montessori approach is a disservice to SN kids

[Anonymous]

My dyslexic daughter went to AMI Montessori for 3 years (grade 1-4). We left in 5th grade and it was the best thing ever. DD had significant holes in her learning background that the new SN school had to fill in from scratch. The school was unaccommodating and unwavering in helping any child who didn't fit into a nice neat little box. For example, they were a hardcore Montessori school that didn't embrace tech at all. Therefore no Assistive Tech was available for my DD. When we wanted our DD to use a Chromebook for audiobooks, they sorta let her but were grumpy about it. I think my DD got maybe 3 or so "lessons" from the main teacher a week. The rest of her time she was on her own trying to teach herself on various topics. I know YMMV with each Montessori school, but this was just our experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dyslexic daughter went to AMI Montessori for 3 years (grade 1-4). We left in 5th grade and it was the best thing ever. DD had significant holes in her learning background that the new SN school had to fill in from scratch. The school was unaccommodating and unwavering in helping any child who didn't fit into a nice neat little box. For example, they were a hardcore Montessori school that didn't embrace tech at all. Therefore no Assistive Tech was available for my DD. When we wanted our DD to use a Chromebook for audiobooks, they sorta let her but were grumpy about it. I think my DD got maybe 3 or so "lessons" from the main teacher a week. The rest of her time she was on her own trying to teach herself on various topics. I know YMMV with each Montessori school, but this was just our experience.

Was public any better or did you go specialized school route?

[Anonymous]

We were advised against Montessori schools for our young child with significant social anxiety. First because they are rigid about how kids use the materials and that can exacerbate anxiety. Also because they generally give kids less practice interacting with each other. Of course, every school is different. But we interviewed with three different Montessori schools and definitely got the impression they were nervous about DD's special needs. While they were not even accredited I got the sense their efforts to implement the Montessori method limited their ability to be flexible for special needs.

[Anonymous]

Montessori was critical to my expressive language/speech delayed kid's development. The tactile letters and phonics base made a huge difference for him, and the one-on-one conversations with the teachers and with older kids were really helpful compared to a more traditional class. He also was able to gain a lot of confidence doing work at his own pace.

I can absolutely see how for some kids (especially active ADHD) it could be a huge disservice.
As with anything - know your kid and know the school and find what works best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's old montessori head of school just sent an email about how we need to let go so our kids can learn--even if it's social challenges or learning math facts. Except, my kid became super depressed because of their social environment and now has a learning disability diagnosis. I wish these people could see how ableist their approach is, when they think they are being so inclusive . OK rant over

What does the fact that it's a Montessori have to do with your child becoming depressed because of the social environment and are you blaming the LD on Montessori?
Your post doesn't make any sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's old montessori head of school just sent an email about how we need to let go so our kids can learn--even if it's social challenges or learning math facts. Except, my kid became super depressed because of their social environment and now has a learning disability diagnosis. I wish these people could see how ableist their approach is, when they think they are being so inclusive . OK rant over

What does the fact that it's a Montessori have to do with your child becoming depressed because of the social environment and are you blaming the LD on Montessori?
Your post doesn't make any sense.

Letting go meaning the school not intervening when there were significant social difficulties including targeted bullying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's old montessori head of school just sent an email about how we need to let go so our kids can learn--even if it's social challenges or learning math facts. Except, my kid became super depressed because of their social environment and now has a learning disability diagnosis. I wish these people could see how ableist their approach is, when they think they are being so inclusive . OK rant over

My kid with HFA did not do well in a Montessori environment. Montessori teachers encourage learning by gentle social cues. "We're doing X over here in this group. Would you care to join us?" My kid with HFA always refused. "No, I'm good." There wasn't enough structure and clearly labeled social expectations for him to succeed there. (Academics were fine. He wasn't learning the social stuff that he needed to learn.)

My kid with dyslexia also did not well in the Monetessori environment. He was learning tons of math and science, but he wasn't learning to read. They weren't concerned. He's very bright and dyxlexia runs in my family and I was concerened. We pulled him out and put him in public school. They put him in an RTI reading program and he was reading at grade level by the end of the year, and reading above grade level every year since.

I love the Montessori curriculum and approach. It's great. It's not great for every kid, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dyslexic daughter went to AMI Montessori for 3 years (grade 1-4). We left in 5th grade and it was the best thing ever. DD had significant holes in her learning background that the new SN school had to fill in from scratch. The school was unaccommodating and unwavering in helping any child who didn't fit into a nice neat little box. For example, they were a hardcore Montessori school that didn't embrace tech at all. Therefore no Assistive Tech was available for my DD. When we wanted our DD to use a Chromebook for audiobooks, they sorta let her but were grumpy about it. I think my DD got maybe 3 or so "lessons" from the main teacher a week. The rest of her time she was on her own trying to teach herself on various topics. I know YMMV with each Montessori school, but this was just our experience.

Was public any better or did you go specialized school route?

PP here. We started in public for K and part of 1st grade before we went the montessori route and that was a show! DD floundered in a class of 30 other kids. DD wasn't a troublemaker and was oft overlooked.

After the montessori/public experience, we felt like "enough is enough" and went to a SN school. It was only when we were at the SN school did we realize how far behind DD was. We really had to start from scratch with learning phonics, writing, math, and reading. DD was going into 5th, but reading on a 1st grade level. DD excelled in so many ways and is reading on grade level in her SN school. Montessori just taught things very differently and was all over the place with bead chains, skip counting, checkerboard, racks/tubes, etc.. Again DD would maybe a total of 1 hour of lessons 1:1 with the guide. We needed systematic teaching grounded on O-G, embraced Assistive Tech, and was just more progressive in every which way. The OP may see this as a slight to their SN child, but in reality, it's a blessing (IMO).

[Anonymous]

Op, why have them in a learning environment that doesn't work for them? That's on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, why have them in a learning environment that doesn't work for them? That's on you.

We all learn, right? We did the best we could with the info we had and now we know better. I guess you never floundered with navigating care for your SN kids? Amazing

What I do have a problem with Montessori insisting they are the solution to SN kids

[Anonymous]

Sent both kids to Montessori preschool but wouldn’t have wanted it for elementary. Needs more structure/ expectations imo, can’t have kids beading all day because they like it

[Anonymous]

I have not had the experience of our Montessori being lax on academics. While there is some choice in what the kids can do, they have a checklist of things that they need to get through (at least at the elementary level). He also has a ton of homework (way more than public school).

My older kid went to public and has SN. I don't know if Montessori would have been good for him because of attention challenges, but I think some aspects would absolutely have been good. The teachers are certainly much more focused on the kids and involved than any public school setting we've been in.

I agree with the PP who posted about large classes. Our school does not have a particularly large class, but there are Montessori programs that do, and they actually seem to encourage this model as a positive thing. I think that would have been very hard for my older kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have not had the experience of our Montessori being lax on academics. While there is some choice in what the kids can do, they have a checklist of things that they need to get through (at least at the elementary level). He also has a ton of homework (way more than public school).

My older kid went to public and has SN. I don't know if Montessori would have been good for him because of attention challenges, but I think some aspects would absolutely have been good. The teachers are certainly much more focused on the kids and involved than any public school setting we've been in.

I agree with the PP who posted about large classes. Our school does not have a particularly large class, but there are Montessori programs that do, and they actually seem to encourage this model as a positive thing. I think that would have been very hard for my older kid.

At the end of the day, it's all about the program is run. I think I have a feeling I know what program OP is referring to. Schools shouldpartner with parents. Schools should acknowledge reality and challeneges of frequent teacher turnover and its negative impact on kids instead of pretending all is well.

[Anonymous]

Montessori isn't for everyone. I wouldn't say it isn't for SN kids. That's a fairly broad statement. It wouldn't have been for my SN kids, though. Both needed very concrete learning and structure.

I've seen many kids thrive and excel in a Montessori environment.