Help! Shining Stars or AppleTree CH?

[Anonymous]

I read in another thread that SSMA is moving its start time back to 8:20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read in another thread that SSMA is moving its start time back to 8:20.

I think this is correct. So for PS3 kids, it's 8:20 to either 1:30 or 3pm (family's choice.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Appletree is nothing short of AMAZING in what they do with the kids. It's certainly not unduly "academic". Everything my kid learned there was taught in a fun way, through play. They have centers every morning, just like all PS3 or PK4 classes, then they do "small group" time where they play games with letters and numbers and similar. Pretty much everything they do is FUN.

They are also amazing with teaching kids how to behave in the classroom and to LOVE school. If you want to see your child learn and grow dramatically and become really enthusiastic about school I couldn't recommend Appletree more highly. All their methods are research based and they work.

FWIW, Montessori is just as "academic" if not more so in it's methods which can be quite rigid. It's not a play based curriculum.

+1. We had an incredible experience at Appletree last year. Our DD left with a vocabulary far beyond her years, a love for reading (which she can do well at age 4) and a love for school generally. And, they had PLENTY of fun and playtime. Wish the program went beyond PK4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because you have a neighborhood school as a back up option, I would hands down choose Montessori over AT. You should be willing to, however, commit to the three year cycle. Just because your child might not like an activity in year one is not a reason to take the child out, because children change quickly and all of the activities, even the practical life skills, build on one another. Kids may not like everything and the beauty with Montessori is that there are multiple activities that attack the same skill in a little bit different way. I have been pretty hard on SSMA and would not send my kid there--I would choose private Montessori before I would deal with their disorganization (and in fact did) because of my personality; however, given the choice between AT and SSMA I would hands down choose Montessori over AT. This is from a parent who has left Montessori because I think and IB/Expeditionary learning model is better for my kid, but absolutely the years she spent in Montessori were fantastic, she learned a great deal, and grew as well. The inquiry based approach within a disciplined environment can't be beat.

I'm the poster who is sending my child elsewhere for the rest of elementary school, despite liking Shining Stars. It wasn't that she didn't like one activity in year one - it was that she basically hated school for a year, cried about 1/3 of the time at drop off (had been in daycare for 2 years previously with no such issue). I agree generally that the year she spent in Montessori gave her skills she wouldn't have gotten in her play-based preschool/daycare before, but I also do not in any way doubt that Montessori was not a good fit for her. Some kids just don't take to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read in another thread that SSMA is moving its start time back to 8:20.

I think this is correct. So for PS3 kids, it's 8:20 to either 1:30 or 3pm (family's choice.)

I thought it went till 325pm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because you have a neighborhood school as a back up option, I would hands down choose Montessori over AT. You should be willing to, however, commit to the three year cycle. Just because your child might not like an activity in year one is not a reason to take the child out, because children change quickly and all of the activities, even the practical life skills, build on one another. Kids may not like everything and the beauty with Montessori is that there are multiple activities that attack the same skill in a little bit different way. I have been pretty hard on SSMA and would not send my kid there--I would choose private Montessori before I would deal with their disorganization (and in fact did) because of my personality; however, given the choice between AT and SSMA I would hands down choose Montessori over AT. This is from a parent who has left Montessori because I think and IB/Expeditionary learning model is better for my kid, but absolutely the years she spent in Montessori were fantastic, she learned a great deal, and grew as well. The inquiry based approach within a disciplined environment can't be beat.

I'm the poster who is sending my child elsewhere for the rest of elementary school, despite liking Shining Stars. It wasn't that she didn't like one activity in year one - it was that she basically hated school for a year, cried about 1/3 of the time at drop off (had been in daycare for 2 years previously with no such issue). I agree generally that the year she spent in Montessori gave her skills she wouldn't have gotten in her play-based preschool/daycare before, but I also do not in any way doubt that Montessori was not a good fit for her. Some kids just don't take to it.

PP and others who have had kids in montessori preschool, is it correct that there is no storytime or group reading? One poster above noted that her 4 YO was reading at AppleTree. Do children in Montessori learn to read at an early age? I know that they do tactile things with letters, arranging letters, etc, but are they acquiring a love of literacy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because you have a neighborhood school as a back up option, I would hands down choose Montessori over AT. You should be willing to, however, commit to the three year cycle. Just because your child might not like an activity in year one is not a reason to take the child out, because children change quickly and all of the activities, even the practical life skills, build on one another. Kids may not like everything and the beauty with Montessori is that there are multiple activities that attack the same skill in a little bit different way. I have been pretty hard on SSMA and would not send my kid there--I would choose private Montessori before I would deal with their disorganization (and in fact did) because of my personality; however, given the choice between AT and SSMA I would hands down choose Montessori over AT. This is from a parent who has left Montessori because I think and IB/Expeditionary learning model is better for my kid, but absolutely the years she spent in Montessori were fantastic, she learned a great deal, and grew as well. The inquiry based approach within a disciplined environment can't be beat.

I'm the poster who is sending my child elsewhere for the rest of elementary school, despite liking Shining Stars. It wasn't that she didn't like one activity in year one - it was that she basically hated school for a year, cried about 1/3 of the time at drop off (had been in daycare for 2 years previously with no such issue). I agree generally that the year she spent in Montessori gave her skills she wouldn't have gotten in her play-based preschool/daycare before, but I also do not in any way doubt that Montessori was not a good fit for her. Some kids just don't take to it.

PP and others who have had kids in montessori preschool, is it correct that there is no storytime or group reading? One poster above noted that her 4 YO was reading at AppleTree. Do children in Montessori learn to read at an early age? I know that they do tactile things with letters, arranging letters, etc, but are they acquiring a love of literacy?

Montessori usually teaches writing first and then reading comes from there. Montessori kids generally learn to read early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because you have a neighborhood school as a back up option, I would hands down choose Montessori over AT. You should be willing to, however, commit to the three year cycle. Just because your child might not like an activity in year one is not a reason to take the child out, because children change quickly and all of the activities, even the practical life skills, build on one another. Kids may not like everything and the beauty with Montessori is that there are multiple activities that attack the same skill in a little bit different way. I have been pretty hard on SSMA and would not send my kid there--I would choose private Montessori before I would deal with their disorganization (and in fact did) because of my personality; however, given the choice between AT and SSMA I would hands down choose Montessori over AT. This is from a parent who has left Montessori because I think and IB/Expeditionary learning model is better for my kid, but absolutely the years she spent in Montessori were fantastic, she learned a great deal, and grew as well. The inquiry based approach within a disciplined environment can't be beat.

I'm the poster who is sending my child elsewhere for the rest of elementary school, despite liking Shining Stars. It wasn't that she didn't like one activity in year one - it was that she basically hated school for a year, cried about 1/3 of the time at drop off (had been in daycare for 2 years previously with no such issue). I agree generally that the year she spent in Montessori gave her skills she wouldn't have gotten in her play-based preschool/daycare before, but I also do not in any way doubt that Montessori was not a good fit for her. Some kids just don't take to it.

PP and others who have had kids in montessori preschool, is it correct that there is no storytime or group reading? One poster above noted that her 4 YO was reading at AppleTree. Do children in Montessori learn to read at an early age? I know that they do tactile things with letters, arranging letters, etc, but are they acquiring a love of literacy?

Montessori usually teaches writing first and then reading comes from there. Montessori kids generally learn to read early.

Got it, thanks.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for SSMA. The parent community is much stronger, the location is light years better for SSMA, and the Montessori method is, IMO, much better for kids than the method used at apple tree. AT was designed for low-income kids who need to "catch up."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for SSMA. The parent community is much stronger, the location is light years better for SSMA, and the Montessori method is, IMO, much better for kids than the method used at apple tree. AT was designed for low-income kids who need to "catch up."

Is this still the case? I get that that was the original intention, but what have the demographics looked like recently? I've heard of middle class families being happy there. I'm not sure why a middle class kid wouldn't benefit just the same? Plus, you get the benefit of your child experiencing SES diversity.

[Anonymous]

I would go with SSMA because you might have a more difficult time getting in there next year if you don't like AT, whereas you could probably go from SSMA to AT without too much of a problem.

[Anonymous]

SSMA definitely. At least try the Montessori curriculum to see if it fits for your child. It's easier to get into AT which has a more traditional style. If you wanted to send you child to Aiden or Franklin Montessori, it would cost quite a great deal.

We were accepted to SSMA and loved the parent community, curriculum and aftercare. One week before school started we were offered a slot by our top charter choice which had Montessori and Spanish immersion. As a bilingual family, it was a no brainer, but was still a tough decision for us to let go of our spot at SSMA.

Our daughter has thrived in a Montessori environment and can't wait to go back to school. She'll be starting PK4 and has started to read simple sentences and can do some simple addition. It's astounding. The other benefit of Montessori is that your kid will LOVE to clean things and help around the house - love those practical life activities.

Wish the best for your family and happy summer-

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SSMA definitely. At least try the Montessori curriculum to see if it fits for your child. It's easier to get into AT which has a more traditional style. If you wanted to send you child to Aiden or Franklin Montessori, it would cost quite a great deal.

We were accepted to SSMA and loved the parent community, curriculum and aftercare. One week before school started we were offered a slot by our top charter choice which had Montessori and Spanish immersion. As a bilingual family, it was a no brainer, but was still a tough decision for us to let go of our spot at SSMA.

Our daughter has thrived in a Montessori environment and can't wait to go back to school. She'll be starting PK4 and has started to read simple sentences and can do some simple addition. It's astounding. The other benefit of Montessori is that your kid will LOVE to clean things and help around the house - love those practical life activities.

Wish the best for your family and happy summer-

Is this above average? My daughter is also going into PK4 at our neighborhood DCPS (she did PK3 there), and she's reading simple stuff.

[Anonymous]

same with simple addition and loving to clean --those are not exactly montessori specific traits

[Anonymous]

00:15 here- not saying it's above average. Just that for our kid, she enjoys Montessori methods. She really disliked her previous preschool that had all of the kids do flash cards and drills.

Cleaning: in our experience watching other 4 year olds, it's not that common for them to volunteer to do dishes or sweep or arrange flowers. She also chides us for forgetting to push our chairs in at the table. It's funny.