Montessori, I want to believe but...

[Anonymous]

My oldest went from 3years old all the way through 4th grade. Fine transition into middle school (which started at 5th grade), although he was behind in Math he quickly caught up.

Youngest went from 3 years old to 2nd grade. Easy transition for him back into a traditional elementary school. He was very behind and while he has made great strides in some areas, he's still struggling in others.

IMO, it's great for all kids in the primary years, but I think one you get into the elementary years you have to decide if your kid is thriving or needs something different.

[Anonymous]

I looked into some Montessori schools but ultimately decided it was not a good fit for my child. The fact that comforting your child is discouraged and having them dress themselves and be independent was a problem for me because my child has a Sept birthday and would be one of the youngest kids in class. I can see it working for slightly older children 4/5 but 2 going on 3 was not a good idea in my situation. It really depends on your child and her maturity level as well as a parent's comfort level.

[Anonymous]

montessori schools are all different. my son is in an elementary program and i think it's been great for him…probably doesn't work for everyone. he's been at two different schools, one i preferred to the other. the one i liked less was a little self-aggrandizing about the montessori method. the one i preferred did montessori but was really into lots of other stuff too and wasn't snooty about it at all.

surprised to read about kids being behind in math coming out of montessori. i think the math curriculum is really the best part of the whole program. wonder if some of the "behind" is just translating the different approaches or using different vocabulary to describe what they are doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:montessori schools are all different. my son is in an elementary program and i think it's been great for him…probably doesn't work for everyone. he's been at two different schools, one i preferred to the other. the one i liked less was a little self-aggrandizing about the montessori method. the one i preferred did montessori but was really into lots of other stuff too and wasn't snooty about it at all.

surprised to read about kids being behind in math coming out of montessori. i think the math curriculum is really the best part of the whole program. wonder if some of the "behind" is just translating the different approaches or using different vocabulary to describe what they are doing.

I'm the poster who had the kid behind in math. I agree, it's unusual. Our problem was the teacher, she was not great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We turned down our spot at lamb because I just didn't get it.

For the thousandth time, LAMB is NOT "real" Montessori. It is sort of a hybrid. They are not certified by AMI or AMS, they use teachers trained by both schools of thought and incorporate technology and other things that are not a part of the Montessori curriculum. Capitol Hill Montessori is AMI certified, and Lee plans to be AMI certified and Langdon are AMI. On the private side you have Aidan and Christian Family Montessori. That said, it is challenging to do the real Montessori thing AND be public, but make sure you are looking at the real thing before you form an opinion about Montessori.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We turned down our spot at lamb because I just didn't get it.

For the thousandth time, LAMB is NOT "real" Montessori. It is sort of a hybrid. They are not certified by AMI or AMS, they use teachers trained by both schools of thought and incorporate technology and other things that are not a part of the Montessori curriculum. Capitol Hill Montessori is AMI certified, and Lee plans to be AMI certified and Langdon are AMI. On the private side you have Aidan and Christian Family Montessori. That said, it is challenging to do the real Montessori thing AND be public, but make sure you are looking at the real thing before you form an opinion about Montessori.

Thanks for the clarification!

[Anonymous]

we just did a montessori tour today and thought the preschool program was really interesting and all the kids looked "busy" doing their own things. My concern is that my kdi is already really independent and I want her to learn more coorperative play in groups so this may not help with socialization. I had a lot of concerns about the upper grades. I just don't get out those 5th/6th graders could transition to s school that used common core, especially for math. Lots of kids were walking around the halls, two were sewing, some were making a pie and the teacher gives "lessons" to just two or three kids at a time. These were 4-th through 6th graders folks. I know a lot of schools push academics too early but at some point there needs to be some adamics. I think we will definitely consider it for preschool though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we just did a montessori tour today and thought the preschool program was really interesting and all the kids looked "busy" doing their own things. My concern is that my kdi is already really independent and I want her to learn more coorperative play in groups so this may not help with socialization. I had a lot of concerns about the upper grades. I just don't get out those 5th/6th graders could transition to s school that used common core, especially for math. Lots of kids were walking around the halls, two were sewing, some were making a pie and the teacher gives "lessons" to just two or three kids at a time. These were 4-th through 6th graders folks. I know a lot of schools push academics too early but at some point there needs to be some adamics. I think we will definitely consider it for preschool though.

My 5 year old is at Montessori. I consider it very academic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we just did a montessori tour today and thought the preschool program was really interesting and all the kids looked "busy" doing their own things. My concern is that my kdi is already really independent and I want her to learn more coorperative play in groups so this may not help with socialization. I had a lot of concerns about the upper grades. I just don't get out those 5th/6th graders could transition to s school that used common core, especially for math. Lots of kids were walking around the halls, two were sewing, some were making a pie and the teacher gives "lessons" to just two or three kids at a time. These were 4-th through 6th graders folks. I know a lot of schools push academics too early but at some point there needs to be some adamics. I think we will definitely consider it for preschool though.

My 5 year old is at Montessori. I consider it very academic.

Maybe for the lower grades it is. But by 6th grade shouldn't kids be working on pre-algebra and less on making a quilt in the classroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We turned down our spot at lamb because I just didn't get it.

For the thousandth time, LAMB is NOT "real" Montessori. It is sort of a hybrid. They are not certified by AMI or AMS, they use teachers trained by both schools of thought and incorporate technology and other things that are not a part of the Montessori curriculum. Capitol Hill Montessori is AMI certified, and Lee plans to be AMI certified and Langdon are AMI. On the private side you have Aidan and Christian Family Montessori. That said, it is challenging to do the real Montessori thing AND be public, but make sure you are looking at the real thing before you form an opinion about Montessori.

Thanks for the clarification!

I like the returning teacher at Langdon (haven't yet met the new one) but I don't believe this is correct about ami certification.

[Anonymous]

"Maybe for the lower grades it is. But by 6th grade shouldn't kids be working on pre-algebra and less on making a quilt in the classroom?"

A proper, whole-child education should be covering both.

[Anonymous]

I believe that Capitol Hill Montessori is the only certified DCPS. Langdon is not AMI certified.

[Anonymous]

We have three children who have all been in, or are in, Montessori schools (public schools).

When my oldest started I didn't know much about it. I started reading about early childhood education as welll as how boys learn. The more I read, the more I realized that Montessori is really designed around the way children learn. The way most of us were taught and the way most classrooms are structured is not really designed that way. Its designed more for efficiency. Montessori allows children to work at their own pace and requires them to make decisions about their learning. A good Montessori classroom requires a very organized teacher because all children could be working on something different.

My oldest son spent 5 years in a Montessori classroom and transitioned nicely into a traditional class. He has consistently done well in all academic areas. His teacher was fantastic and was always able to clearly articulate WHY something is done the way it is in a Montessori classroom, WHY its OK for my child to spend three weeks 'cutting on the lines'.

My 2nd child only spent two years in a Montessori classroom. He learned and is doing fine, though I have some concerns about that teacher. He also transitioned well. My youngest is just starting the Montessori adventure. She's adjusting well, sharing the things she's learning to do independently. I'm not sure how long I will leave her in Montessori, but the plan is for at least three years.


As for Langdon, I know several years ago they were working on certification, but the principal at the time didn't share that goal. Thurgood Marshall (which is closed) was certified--two of those teachers started Lee Montessori.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We turned down our spot at lamb because I just didn't get it.

For the thousandth time, LAMB is NOT "real" Montessori. It is sort of a hybrid. They are not certified by AMI or AMS, they use teachers trained by both schools of thought and incorporate technology and other things that are not a part of the Montessori curriculum. Capitol Hill Montessori is AMI certified, and Lee plans to be AMI certified and Langdon are AMI. On the private side you have Aidan and Christian Family Montessori. That said, it is challenging to do the real Montessori thing AND be public, but make sure you are looking at the real thing before you form an opinion about Montessori.

Thanks for the clarification!

I like the returning teacher at Langdon (haven't yet met the new one) but I don't believe this is correct about ami certification.

From AMI's school locator http://amiusa.org/school-locator-2/

Washington: Aidan Montessori School (Recognized for ages: 3 – 12)
Washington: Capitol Hill Montessori School at Logan (Associated for ages: 3 – 6+)
Washington: Christian Family Montessori School (Recognized for ages: 3 – 12)
Washington: Langdon Education Campus (Associated for ages: 3 – 6+)

[Anonymous]

^^I should note that per AMI's website, Aidan, CHML, and Langdon "successfully completed the recognition process for 2013-2014." CFMS completed the process for 2014-2015.