I'm a DC Montessorian. AMA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have any thoughts about children starting Montessori later rather than going through the entire primary classroom? What about a kindergarten age kid without prior Montessori experience? How do the older kids in the primary classroom fit with the younger children? Would an advanced 5 year old be a better fit in the elementary classroom with the older kids or with the younger ones? At what point do you know that the older kids are ready to move up?

Ideally, all children would start at three so they can absorb all the classroom norms and culture, but I'm absolutely a Montessorian who wants ALL children to have the opportunity to enter a Montessori classroom, regardless of age. Having at LEAST a year or two in Primary will make their Lower El experience much better- since we build on concepts. I prefer evaluating at six years old to move up. I have some middle five year olds in Montessori for the first time this year and they're doing swimmingly.

When it comes to moving up, I look for emotional maturity. I mean, granted, there are cases where behavior may be difficult due to tons of factors such as previous trauma, a diagnosed disorder, etc., and in that case, the special education branch in a school needs to serve those children while still making sure they progress through the grade clusters.

Isn't there a point where some 5 year olds will have exhausted all the materials in the primary classroom? How is that handled? (Or are the materials flexible enough that they can be used by very advanced kids?)

[Anonymous]

NP here. My child has been a private school in VA for less than a year and is not responding well to the classroom in the last month or so (lots of teacher turnover, couple kids acting out, kids leaving for Kindergarten). He's reporting being told "I'm [he's] bad" not "having bad behavior" and is treated better when "I'm [he's] good." Issue is mainly one of focus, but seems to be new in the last few weeks during all this change.

I'm not sure what of this is his interpretation versus instructor language but we are looking to leave as I see his confidence dwindling and he never wants to talk about his school day.

Looking for a new school and not sure if montessori is a good fit or if it's just a bad environment at THIS school. Before we start looking, what criteria do you think makes sense to help us evaluate fit before starting? He was "evaluated" at this school and they thought he'd be fine (for profit, trying to grow, not sure they turn down anyone).

I'm not an educator, but I know I have a 90% of the time well-behaved kid who's able to focus on tasks at home. How do I know I'm making a good choice for him? It feels like we failed him on this and not eager to fail him again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. My child has been a private school in VA for less than a year and is not responding well to the classroom in the last month or so (lots of teacher turnover, couple kids acting out, kids leaving for Kindergarten). He's reporting being told "I'm [he's] bad" not "having bad behavior" and is treated better when "I'm [he's] good." Issue is mainly one of focus, but seems to be new in the last few weeks during all this change.

I'm not sure what of this is his interpretation versus instructor language but we are looking to leave as I see his confidence dwindling and he never wants to talk about his school day.

Looking for a new school and not sure if montessori is a good fit or if it's just a bad environment at THIS school. Before we start looking, what criteria do you think makes sense to help us evaluate fit before starting? He was "evaluated" at this school and they thought he'd be fine (for profit, trying to grow, not sure they turn down anyone).

I'm not an educator, but I know I have a 90% of the time well-behaved kid who's able to focus on tasks at home. How do I know I'm making a good choice for him? It feels like we failed him on this and not eager to fail him again.

SO much of this depends on the school... high teacher turnover and children leaving at an early age? For profit? Can I ask about the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. My child has been a private school in VA for less than a year and is not responding well to the classroom in the last month or so (lots of teacher turnover, couple kids acting out, kids leaving for Kindergarten). He's reporting being told "I'm [he's] bad" not "having bad behavior" and is treated better when "I'm [he's] good." Issue is mainly one of focus, but seems to be new in the last few weeks during all this change.

I'm not sure what of this is his interpretation versus instructor language but we are looking to leave as I see his confidence dwindling and he never wants to talk about his school day.

Looking for a new school and not sure if montessori is a good fit or if it's just a bad environment at THIS school. Before we start looking, what criteria do you think makes sense to help us evaluate fit before starting? He was "evaluated" at this school and they thought he'd be fine (for profit, trying to grow, not sure they turn down anyone).

I'm not an educator, but I know I have a 90% of the time well-behaved kid who's able to focus on tasks at home. How do I know I'm making a good choice for him? It feels like we failed him on this and not eager to fail him again.

SO much of this depends on the school... high teacher turnover and children leaving at an early age? For profit? Can I ask about the school?

Thanks for reply -- for profit and in 'growth mode' having doubled (and shrank again) in the last year. Teachers/aides have left or fired, kids leaving before kindergarten, and 1/3 of the class "graduated" to kindergarten. I know this is creating some of the havoc, but the issue I'm having is "how do I know if it's Montessori that doesn't work or this is just a crappy Montessori?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. My child has been a private school in VA for less than a year and is not responding well to the classroom in the last month or so (lots of teacher turnover, couple kids acting out, kids leaving for Kindergarten). He's reporting being told "I'm [he's] bad" not "having bad behavior" and is treated better when "I'm [he's] good." Issue is mainly one of focus, but seems to be new in the last few weeks during all this change.

I'm not sure what of this is his interpretation versus instructor language but we are looking to leave as I see his confidence dwindling and he never wants to talk about his school day.

Looking for a new school and not sure if montessori is a good fit or if it's just a bad environment at THIS school. Before we start looking, what criteria do you think makes sense to help us evaluate fit before starting? He was "evaluated" at this school and they thought he'd be fine (for profit, trying to grow, not sure they turn down anyone).

I'm not an educator, but I know I have a 90% of the time well-behaved kid who's able to focus on tasks at home. How do I know I'm making a good choice for him? It feels like we failed him on this and not eager to fail him again.

SO much of this depends on the school... high teacher turnover and children leaving at an early age? For profit? Can I ask about the school?

Thanks for reply -- for profit and in 'growth mode' having doubled (and shrank again) in the last year. Teachers/aides have left or fired, kids leaving before kindergarten, and 1/3 of the class "graduated" to kindergarten. I know this is creating some of the havoc, but the issue I'm having is "how do I know if it's Montessori that doesn't work or this is just a crappy Montessori?"

I have my suspicions about who this school is. Constant change is bad Montessori.

[Anonymous]

What is the Montessori approach for lower elementary (is this 6-8 year olds?) and upper elementary?

Why do so many families only do Montessori for preschool? Does Montessori work better for preschoolers than older kids?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the Montessori approach for lower elementary (is this 6-8 year olds?) and upper elementary?

Why do so many families only do Montessori for preschool? Does Montessori work better for preschoolers than older kids?

Thanks!

Hey there- this is going to come off as rude, and I don't intend it to be at all! I'm a primary teacher, and that's my focus. There is SO much that goes into the methods and pedagogy of Montessori that I can't simply just describe "approach-" that's a ton of information. If you have more specific questions in regards to it, please let me know!

Many families go to private preschool and leave for free public schooling. That's the big one.

[Anonymous]

Would love to hear your thoughts on this thread: (K/4yo/3yo ratio) http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/410909.page

Tks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what concerns would you have when it comes to a very small Lower Elementary class? My kid is in Primary now, but will be transitioning soon (likely at some point during this school year since she's ready). However, our school doesn't have very many 'big' kids left and while the much smaller class size seems pretty awesome, I'm wondering how small is too small.

How big are we talking? -OP

Well, the proportions are very, very similar to the thread that PP just linked above me.

And the Lower El class is about 10 kids. Maybe.

I'm concerned about DD being one of 2 or 3 K-age kids in a large group of younger kids. She is ahead in several areas and I was told to expect a move mid-year this year, but I'm worried about backsliding in behavior or not getting the attention and instruction she needs to take the materials to the next level. I've already seen some behavior that I haven't seen since she was late 3 and I'm not sure if it's just due to the change in routines and the beginning of the school year or because half the 3yos in her class are doing the same thing. Probably a combo of the two. She's also complaining about not getting to do some of the material she was doing at the end of the year last year. We also have a new teacher this year, which adds to it.

I'm not as concerned about a tiny Lower El class, although it will still be skewed towards the younger end, not many 7 and 8 year olds and is not ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would love to hear your thoughts on this thread: (K/4yo/3yo ratio) http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/410909.page

Tks!

Whew- um, I've had a long day, can you be more specific and perhaps share your own ideas?

-OP

[Anonymous]

Hey mamas and dads- just a big giant heads up.

Always, always, always ask where your child's teacher has gotten their credentials from. A few area schools have teachers with zero experience or certification, or an NAMC certificate- definitely the fast food of Montessori credentials. This is a big deal!

-Your loving OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what concerns would you have when it comes to a very small Lower Elementary class? My kid is in Primary now, but will be transitioning soon (likely at some point during this school year since she's ready). However, our school doesn't have very many 'big' kids left and while the much smaller class size seems pretty awesome, I'm wondering how small is too small.

How big are we talking? -OP

Well, the proportions are very, very similar to the thread that PP just linked above me.

And the Lower El class is about 10 kids. Maybe.

I'm concerned about DD being one of 2 or 3 K-age kids in a large group of younger kids. She is ahead in several areas and I was told to expect a move mid-year this year, but I'm worried about backsliding in behavior or not getting the attention and instruction she needs to take the materials to the next level. I've already seen some behavior that I haven't seen since she was late 3 and I'm not sure if it's just due to the change in routines and the beginning of the school year or because half the 3yos in her class are doing the same thing. Probably a combo of the two. She's also complaining about not getting to do some of the material she was doing at the end of the year last year. We also have a new teacher this year, which adds to it.

I'm not as concerned about a tiny Lower El class, although it will still be skewed towards the younger end, not many 7 and 8 year olds and is not ideal.

Give it a few weeks so she can adjust and the teacher can get a better gauge on where she's at. The beginning of the school year is always funky- but keep us updated here!

A small lower el class should be perfectly fine. I really wouldn't worry. Hopefully the program will be growing, yeah? Or is this as big as it gets?

-OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey mamas and dads- just a big giant heads up.

Always, always, always ask where your child's teacher has gotten their credentials from. A few area schools have teachers with zero experience or certification, or an NAMC certificate- definitely the fast food of Montessori credentials. This is a big deal!

-Your loving OP.

OP. May I respectfully disagree? I am a certified Montessori teacher. I agree with you that a Montessori teacher should have a Montessori certification. I also believe that there are some Montessori teachers who obtained their degree from a top-notch Montessori training program, and they are still crappy at what they do. Likewise, I believe there are also Montessori teachers who obtained "fast food" credentials, and are fabulous teachers. To me, a teacher is SO much more than her training. The PERSONALITY (social skills, patience, kindness, etc.) to me is key, in addition to the pedigree of the training/certification. In other words, if you judge a Montessori teacher simple (or mostly) by the "level" of their certification, you may just miss out on a talented teacher.

[Anonymous]

* "Simply" (not simple.)

[Anonymous]

There's a reason the public schools, charters, and longest running private schools accept no less than AMS and AMI, and I would be glad to lay them out for anyone who is curious. It's preposterous that anyone would even consider an online learning degree as a valid teaching certification, and any parent of a child who has left the daycare setting needs to consider that.