Public/Charter Preschool types (Montessori, Reggio, Expeditionary Learning, IB, Tools of the Mind...

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to figure out what kind of preschool would be best for my daughter, as we consider where to apply into the PS3 lottery. I imagine others are doing the same, so I thought this thread could be useful. Three of the models I've seen are Montessori, Reggio, Expeditionary Learning, and IB programs. I'm curious what the pros/cons are of each of these, and what kinds of kids tend to do best with them. My own child is extroverted, and I'm thinking that schools that emphasize individual work to the exclusion of group work would not be a good fit for her, so I'm leaning away from Montessori. It seems like kids get a lot of choice in Montessori, which is great, but there is not much one-on-one time with the teacher, and kids don't do group work. My thought is that the other styles of learning, especially expeditionary learning, might be better for her. I'd be curious to hear others' takes on this.

[Anonymous]

We LOVED Reggio. Loved loved loved.

[Anonymous]

Logan Montessori isn't that great. If I were looking at applying to preschools for my kids, I would not rank it high (unless I lived really close).

SWS (Reggio) gets great reviews.

I think more important than philosophy is getting into a well run school with great teachers and a good peer group, preferably though at least 5th.

[Anonymous]

SWS is fantastic if you think Reggio is the model you want to look at, I encourage you to visit one of their open houses. Please note though, that a lot of preschool programs now claim a Reggio model, but it really takes more than a dress-up corner and some extra crayons to do it right. So if you want that, make sure the program you go for actually has formal training and resources behind the model.

I've heard good things about Logan in the LOWER grades, upper may be another question.

I'd say for extroverted children Reggio is a good fit in that they are encouraged to express but also to learn when to be quiet and pay attention to another point-of-view (something my extroverted daughter needs to work on.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Logan Montessori isn't that great. If I were looking at applying to preschools for my kids, I would not rank it high (unless I lived really close).

SWS (Reggio) gets great reviews.

I think more important than philosophy is getting into a well run school with great teachers and a good peer group, preferably though at least 5th.

Can you elaborate? Np here curious about logan Montessori and have a lot of the same questions as op.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. OP here, and I do think that Reggio would work better for my daughter. I loved SWS when I visited--that is likely our top choice. I think the rigidity of Montessori would not work well for her. My understanding is that there is a correct way to use the Montessori materials, and if children want to use them a different way, the teacher interrupts and shows the right way. I think that could work for some kids who really like to work in an ordered way, but my toddler is not like that.

The more that I read about Reggio, the more it sounds similar to schools that have expeditionary learning (like Bridges, Cap City, Two Rivers, and Mundo Verde). For those who have experience with both types of schools, does that sound right?

I did find a few online resources, in case anyone is looking more at how they are distinguished. Some of the articles also contain info on Waldorf, which is not offered (to my knowledge) in DCPS/charters. See links below.

http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-school/choosing/comparing-preschool-philosophies-montessori-waldorf-and-more/

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=367

http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v4n1/edwards.html

Thanks again to PPs for your helpful posts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. OP here, and I do think that Reggio would work better for my daughter. I loved SWS when I visited--that is likely our top choice. I think the rigidity of Montessori would not work well for her. My understanding is that there is a correct way to use the Montessori materials, and if children want to use them a different way, the teacher interrupts and shows the right way. I think that could work for some kids who really like to work in an ordered way, but my toddler is not like that.

The more that I read about Reggio, the more it sounds similar to schools that have expeditionary learning (like Bridges, Cap City, Two Rivers, and Mundo Verde). For those who have experience with both types of schools, does that sound right?

I did find a few online resources, in case anyone is looking more at how they are distinguished. Some of the articles also contain info on Waldorf, which is not offered (to my knowledge) in DCPS/charters. See links below.

http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-school/choosing/comparing-preschool-philosophies-montessori-waldorf-and-more/

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=367

http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v4n1/edwards.html

Thanks again to PPs for your helpful posts!

There's a lot of heresay on here about how Montessori is supposed to work. You should probably sit in on a few sessions if you can to get a legitimate understanding. My DC is at LAMB and it has been a fantastic experience. She has never once been told "the correct way" to use the materials, etc...> I would recommend you try to lottery in. The odds of admission are slim, but that's how we got in. GL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. OP here, and I do think that Reggio would work better for my daughter. I loved SWS when I visited--that is likely our top choice. I think the rigidity of Montessori would not work well for her. My understanding is that there is a correct way to use the Montessori materials, and if children want to use them a different way, the teacher interrupts and shows the right way. I think that could work for some kids who really like to work in an ordered way, but my toddler is not like that.

The more that I read about Reggio, the more it sounds similar to schools that have expeditionary learning (like Bridges, Cap City, Two Rivers, and Mundo Verde). For those who have experience with both types of schools, does that sound right?

I did find a few online resources, in case anyone is looking more at how they are distinguished. Some of the articles also contain info on Waldorf, which is not offered (to my knowledge) in DCPS/charters. See links below.

http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-school/choosing/comparing-preschool-philosophies-montessori-waldorf-and-more/

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=367

http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v4n1/edwards.html

Thanks again to PPs for your helpful posts!

There's a lot of heresay on here about how Montessori is supposed to work. You should probably sit in on a few sessions if you can to get a legitimate understanding. My DC is at LAMB and it has been a fantastic experience. She has never once been told "the correct way" to use the materials, etc...> I would recommend you try to lottery in. The odds of admission are slim, but that's how we got in. GL

Thanks for your perspective! I am glad to hear that LAMB is not like that and will check it out. I have now been to 2 Montessori open houses (not LAMB), and both said that there is indeed a proper way to use the materials, and that a good "guide" will intervene when the student is not using the material in the right way. So, I do think this is pretty standard in a Montessori classroom.

[Anonymous]

Montessori is probably different in that its methods are so rigid (and I also did not consider it for my child), but as for the other styles . . . I had a similar Q when we were looking at preschools and a well-respected teacher at our public PS told me that the best PS teachers/programs take the best of all those models. It would not surprise me if there is a lot of overlap in the play-based models for early childhood education and there is as much variation between and among teachers as there is among curricula. As an example, we have a standard curriculum at my child's preschool but the way it is implemented by the different teachers is extremely different. So I'd just tour the schools (during the school day) and see which ones you are most comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Montessori is probably different in that its methods are so rigid (and I also did not consider it for my child), but as for the other styles . . . I had a similar Q when we were looking at preschools and a well-respected teacher at our public PS told me that the best PS teachers/programs take the best of all those models. It would not surprise me if there is a lot of overlap in the play-based models for early childhood education and there is as much variation between and among teachers as there is among curricula. As an example, we have a standard curriculum at my child's preschool but the way it is implemented by the different teachers is extremely different. So I'd just tour the schools (during the school day) and see which ones you are most comfortable with.

Great advice/perspective. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

My child is currently in a Montessori school. It's true that there is more "alone" work time but I've seen it happen more by choice (e.g. kid is focused on their work). I have a chatty, extroverted child who chooses group work.

The teachers spend a lot of one-on-one time with each kid. OP, you heard differently? The one-on-one time is one of the things I like most about Montessori. I feel that the teacher really understands my kid and my kid gets a lot of individual attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is currently in a Montessori school. It's true that there is more "alone" work time but I've seen it happen more by choice (e.g. kid is focused on their work). I have a chatty, extroverted child who chooses group work.

The teachers spend a lot of one-on-one time with each kid. OP, you heard differently? The one-on-one time is one of the things I like most about Montessori. I feel that the teacher really understands my kid and my kid gets a lot of individual attention.

Thanks for adding your perspective. I've been to a few Montessori open houses, and I've asked specifically about one-on-one time with teachers and group work. In response to the former, I've heard that there is one-on-one time to show how to use the materials, but that the reason that the ideal student/teacher ratio in Montessori is 30-to-1 is to minimize one-on-one time so that the student does more work independently. In response to the latter question, I have heard that kids are together in groups at lunchtime and in aftercare.

I'm glad to hear that this is not true at every Montessori program and may check out one or two more open houses. But generally speaking, I think my toddler will do better in a play-based curriculum. I'm definitely trying to gather as much info as possible and appreciate hearing about your child's experience.

[Anonymous]

We have TOTM and find it to be wonderful.
The key, as with all of these things, is to get a teacher who truly knows and adheres to the methods. Ours has and our 4 y/o is writing short and rudimentary sentences. He's happy and inquisitive. Plays all day long. It's really great.

[Anonymous]

I was going to pipe in about Tools of the Mind too. I've seen it used very successfully at a few different schools now.

Reggio and Montessori definitely have to be the right fit for the kid and the family.

Expeditionary is great for kids who like to get out and about but some are more sedentary.

I agree that sometimes the best program is one that is a combination of approaches, well thought out and well done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was going to pipe in about Tools of the Mind too. I've seen it used very successfully at a few different schools now.

Reggio and Montessori definitely have to be the right fit for the kid and the family.

Expeditionary is great for kids who like to get out and about but some are more sedentary.

I agree that sometimes the best program is one that is a combination of approaches, well thought out and well done.

Thanks! I would love to hear your take on what makes Reggio better or worse for various kids.