[Katia555]

Just wondering: Has anyone here sent their child to an Alexander Montessori school and, if so, what do you think of it? Does your child thrive there?

Our almost three-year-old just started there, three hours per day. Prior to that, she was in a traditional daycare program. We felt it was too loud and chaotic, with the teachers constantly barking their instructions and correcting the children, telling them what to do, how to do it and what not to do. Our daughter is very active and vocal. She reacts strongly to chaos. If things are chaotic or loud around her, she gets hyper. At the Montessori school we chose instead, on the other hand, the atmosphere is very different -- quiet and calm. She seems too really like it there, is happy to go there every morning. But now a friend of mine has told me that Montessori schools are too quiet for a three-year-old to thrive in; that there is not a lot child-adult interaction, as the children are expected to direct themselves. Has anyone had any experience with this?

[imdmom]

Hi! I can't specifically speak about Montessori (it's been sooo long since I have observed in a Mont. class) but I can speak as a kindergarten teacher. Our early childhood classes use the Constructivist Model (Project Construct) which is similar in some ways. The child "chooses" what activities they want to do and are supposed to self-direct themselves. However, when they get to Kindergarten there is a HUGE transition from "choosing" what they want to do the whole time to "structured" teacher-led activities. I am in our 3rd week of school and have noticed that the kids who were in the early childhood program have a lot harder time transitioning from activity to activity because they just don't want to do it. They want to choose which activity they want to do...which isn't going to happen.
My suggestion would be to find out what the kindergarten program your child will attend is like and find a happy medium. It will be hard enough in 2-3 years for your child to go to kindergarten...it would really help the transition to know what she'll be heading for and helping her slowly transition to more structured type of learning for part of the time and less structured activities for the other part.
Hope this helps!
Nancy
LID 1/30/07

[Katia555]

Thanks so much for your input..... Actually, we were planning on letting our daughter stay at the Montessori school for as long as possible, at least until she is six and hopefully much longer. (They are so expensive, though) We are hoping that, by then, it will be easier for her to make the transition to a more traditional style of teaching. We visited several childcare centers before making our decision. The thing that bothered me about them was the way the teachers were constantly yelling, creating a very hyper environment. Our daughter can be hyper herself so needs a calm environment. I hope we made the right decision, sometimes it is so hard to know for sure.....

[MissyAmomChina]

Hi,

I'm a speech pathologist who works for the schools. Early in my career, I was contracted to work in a Montesorri classroom via the schools. Without revealing my age , it's been a while and I'm a little rust on the Montesorri philosophy. All that said, it is a distinctive style of education. Some love it, some hate it---personally, I think it's all about finding the right match for you and your family. If you feel it's a good match for your dd, and it's what you all want to do--go for it. Also, children evolve and change over time--so it may be a great match now--but there may be a better match down the road. I think as long as you are tuned into your child, you'll know what's best for them .

[Katia555]

Hi,

You says that, "children evolve and change over time--so it may be a great match now--but there may be a better match down the road." I think that's good advice. For now, it seems that the Montessori school is good for our DD, primarily due to the calm setting. She has only been there one week, so it is too early to know for sure, but she has been much calmer lately compared to when she was at the other more traditional daycare setting.

[lyndsys-dad]

wow...kind of strange this topic came up....my wife and i have decided to send our daughter to a montessori school...she actually starts there next week...my wife spent a full day there a few weeks ago and observed their style of teaching,and came away very impressed...our daughter really seemed to like it also(she'll turn 3 in two weeks by the way)...she will be going 3 days a week from 8:15am till 3:15...we are very excited about the school

[Katia555]

Just wanted to wish you good luck with the Montessori school. If you don't mind, please let me know how your daughter adjusts. Our daughter has just completed her second week there. She loves it so far.... it seems to fit her much better than an "ordinary" daycare setting, for some reason.....

[odi]

Our 3rd child is on her second year at a Montessori preschool. The older 2 transitioned to "regular" school with no problems. But all schools (including Montessori) are differant. At my kids school has a circle time at the begining and end and so the kids transition to work and back to circle. They spend time outside and transition inside...... In our case the boys came away with huge general knowledge and a love of learning and fabulous social skills but had a litlle catching up on writing and reading. (they knew their letters but had to be pushed to practice writing and reading as it wasn't their favorite activity. Now in 1st and 3rd grades they are at grade level -1st or above 3rd.)
If your daughter likes the school and the quieter enviroment I would keep her where she is and practice areas where they need help at home.
Diana

[bizziedog]

Hi! I'm a lurker from the Guatemala board...actually I just lurk there as well! My 5 year old bio daughter has been going to an AMI Montessori school since she was 3 and we love it. Because anyone can use the name Montessori, you really have to do your homework and find out how "Montessori" the school is. My daughter's is pretty hard core. There are several internationally adopted children that also attend and they also seem to thrive. Several came in with developmental delays and the nice part is that they work at their own speed to "catch up." Our school has a N.E.S.T. program for walking toddlers up to 3, then primary from 3-6, then elementary from 6-12. There is some wiggle room as to when the children move from one class to another and decisions are based on a child's development in addition to age when moving them from class to class. We brought our new son home from Guatemala in July and he'll also go to Montessori when he is old enough. I'm not sure if he'll go in the N.E.S.T. or if we'll wait until he turns 3. I also appreciate the fact that different cultures are valued and explored on a daily basis.

Again, schools can vary, but at my daughter's school it is calm and the children are all focused and attentive. It is definitely NOT a chaotic environment! We're still trying to figure out how to swing it financially until everyone is 12 (especially when we have 2 going!!!!) but I really feel it's worth it.

[Katia555]

Thanks for your advice, everyone..... will let you know how it goes.....