To parents who took their kids out of a montessori preschool...

[Anonymous]

Can you share your rationale? Did it have to do with the school or the montessori system itself? In retrospect, do you think your DC benefited from the switch?

[Anonymous]

I had a friend pull their child because they were told he was autistic by the director. The mom has been to many doctors who say he is not but he is shy and has a hard time making friends. I have watched him many times and he doesnt have any out lining symtoms.

Another because he hated it, he was pulled out because they werent a true mont.. school. He needed intense tutoring to catch up.

I dont think its a good fit for all.

[Anonymous]

I pulled DC out of a Montessori preschool. It was the best decision for DC. The main teacher was very cold and not what a 3-4 years old needs. DC hated the school and didn't learn much. Switched to a warm and nurturing school: great fit.

[Anonymous]

You need to be careful with Montessori schools to make sure that they really are Montessori. The school should be AMI certified not AMS. A hybrid program is a bad idea not because a playbased/teacher led model can't work but because it doesn't work with a large mixed age setting. You should also be able to meet with the teacher and have updates on your child's progress. A good M school will let your child pursue areas where the child has a greater interest but they will not let the child avoid other areas and skills.

Montessori should not be cold, that is not the intended approach at all. If you see this then switch teachers or schools. I have seen play based programs where a poor teacher interpret this to mean the kids just play with toys no differently then if they were on a playdate. Chaotic free play with minimal supervision is not play-based. The same problem can exist for Montessori where an untrained or bad teacher can interpret the independent work to mean the child does not receive encouragement or should not connect with peers. This isn't Montessori.

There is a new Montessori school in our area that is terrible and just using Montessori for marketing , to get around the lower ratio requirements for a playbased program, and save money by being able to mix the ages. I know two parents who have pulled their kids out so far because the quality and instruction was very poor. One went to a different Montessori school and is happy and the other family went to a playbased program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Another because he hated it, he was pulled out because they werent a true mont.. school. He needed intense tutoring to catch up.

I dont think its a good fit for all.

How far behind could he possibly have been when starting kindergarten? My dd, who has been in a play-based program the whole time, will be just fine without any tutoring.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it isn't for everyone. But that being said, you have to also choose the right school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to be careful with Montessori schools to make sure that they really are Montessori. The school should be AMI certified not AMS. A hybrid program is a bad idea not because a playbased/teacher led model can't work but because it doesn't work with a large mixed age setting. You should also be able to meet with the teacher and have updates on your child's progress. A good M school will let your child pursue areas where the child has a greater interest but they will not let the child avoid other areas and skills.

Montessori should not be cold, that is not the intended approach at all. If you see this then switch teachers or schools. I have seen play based programs where a poor teacher interpret this to mean the kids just play with toys no differently then if they were on a playdate. Chaotic free play with minimal supervision is not play-based. The same problem can exist for Montessori where an untrained or bad teacher can interpret the independent work to mean the child does not receive encouragement or should not connect with peers. This isn't Montessori.

There is a new Montessori school in our area that is terrible and just using Montessori for marketing , to get around the lower ratio requirements for a playbased program, and save money by being able to mix the ages. I know two parents who have pulled their kids out so far because the quality and instruction was very poor. One went to a different Montessori school and is happy and the other family went to a playbased program.

PP, I havea a couple questions if you don't mind. My child is currently at a center that calls itself "play-based" and follows a "creative curriculum" They are currently contemplating mixing the ages (3-6) admittedly to save money. Something feels "off" about this and I am wondering more in light of your comments. What do you mean when you say that there are higher ratios for non-Montessori programs? TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Another because he hated it, he was pulled out because they werent a true mont.. school. He needed intense tutoring to catch up.

I dont think its a good fit for all.

How far behind could he possibly have been when starting kindergarten? My dd, who has been in a play-based program the whole time, will be just fine without any tutoring.

He went to the school in Kindergarden and first. It wasn't a true Mont. School. He needed intensive tutoring. He was a year or more behind everyone when he started 2nd and that was after a summer of tutoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to be careful with Montessori schools to make sure that they really are Montessori. The school should be AMI certified not AMS. A hybrid program is a bad idea not because a playbased/teacher led model can't work but because it doesn't work with a large mixed age setting. You should also be able to meet with the teacher and have updates on your child's progress. A good M school will let your child pursue areas where the child has a greater interest but they will not let the child avoid other areas and skills.

Montessori should not be cold, that is not the intended approach at all. If you see this then switch teachers or schools. I have seen play based programs where a poor teacher interpret this to mean the kids just play with toys no differently then if they were on a playdate. Chaotic free play with minimal supervision is not play-based. The same problem can exist for Montessori where an untrained or bad teacher can interpret the independent work to mean the child does not receive encouragement or should not connect with peers. This isn't Montessori.

There is a new Montessori school in our area that is terrible and just using Montessori for marketing , to get around the lower ratio requirements for a playbased program, and save money by being able to mix the ages. I know two parents who have pulled their kids out so far because the quality and instruction was very poor. One went to a different Montessori school and is happy and the other family went to a playbased program.

PP, I havea a couple questions if you don't mind. My child is currently at a center that calls itself "play-based" and follows a "creative curriculum" They are currently contemplating mixing the ages (3-6) admittedly to save money. Something feels "off" about this and I am wondering more in light of your comments. What do you mean when you say that there are higher ratios for non-Montessori programs? TIA

It is CRAZY to put 3-6 year olds together in the same classroom. I don't care how much money it will save. First of all 6 year old children should be in 1st grade. It might be okay for 3 and 4s to be in the same room if the curriculum is stellar.

[Anonymous]

3-6 Year olds in the same class is a little weird. But "Creative Curriculum" is an actual standard curriculum that many pre-schools use, and "play-based" learning doesnt mean just throw kids in a room and let them play. Its just how to use creative, play-based activities to learn things.

[Anonymous]

Montessori pre-schools go up to Kindergarten. The cycle is 3 years starting at age 3. These are not red-shirted kids but actual kindergarten kids who turn 5 by September. If they have fall, winter or early spring birthdays then they turn six while in Kindergarten.

In Montessori the materials are designed to provide progressively more challenging activities. For example, the 3 yr olds in the Math area would be working either independently or in small groups on quantities while the 4 yr olds would be learning addition and the K kids could be doing multiplication or fractions. In Montessori, each child receives a one on one lesson from the teacher and then the child practices the 'work'. The activities are designed to help the child work on their own. The multi age works because the kids are working independently or one on one with the teacher. It also depends on the right balance of age groups.

In play based, the activities are teacher led. I would be comfortable with a play based school but not with a mixed age play based school. The 3 yr olds are not going to grasp teacher led lessons designed for 5-6 year olds and the teacher led lessons for 3 yr olds would be wasting time for the 5-6 year olds.

In Maryland Montessori schools are allowed to have a high number of students to teachers and mixed ages than play based schools. The good Montessori schools actually have lower ratios but there are some poor ones that only use Montessori in the name to get more kids in one room with one teacher. I looked at Children's Manor Montessori and it seemed terrible. They promoted a hybrid approach but in reality it seemed like a poor example of play based. I would not want to put my 3 yr old in a room with mostly 4 and older kids who had never done Montessori with one teacher that did not have Montessori training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Another because he hated it, he was pulled out because they werent a true mont.. school. He needed intense tutoring to catch up.

I dont think its a good fit for all.

How far behind could he possibly have been when starting kindergarten? My dd, who has been in a play-based program the whole time, will be just fine without any tutoring.

He went to the school in Kindergarden and first. It wasn't a true Mont. School. He needed intensive tutoring. He was a year or more behind everyone when he started 2nd and that was after a summer of tutoring.

Now you have me worried. Do you mind saying what city the Mont school was in? My daughter switched from one that had some issues and while I have checked references from a few parents this time around I am considering a montessori that goes up to a higher grade next year.

[Anonymous]

Now you have me worried. Do you mind saying what city the Mont school was in? My daughter switched from one that had some issues and while I have checked references from a few parents this time around I am considering a montessori that goes up to a higher grade next year.

It is in the lower part of Northern Virginia. Please remember private schools do not have to meet any standards or regulations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Now you have me worried. Do you mind saying what city the Mont school was in? My daughter switched from one that had some issues and while I have checked references from a few parents this time around I am considering a montessori that goes up to a higher grade next year.

It is in the lower part of Northern Virginia. Please remember private schools do not have to meet any standards or regulations.

This is too broad a statement. Good private schools will have accreditation (not just membership) from relevant organizations--e.g., NAIS.