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johnsae
Sip.
Member since 3/06 18677 total posts
Name:
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Montessori schools
I am continuing on my quest for a new school for DD....(I haven't ruled out the crazy-expensive private school, but I'm trying to keep all of our options open).
My neighbor sent her little girl to a Montessori school down the street. It is very close and small...it is at the end of a cul-de-sac and feels safe. I don't actually visit it until Jan 7th. All I know about Montessori schools is what my mother remembers from the early 80s...(something about hippies and no order to the classroom) - I know a lot of people love Montessori, and I'm excited to find out what they are all about.
Please share your stories/thoughts with me!
Thank you!
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Posted 12/15/09 8:09 PM  |
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Deedlebugs
Blessed
Member since 12/05 10281 total posts
Name:
Kiki
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Re: Montessori schools
There is a Montessori school the next block over from me. I went to observe a few times and I just love it there. I can't send DD till 36 months so she will start in September but I plan on keeping her there for as long as they'll have her. 
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| Posted 12/15/09 8:13 PM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name:
Veronica
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Re: Montessori schools
These schools are all the rage down here too. Big deal about prepping your children for grade school, etc. HIGHLY recommended.. but also (at least here) expensive.
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| Posted 12/15/09 8:32 PM |
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MrsR
My love.
Member since 5/05 6247 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Montessori schools
My dd is in her third year of montessori - I LOVE it!!! She has learned so much and is really excelling. Not all Montessori schools are the same so certainly check it out. FM me if you want to know anymore details or if you have any questions.
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| Posted 12/15/09 8:57 PM |
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Re: Montessori schools
i know very little about them, but whenever the topic comes up in conversation, the big thing people who are in the know state, is that they are all different...
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| Posted 12/15/09 9:08 PM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Re: Montessori schools
I adore Montessori and it has been amazing for DD.
Hippies they are not and they have the most orderly classroom I have ever witnessed. My DD asks to go to school every day. She loves it.
She has learned so much and craves the structure and learning she gets there.
We are keeping her in Montessori for her long term education.
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| Posted 12/15/09 10:38 PM |
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Jazzyt
My Girl!!!
Member since 8/07 2977 total posts
Name:
Giselle
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Re: Montessori schools
I am tryign to get DD in Berkley Carol they start at 3 I love Montessori Schools and their principles
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| Posted 12/15/09 10:45 PM |
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SweetCin
My green-eyed boy
Member since 5/05 13499 total posts
Name:
Cin
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Re: Montessori schools
When I was getting my Masters in ECE, I had to observe in a montessori classroom & maybe it was just the school I went to; but it was very loosely structured. It's based on the concept that children learn best by exploring/experimenting with what they are interested in. The school I was in had no formal "learning" time as a group. I think it really depends on your child and obviously the particular school.
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| Posted 12/15/09 10:46 PM |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
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Re: Montessori schools
It wasn't for us. There was no creative or pretend play, and IMO it was too restrictive and didn't allow for all children to be taught in the way they would learn best.
Discipline was also an issue, but I'm willing to bet it was an issue for just this particular school.
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| Posted 12/16/09 7:18 AM |
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kahlua716
3 Girls for Me!
Member since 8/07 12475 total posts
Name:
Keri
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Re: Montessori schools
I would LOVE to send my Future DC to Montessori school- only for preschool through K though- after that I feel children need more structure (JMO!).
It's not that montessori has no structure- it's just more child directed than teacher directed.
The children choose from different activities in the room and every activity has an educational puprose.
I used to work in a Montessori program with toddlers (18m-3y). They got so much out of it!!
In the classroom I worked in- each child got one on one time with the teacher being taught the different activities, and eventually being introduced to new ones as their skills progressed. We also had some group activities.
ETA: I think that it also really depends on the child. Some children do better with more direction. You should think about how your daughter would work in a classroom like that versus having one where the teacher leads each activity and the whole class works together.
Message edited 12/16/2009 9:24:02 AM.
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| Posted 12/16/09 9:20 AM |
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kahlua716
3 Girls for Me!
Member since 8/07 12475 total posts
Name:
Keri
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Re: Montessori schools
Posted by PatsBrat
There was no creative or pretend play,
This is sort of true. In traditional montessori classrooms- everything has to be reality based. There are no fairy tales or talking animals or cartoon characters.
I disagree about the lack of creative play- we had activities that included watercolors, painting at an easel, cutting and gluing, stamping (all contribute to learning fine motor skills as well as sparking creativity)
We also had sets of farm animals and dolls- they were lifelike though- not cartoonish.
There were times we also did free play at the end of the day for a bit (this may not be the norm though.)
I do agree though that it is sometimes sad that the fairy tales aren't encouraged- but I think kids get plenty of that stuff at home. At montessori school they learn life lessons- and get to behave like little adults-and are treated as such. They seem to love it!
One more thing- I would make sure that the school you choose has AMI certified teachers and educated assistant teachers. There is one local to me where the teachers take a quick "montessori" training course and the assistants are fresh out of HS.
Take a look at this site to get an idea of activities in a classroom and their purpose.
http://www.boyd.k12.ky.us/eclc/MONTESSORI%20ED%20AREAS%20OF%20STUDY.htm
I'd be happy to try to answer any other questions- although I am no longer in the field, I have a few friends who completed extensive montessori training and are currently teaching 
One more link
AMI website
Message edited 12/16/2009 9:39:12 AM.
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| Posted 12/16/09 9:34 AM |
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JenBenMen
party of five
Member since 9/06 11343 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Montessori schools
In Brooklyn these schools are expensive
My friend sends her son there since I believe the children of different ages play together as opposed to 3/4/5 year olds in separate groups
The schooling is more about play then things like structure/flashcards since the theory is that young kids learn more that way
If I could afford it for DS I would probably try it for a year
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| Posted 12/16/09 9:34 AM |
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johnsae
Sip.
Member since 3/06 18677 total posts
Name:
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Re: Montessori schools
Posted by kahlua716
Posted by PatsBrat
There was no creative or pretend play,
This is sort of true. In traditional montessori classrooms- everything has to be reality based. There are no fairy tales or talking animals or cartoon characters.
I disagree about the lack of creative play- we had activities that included watercolors, painting at an easel, cutting and gluing, stamping (all contribute to learning fine motor skills as well as sparking creativity)
We also had sets of farm animals and dolls- they were lifelike though- not cartoonish.
There were times we also did free play at the end of the day for a bit (this may not be the norm though.)
I do agree though that it is sometimes sad that the fairy tales aren't encouraged- but I think kids get plenty of that stuff at home. At montessori school they learn life lessons- and get to behave like little adults-and are treated as such. They seem to love it!
One more thing- I would make sure that the school you choose has AMI certified teachers and educated assistant teachers. There is one local to me where the teachers take a quick "montessori" training course and the assistants are fresh out of HS.
Take a look at this site to get an idea of activities in a classroom and their purpose.
http://www.boyd.k12.ky.us/eclc/MONTESSORI%20ED%20AREAS%20OF%20STUDY.htm
I'd be happy to try to answer any other questions- although I am no longer in the field, I have a few friends who completed extensive montessori training and are currently teaching
One more link
AMI website
Thank you for this info! Not sure I understand why kids can't play with cartoonish things lol, but ok...I'm starting to get the big Montessori picture...I think I will have to go and watch the teachers and how the kids interact to obviously understand the method better....
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| Posted 12/16/09 11:47 AM |
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johnsae
Sip.
Member since 3/06 18677 total posts
Name:
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Re: Montessori schools
Posted by JenBenMen
In Brooklyn these schools are expensive
My friend sends her son there since I believe the children of different ages play together as opposed to 3/4/5 year olds in separate groups
The schooling is more about play then things like structure/flashcards since the theory is that young kids learn more that way
If I could afford it for DS I would probably try it for a year
yeah, the cost hasn't been discussed yet...how expensive is the one in Brooklyn?
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| Posted 12/16/09 11:48 AM |
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kahlua716
3 Girls for Me!
Member since 8/07 12475 total posts
Name:
Keri
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Re: Montessori schools
Posted by johnsae
Thank you for this info! Not sure I understand why kids can't play with cartoonish things lol, but ok...I'm starting to get the big Montessori picture...I think I will have to go and watch the teachers and how the kids interact to obviously understand the method better....
I wasn't sure of the answer myself- other than that Montessori discourages "lying" to children- so I googled and found:
Montessori on Fantasy
Posted Wed, 08/26/2009 - 21:21 by Megan
There are many common misunderstandings out there about Montessori education, one of the biggest being that pretend play and imagination are unsupported and even discouraged in the classroom. The important distinction Montessori made in a young child’s pretend play is whether it is reality-based or fantasy-based.
Fantasy and creativity are supported in art, music, dance and drama. Imagination plays a central role, as children explore how the natural world works, visualize other cultures and ancient civilizations, and search for creative solutions to real-life problems. In Montessori schools, the Arts are normally integrated into the rest of the curriculum.
Children often incorporate pretend play into their “work” at school. If pretend play
is reality based it is using the imagination. (Playing house, doctor, doggie, etc. It reflects real life experiences in the child’s life.) This type of play is quite valuable in terms of a child’s learning and can also be therapeutic as long as it is not distracting to others or in some way disrespectful.
If the pretend play is full of ideas fed through the media, then it is fantasy-based. In this case the child is not developing his imagination and is actually less tuned in to others and his surroundings. Rather than developing a creative storyline, he tunes out and jumps into character thereby disregarding his surroundings.
Maria Montessori believed that children under 6 are still developing the capability of distinguishing fantasy vs. reality. In the emotion of play, this age group does not yet have the inner control to hold back impulses. Therefore, Montessori strongly advoacted grounding children first in reality.
link
another good link
http://www.springstonekids.com/montessori-myths
As for the cartoon thing- it's more because they want kids to realize that a mouse does not actually look like Mickey and a cat doesn't look like Stimpy. 
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| Posted 12/16/09 12:27 PM |
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stickydust
Now a mommy of 2!!!
Member since 4/06 3164 total posts
Name:
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Re: Montessori schools
DD attends a well-regarded Montessori school. Based on the answers here I think every program is different.
DD's school is seperated by age. They have "free play" at the end of the day. And while they can choose the activities they engage in part of the time there are also some more structured crafts etc. I know that they do this because all of a sudden DD knows all about the seasons and all about Hanukah even though I haven't taught it to her (we are Catholic) - so in her school there seems to be some structured learning time.
They have french class, music class, yoga and next year they also do dance/creative movement.
Overall we are INCREDIBLY happy with her school.
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| Posted 12/16/09 3:24 PM |
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Chicken92305
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/06 684 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: Montessori schools
Posted by PatsBrat
It wasn't for us. There was no creative or pretend play, and IMO it was too restrictive and didn't allow for all children to be taught in the way they would learn best.
Discipline was also an issue, but I'm willing to bet it was an issue for just this particular school.
i agree...i used to be a preschool teacher, and part of my training was to visit different schools to see how each was different, and i feel as a parent and a teacher for me personally (not trying to offend anyone at all) that there should be creative play, pretend play, art projects on the wall and color, structure and discipline is much different vs other preschool programs, again, this is just IMO and i feel that you should visit different types of preschools to see what fits your child best and what your personal beliefs are.
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| Posted 12/16/09 3:31 PM |
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babyfever08
Love my babies!
Member since 11/08 3938 total posts
Name:
Antonella
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Re: Montessori schools
I used to kid sit a child who went to Montessori- he was in the 6th grade and on an 11th grade level.
He used to help me with my homework. 
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| Posted 12/16/09 3:42 PM |
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