Montessori?

[paddyb]

Has anyone looked in to montessori school/started their kid in Montessori and/or decided against Montessori?

Is so why did you make the decision you did?

My MIL is really pushing Montessori, however based on the location of the Montessori schools where we are moving and the neighborhoods we are looking at, it looks like it would be super out of the way.  Plus, I'm not really understanding the benefit, but maybe I'm missing something.

[starfishy]

One of our public schools is a Montessori Magnet School. So it's not 100% true Montessori but it has a lot of the values. Students are allowed to learn at their own pace, and make choices for their best learning. Very student centered.
I think it takes a certain personality. I don't know how well I would preform in that type of environment. I liked more structure and as a teacher I like a structured classroom. That said I don't think it's a bad thing to take a look into.
If T was going to the public schools I might consider it and see how it goes. However we made the choice before we had kids to send our kids to Catholic school so it's not on our radar right now.

[sarasansh]

We considered a Montessori preschool and I was a little turned off by it. I think there are lots of shades of Montessori--the one we looked at was super hardcore, to the point that they didn't call it playtime (they called it work, since play is a 3 year old's work) and they also did very few fiction read aloud because they were about exploring the actual world not the make believe world. Same with all the stuff in the classroom--there were tons of manipulatives (scales, blocks, counters, etc) but no actual toys, like dress up clothes or kitchen. I think that's pretty far to one side of the spectrum though.

I think if you like the idea of self-discovered learning Montessori could be a good option.

[cookiesandwine]

@denisern's kids go to a Montessori school. Idk if she ever comes over here though.

[mightybee]

A friend sends her 3 year old son to a Montessori school and he is thriving there. He is an introverted, shy, thinker. I think it really depends on the child's personality and fit with the program, so it's worth a visit if you're at all interested.

The cost of Montessori schools are pretty steep here, so I didn't really look into it as an option.

[xanthepants]

I've spoken to a few friends about it. Some love it, some don't. I think it depends on your kids personality too from what I hear as well when I talk to them. One parents experience was that even between their own two kids, it suited ones more introspective personality better, but not the more rambunctious kid's personality though. I'm sure there are varying degrees of schools of thought as well.
Actually I've thought that it might suit Cosette pretty well. She's shy, but focused and plays independently quite well. I could see her thriving potentially in an environment like this. I haven't always heard the best things about translating into a regular school curriculum from some of my elem. Ed friends I know and that is my only fear. I'm sure we could supplement her more traditional learning skills if needed somehow I suppose.

[heatherbee]

Sept 20, 2015 20:00:10 GMT -5 xanthepants said:

I've spoken to a few friends about it. Some love it, some don't. I think it depends on your kids personality too from what I hear as well when I talk to them. One parents experience was that even between their own two kids, it suited ones more introspective personality better, but not the more rambunctious kid's personality though. I'm sure there are varying degrees of schools of thought as well.
Actually I've thought that it might suit Cosette pretty well. She's shy, but focused and plays independently quite well. I could see her thriving potentially in an environment like this. I haven't always heard the best things about translating into a regular school curriculum from some of my elem. Ed friends I know and that is my only fear. I'm sure we could supplement her more traditional learning skills if needed somehow I suppose.

I agree it totally depends on the child and how they learn. I think what xanthepants said about the transition to school is really important though. It is very different then a traditional school, but if you plan to continue as your kids get older and then are possibly looking int private schools that offer similar philosophies or more project based learning it might make sense.
It is very expensive in my area too, and I used to teach a karate program at a local Montessori school. The school did not have much socio-economic diversity - lots of wealthy parents. So that would be a bit of a drawback for me (ie I'm not a wealthy parent .

[trixi282]

Sept 20, 2015 19:39:56 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

@denisern's kids go to a Montessori school. Idk if she ever comes over here though.

They do, you could hit her up on the FB group...

Briefly looked into it since there's one near my moms house, but since it was out of the way and cost more it was a no go for us. I'm not sure if the one near her is more strict Montessori or not. I have a friend in OH that sent her kids to one and she loved it. I know in her car she talked a lot about the kids learning to do every day things on their own, like set the table, clear the table, help with getting and putting away supplies for activities or projects, etc. It was much more focused on learning daily activities and independence, while also incorporating alphabet, numbers, days of the week, etc.

[aylafsu1881]

Sept 20, 2015 17:56:50 GMT -5 starfishy said:

One of our public schools is a Montessori Magnet School. So it's not 100% true Montessori but it has a lot of the values. Students are allowed to learn at their own pace, and make choices for their best learning. Very student centered.
I think it takes a certain personality. I don't know how well I would preform in that type of environment. I liked more structure and as a teacher I like a structured classroom. That said I don't think it's a bad thing to take a look into.

This is what I found as well when I looked into it. I decided against it. To me the concept is great but not very practical. Kids will gravitate to what they are good at. That can be good but when they avoid other areas it can be detrimental. They are often behind in areas that they avoid since they are not as interested in those areas and may find them more difficult. To me that does not generate a well rounded individual.

[paddyb]

Thanks for all the feedback here and on FB. I am amazed at how many different teaching philosophies there are for young kids and how they are all supposedly based on essentially the same stuff, but result in such vastly different approaches.

So far I have seen nothing that makes me think the extra effort (and most likely money) are worth it.

Maybe I will have my H talk to his brother who sends his kid to Montessori....