?!?!

As previous posters have noted, Montessori is not for everyone. If your child is very rambunctious/hyper, he/she may not do well in a Montessori environment, as many Montessori teachers are not very tolerant of this kind of behavior. In my experience, the children who get the most out of Montessori education are children who are somewhat quiet and docile, who have a lot of parental support at home, who have not been "depleted" by an early childhood of babysitters and watching too much television.

I also think that it is best to hold off until at least age three to enroll a child in preschool. Many two year olds are just not ready to be away from their parents, even for a few hours a day.

As a sidenote, Waldorf schools and teachers can be a little crazy. If you are a religious person, I would recommend staying away from Waldorf schools. They are very anti-Christian in my opinion. Do some searching on the Internet and you'll see what I mean. They're weird.

[Basselope]

Thank you so much for your post. It was very helpful to read from someone who not only experienced Montessori as a student, but now also a teacher.

My son is a very calm and quiet little guy (he only cries like twice a week, which I find to be unreal!). His style of 'play' looks like work...he loves to see how things work, quietly studying and exploring. He enjoys learning mostly by seeing it once and then trying it himself....asking for help if he didn't quite 'get it'.

Not to say he isn't an energetic boy! He loves to play and run and giggle and goof around. But when I read about Montessori, I just SEE him in that setting.

At home, we have quiet toys for the most part. I have always been partial to wooden toys because it seems that you have to use your imagination and creativity to have fun with them.....they don't beep and tell you which button to press.

I'm thinking age 3 is a great target. He is not ready now for school (and neither am I for him to go!). I'm just doing early research and getting as much info as I can now.

I found a school locally that is Montessori, located in a Lutheran church. The teacher seems to have her qualifications in order (taught in other Mont. schools before opening this one) and the classes seem small enough to be comfortable for me.

I so appreciate your help. And if you can, would you tell me how kids do when going to 'other' schools after preK/K in the Mont. style? Do they have a rough time adjusting? For later, there is a charter school in the next town over that appeals to me...but if it doesn't work, I'll need to find something other than public school!

Again, thanks so much for your help! Best regards, Leigh Ann

[mziegl]

My son (who turned 5 yesterday) has been in a montessori preschool since he was 2. I agree that this method is not for everyone, but I wanted to point out a few things and respond to the student/teacher who wrote as well.

1. When looking for a preschool, most preschools are going to be Montessori or Montessori-based. Mostly, this is because preschool is not about academics, which is good, but about other important things like socialization, independence, etc.

2. With that being said, I thought Montessori was great in the 2-3 year olds, but I am not a fan for the pre-k year. My child is a very social, energetic but very kind child. The set up of the school is that the morning is the "academic" time where they have circle time and then free choice on an activity. All the activities are montessori with the tracing letters, math blocks, etc. However, my child roams the room and talks and "plays" more than anything else. The Montessori philosophy is that if the child isn't engaging in a particular activity, they are not ready and this is where I totally disagree. We are working with him at home on letters, numbers, writing etc to make sure he is ready for kindgergarten next year. His teachers have all said that he is smart, but doesn't want to do "challenging work" and this is where the structure and guidance is sorely missing. In addition, he gets the typical art, music and yoga on Mondays (his personal fav.)

3. My other comment is that because a child is in daycare does not mean they will be an unruly, poorly behaved child and I think that is a terrible misconception. There is a huge range of childcare out there, but there are some wonderful places for children. My son was in a Bright Horizons facility since he was 6 months old until 3 years old and was taught sign language as an infant, had caregivers with master degrees in early childhood development and he had wonderful opportunities as a toddler and is a very engaging, social, well-mannered child so regardless of whether your child is at home or in daycare, you still have to parent!!!

4. I think the bottom line is to know your child, know the teachers, the student/teacher ratio and know the set up and philosophy of the school. I think Montessori has very good attributes as a young toddler or preschooler. I don't think it is great for the necessary preperation needed for the school years especially for a child who is very social and active.

5. Currently, I just finished the job of looking for kindergarten and was able to talk to lots of teachers at various schools to find out what is expected at the entrance of kindgergaten and 100% said the basics such as socialization, writing their name, alphabet by sight and some number recognition so good to know when looking for preschool.

6. Know your child and then figure out the best fit for him/her.