Experiences with Aidan Montessori?

[Anonymous]

I know that everyone has different experiences. My wife and I have had two children in Ms. Antonucci's class, and we can say nothing but glowing praise for her. Obviously, I cannot address the concerns others may have with their own children and their own experiences. It's just that we have never encountered anything but kindness and respect for the child. To any with interest in Aidan, I would say please go see for yoursef. It is a wonderful place.

[Anonymous]

I think everyone responds differently so folks really do need to check schools out themselves. I was turned off at Aidan's open house, to be honest. Thought the presentation sounded like they thought they were absolutely perfect in every way. I also found it strange that the presenter "read" her presentation. It sounded like a brochure being read aloud and seemed much too formal for my taste. (And a strange way to discuss their innovative teaching...I don't think reading a presentation is an innovative way to "teach".) I did think in general the teachers seemed good and it looked like good work was being done in the classrooms so I suspect it is a very good school.

[Anonymous]

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Re: Aidan Montessori School. Aidan has so many outstanding teachers at every level as well as in specialty classes such as Spanish, Art, PE and Chinese. They are all intensely interested in your child. Ms. Antonucci is a superstar. My son had the great fortune of being in her class for 3 years. She was a wonderful influence on him and on our family. She sees things from the child's perspective (not the generic child, but the individual child) and came up with creative, compassionate and effective solutions that I never would have dreamed of. She is firm and caring and loves the children. I recall the first day of school one year when I arrived and she was on the floor comforting a crying child. I can testify to how she can comfort a crying parent! I am still amazed in the manner that she can re-direct one child or a roomful of 28 children without raising a voice--doesn't work for me! I had more than one meeting with our son and Ms. Antonucci to discuss some mis-behavior on his part that ended with a hug and an "I love you" from her. She is nurturing and runs a tight ship and at the same time is flexible in accomodating the child's individual needs. Just one example that popped into my mind. Our son was terrified of fire alarms. In advance of a fire drill gave him a head's up, offered him ear plugs and enlisted his help in getting the other children outside. We had such a great experience at Aidan and the Montessori approach was perfect for our child. Beyond that, we found a family of friends with whom we still keep in touch. The last description I would use is snotty or unwelcoming. Aidan's Program for Families is a wonderful asset and an opportunity to study and discuss child development and share experiences with fellow parents.

Regarding the interviews: I have had a stranger mom on a playground tell me how much she loved Ms. Antonucci and that the interview was a great experience, even though her child was not admitted. I recall our interview well. It is tough for a 2.5 year old to be interviewed even on a good day. I was so nervous and it was a strange experience for a stranger to tell our child how to do something without my husband and me to help him along. But it was one of the things we really liked about the school because it was one of the few schools at that age that got to know the child and family; a group playdate is not always the best situation for a shy or introverted child.

Not every school--Aidan or otherwise--is best for every child and family. The great thing is that there are MANY fabulous schools, public and private, in the Washington area. I was sickened to read some of the disparaging remarks made about a number of schools and the perceived personalities of their students and teachers by parents on DC Urban Moms. I got lots of support from this website when my child was younger. But this site demonstrates both the best and the worst of the internet. Take the advice with a grain of salt, realizing there's a lot more about the bad than about the good. If only what school our child goes to was all we had to worry about on the planet. Limit the critical and hurtful remarks and be kind and respectful of the moms out there. Get off the internet and spend some time with your child or with a book or enjoy some quiet time for yourself. All good wishes.

[Anonymous]

Wow PP -- I was ready to write off Aidan based on this thread, but the detail and heart you put into your post was enough to make me reconsider and remember that I need to see for myself. Thanks. (This doesn't mean I don't also value some of the detailed posts from those who had bad experiences, just that it's great to have a well-rounded picture.)

[Anonymous]

"Get off the internet and spend some time with your child or with a book or enjoy some quiet time for yourself."

Is this comment being kind and respectful to the moms out there? A bit condescending if you ask me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[size=18][/siz
Get off the internet and spend some time with your child or with a book or enjoy some quiet time for yourself.

People come to this forum--on the Internet--for advice. Which they gave. And you gave. On the Internet.

I suppose the idea of a 2.5 year old being "interviewed" at all is distasteful to some people. But what is also distasteful is being quizzed on how long you breastfed and what your birth experience was like, and--oh--watching your toddler being set-up and then reprimanded by a stranger for "not following instructions" because he touched the roof of a playhouse. It's so very, very sad.

[Anonymous]

As a parent of two children at Aidan Montessori School for five years, I have to say that this school has been the very best education I can dream of for my children. I have no regrets with my decision, would do it again, and would pay more if they asked. To this day, my kids enjoy going to Aidan and (even better) enjoy learning. Yes, one of my children is in Mrs. Antonucci's class and I consider her a friend. Through her own observations and her own intitiative, Mrs. Antonucci was instrumental in helping us locate a pediatric opthalmologist with a speciality we had never heard of before. I can promise you that if you were to ask any parent whose child is in her class, they believe that she treasures the children almost as much as we do.

Indeed, Aidan Montessori School is not for everyone, that's understood. And, I believe that other independent schools would not be a good fit for my children. But I don't feel that they are bad schools simply because they are not a good fit.

To those parents who had a bad experience with Aidan's process of admissions, I wish I could take you for coffee and apologize. On our second cup, I would also tell you about how wonderful Aidan has been for me and my family. The descriptions I've read in this thread are very much the opposite of what I believe is Aidan Montessori School's spirit. Though it's often hard to accept, nobody likes the admissions process less than the independent schools. If we had the space, I know that Aidan Montessori would want every child who comes to their doors.

I hope that you will also believe what I've always felt during my own search for schools: there's a place for every child somewhere.

[Anonymous]

I'm new to montessori so forgive me my ignorance, but how do they "interview" a 2 or 3 y.o.?

[Anonymous]

the interviews at aidan are really just a meeting with the teacher and the parents. the teacher shows the child some of the montessori materials and the classroom and asks the parent some questions. this is the type os interview i had at aidan and two other montessori schools. at franklin, they want to meet with groups of children (3) without the parents.

[Anonymous]

I was sort of glad to see this thread... we interviewed at Aidan a year ago and withdrew our application because we HATED the interviewer. We found the school unpleasant, condescending, and obnoxious. We were coming form another Montessori school, too, so it wasn't that we were clueless about Montessori. Zero warmth.

[Anonymous]

I agree. We had a enlightening "interview" at Aidan that completely turned us off to the school. I was not at all happy at how my child was treated like a robot. When we received our waitlist letter, we just threw it out.

[Anonymous]

My DC interviewed at Aidan when he was 2 1/2. The interview was scheduled during his nap time. When he misses a nap, he gets a little manic. Regardless, he did pretty well during the classroom exercises. When he got out into the playground, he started running and climbing like crazy. The interviewer looked at me and said, "I don't think we can accomodate his energy at this school. He belongs in a play-based program." She's an idiot. First of all, the montessori method was originally created to teach children with developmental problems, so why wouldn't it work for an energetic little boy? My DC now goes to a different montessori school and is thriving.

[Anonymous]

Was your interviewer Ms. Antonucci? We were accepted to Aidan, but are turning it down. Our child is very active, but didn't show this side during the interview. Due to the interview style, we felt an active child would not do well there. As such we are going to have to decline.

PS Love the robot comment! So funny and true.

[Anonymous]

Yes - our interview was with Ms. Antonucci. I got the sense that my son would not fit in there either, based upon her tone. My DC likes the "wind in his face." He's doing great in a montessori school, just not Aidan.

[Anonymous]

We had such a different experience of our interview with Ms. Antonucci. However, I can understand why the process puts some people off.

Of all of the preschools we applied to, Aidan was the only one that very actively assessed our daughter during the process (NCRC was second in terms of really looking at her as an individual, imo). It was kind of uncomfortable to be present while she was clearly being evaluated for attention span, frustration tolerance, ability to follow directions, short-term memory, etc., and Ms. Antonucci's style was very directive and not particularly warm and fuzzy. It was definitely a situation in which the parents were of secondary concern. That, however, is as it should be, imho, since it is a school for our daughter and not for us.

Our daughter responded extremely well to this approach and really blossomed during the interview. If we had not seen her response, we would likely have chosen a play-based program and come away from Aidan thinking it was a little too structured. But our daughter loved it, so we were excited to accept the position we were offered there for this fall.