Montessori - expensive and high student:teacher ratios

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of their materials can only be used the “ right way@ which stifles creativity.

This always comes up in Montessori threads, and it's totally bogus. The Montessori work cycle comprises only a portion of the child's day, and during that cycle a child will perform various works. Some works offer more opportunity for creativity than others. The creativity usually only comes after you know some stuff about the basic elements of something.

To take a non-Montessori example, my 5 year old's ballet teacher recently let the kids compose their own dances for part of a class. But that was only after they had learned some basic moves. None of their choreography was very impressive, but they were getting to be creative by combining things they learned at ballet in new ways. Not by running around the room pretending to be track stars, by singing, or by drawing. They understood that ballet class is a time to learn ballet related things, and that being creative at ballet class means making new and original ballet related things. Montessori is similar. You learn the basic building block skills first, then you get to be creative with them later.

It's not at all bogus. I watched a Montessori teacher correct a kid who was using a tool in the "wrong way."

I'm all for kids learning to follow direction, but Montessori classrooms seem to leave little to no room for kids to act outside of a proscribed framework.

I also find it a little creepy to call what 3 and 4 year olds are doing "work."

+1, not bogus. We went to a Montessori open house and my then-2 year old was literally told she was playing with blocks wrong. "Oh no, that's wrong. These blocks are for lining up by size, not stacking." Maybe this particular school wasn't 'doing Montessori right', but we prefer the creativity-first approach of our play-based school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of their materials can only be used the “ right way@ which stifles creativity.

This always comes up in Montessori threads, and it's totally bogus. The Montessori work cycle comprises only a portion of the child's day, and during that cycle a child will perform various works. Some works offer more opportunity for creativity than others. The creativity usually only comes after you know some stuff about the basic elements of something.

To take a non-Montessori example, my 5 year old's ballet teacher recently let the kids compose their own dances for part of a class. But that was only after they had learned some basic moves. None of their choreography was very impressive, but they were getting to be creative by combining things they learned at ballet in new ways. Not by running around the room pretending to be track stars, by singing, or by drawing. They understood that ballet class is a time to learn ballet related things, and that being creative at ballet class means making new and original ballet related things. Montessori is similar. You learn the basic building block skills first, then you get to be creative with them later.

It's not at all bogus. I watched a Montessori teacher correct a kid who was using a tool in the "wrong way."

I'm all for kids learning to follow direction, but Montessori classrooms seem to leave little to no room for kids to act outside of a proscribed framework.

I also find it a little creepy to call what 3 and 4 year olds are doing "work."

+1, not bogus. We went to a Montessori open house and my then-2 year old was literally told she was playing with blocks wrong. "Oh no, that's wrong. These blocks are for lining up by size, not stacking." Maybe this particular school wasn't 'doing Montessori right', but we prefer the creativity-first approach of our play-based school.

I think it’s tricky. Coming from a Montessori background I can see how people just want to let their kids ‘play’. But if you are considering Montessori, you are choosing a different path. One that is taking advantage of a sensitive period in a young child’s life and giving them a sense of purpose and independence. Yes, you can’t just play with those blocks. First, they aren’t just blocks. It’s either the Pink Tower or the Brown Stair and there is a lesson given on how to use it. Open houses are tricky with kiddos there because they want to touch everything but they haven’t been given a lesson on how to use it. I don’t think a teacher should correct during that time but absolutely they will when the child is a student. Particularly if they are using it in a way someone could get hurt. But my feeling is: either read up on the process and embrace it, quirks and all, or choose a playgroup. They are just totally different places. You can’t make Montessori be something it isn’t. And the families that come to Montessori come there for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of their materials can only be used the “ right way@ which stifles creativity.

This always comes up in Montessori threads, and it's totally bogus. The Montessori work cycle comprises only a portion of the child's day, and during that cycle a child will perform various works. Some works offer more opportunity for creativity than others. The creativity usually only comes after you know some stuff about the basic elements of something.

To take a non-Montessori example, my 5 year old's ballet teacher recently let the kids compose their own dances for part of a class. But that was only after they had learned some basic moves. None of their choreography was very impressive, but they were getting to be creative by combining things they learned at ballet in new ways. Not by running around the room pretending to be track stars, by singing, or by drawing. They understood that ballet class is a time to learn ballet related things, and that being creative at ballet class means making new and original ballet related things. Montessori is similar. You learn the basic building block skills first, then you get to be creative with them later.

It's not at all bogus. I watched a Montessori teacher correct a kid who was using a tool in the "wrong way."

I'm all for kids learning to follow direction, but Montessori classrooms seem to leave little to no room for kids to act outside of a proscribed framework.

I also find it a little creepy to call what 3 and 4 year olds are doing "work."

+1, not bogus. We went to a Montessori open house and my then-2 year old was literally told she was playing with blocks wrong. "Oh no, that's wrong. These blocks are for lining up by size, not stacking." Maybe this particular school wasn't 'doing Montessori right', but we prefer the creativity-first approach of our play-based school.

But then parents want it both ways: they want their kid to just ‘play’ but they also want to tell their friends that their child is a genius and doing math problems at 4. Kids in Montessori do the latter, and play when it’s time to play outside. For long stretches of time!!! Kids can play at home. Send them to Montessori if you want the curriculum and want to reinforce it at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of their materials can only be used the “ right way@ which stifles creativity.

This always comes up in Montessori threads, and it's totally bogus. The Montessori work cycle comprises only a portion of the child's day, and during that cycle a child will perform various works. Some works offer more opportunity for creativity than others. The creativity usually only comes after you know some stuff about the basic elements of something.

To take a non-Montessori example, my 5 year old's ballet teacher recently let the kids compose their own dances for part of a class. But that was only after they had learned some basic moves. None of their choreography was very impressive, but they were getting to be creative by combining things they learned at ballet in new ways. Not by running around the room pretending to be track stars, by singing, or by drawing. They understood that ballet class is a time to learn ballet related things, and that being creative at ballet class means making new and original ballet related things. Montessori is similar. You learn the basic building block skills first, then you get to be creative with them later.

It's not at all bogus. I watched a Montessori teacher correct a kid who was using a tool in the "wrong way."

I'm all for kids learning to follow direction, but Montessori classrooms seem to leave little to no room for kids to act outside of a proscribed framework.

I also find it a little creepy to call what 3 and 4 year olds are doing "work."

+1, not bogus. We went to a Montessori open house and my then-2 year old was literally told she was playing with blocks wrong. "Oh no, that's wrong. These blocks are for lining up by size, not stacking." Maybe this particular school wasn't 'doing Montessori right', but we prefer the creativity-first approach of our play-based school.

But then parents want it both ways: they want their kid to just ‘play’ but they also want to tell their friends that their child is a genius and doing math problems at 4. Kids in Montessori do the latter, and play when it’s time to play outside. For long stretches of time!!! Kids can play at home. Send them to Montessori if you want the curriculum and want to reinforce it at home.

But not all kids learn well in a Montessori environment. Despite what schools will say, Montessori is not for all types of kids and if they tell you that I suggest you run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of their materials can only be used the “ right way@ which stifles creativity.

This always comes up in Montessori threads, and it's totally bogus. The Montessori work cycle comprises only a portion of the child's day, and during that cycle a child will perform various works. Some works offer more opportunity for creativity than others. The creativity usually only comes after you know some stuff about the basic elements of something.

To take a non-Montessori example, my 5 year old's ballet teacher recently let the kids compose their own dances for part of a class. But that was only after they had learned some basic moves. None of their choreography was very impressive, but they were getting to be creative by combining things they learned at ballet in new ways. Not by running around the room pretending to be track stars, by singing, or by drawing. They understood that ballet class is a time to learn ballet related things, and that being creative at ballet class means making new and original ballet related things. Montessori is similar. You learn the basic building block skills first, then you get to be creative with them later.

It's not at all bogus. I watched a Montessori teacher correct a kid who was using a tool in the "wrong way."

I'm all for kids learning to follow direction, but Montessori classrooms seem to leave little to no room for kids to act outside of a proscribed framework.

I also find it a little creepy to call what 3 and 4 year olds are doing "work."

+1, not bogus. We went to a Montessori open house and my then-2 year old was literally told she was playing with blocks wrong. "Oh no, that's wrong. These blocks are for lining up by size, not stacking." Maybe this particular school wasn't 'doing Montessori right', but we prefer the creativity-first approach of our play-based school.

But then parents want it both ways: they want their kid to just ‘play’ but they also want to tell their friends that their child is a genius and doing math problems at 4. Kids in Montessori do the latter, and play when it’s time to play outside. For long stretches of time!!! Kids can play at home. Send them to Montessori if you want the curriculum and want to reinforce it at home.

Kids actually develop stronger STEM skills when they are allowed to explore and works things out for themselves. They should be given blocks and be allowed to stack them, line them up, knock them down, balance other things on them... whatever they want (with the exception of hitting, or throwing obviously). They figure out so many concepts by themselves this way. Sure, you can scaffold through play or set up a station where you specifically suggest they line the blocks by size if you really want to. But “correcting” a small child and telling them “these blocks are only for lining up” is so strange, particularly when the child is stacking which is a very appropriate use of blocks. What is the purpose of having blocks that can only be lined up by size and nothing else? It is so restrictive!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of their materials can only be used the “ right way@ which stifles creativity.

This always comes up in Montessori threads, and it's totally bogus. The Montessori work cycle comprises only a portion of the child's day, and during that cycle a child will perform various works. Some works offer more opportunity for creativity than others. The creativity usually only comes after you know some stuff about the basic elements of something.

To take a non-Montessori example, my 5 year old's ballet teacher recently let the kids compose their own dances for part of a class. But that was only after they had learned some basic moves. None of their choreography was very impressive, but they were getting to be creative by combining things they learned at ballet in new ways. Not by running around the room pretending to be track stars, by singing, or by drawing. They understood that ballet class is a time to learn ballet related things, and that being creative at ballet class means making new and original ballet related things. Montessori is similar. You learn the basic building block skills first, then you get to be creative with them later.

It's not at all bogus. I watched a Montessori teacher correct a kid who was using a tool in the "wrong way."

I'm all for kids learning to follow direction, but Montessori classrooms seem to leave little to no room for kids to act outside of a proscribed framework.

I also find it a little creepy to call what 3 and 4 year olds are doing "work."

+1, not bogus. We went to a Montessori open house and my then-2 year old was literally told she was playing with blocks wrong. "Oh no, that's wrong. These blocks are for lining up by size, not stacking." Maybe this particular school wasn't 'doing Montessori right', but we prefer the creativity-first approach of our play-based school.

But then parents want it both ways: they want their kid to just ‘play’ but they also want to tell their friends that their child is a genius and doing math problems at 4. Kids in Montessori do the latter, and play when it’s time to play outside. For long stretches of time!!! Kids can play at home. Send them to Montessori if you want the curriculum and want to reinforce it at home.

Kids actually develop stronger STEM skills when they are allowed to explore and works things out for themselves. They should be given blocks and be allowed to stack them, line them up, knock them down, balance other things on them... whatever they want (with the exception of hitting, or throwing obviously). They figure out so many concepts by themselves this way. Sure, you can scaffold through play or set up a station where you specifically suggest they line the blocks by size if you really want to. But “correcting” a small child and telling them “these blocks are only for lining up” is so strange, particularly when the child is stacking which is a very appropriate use of blocks. What is the purpose of having blocks that can only be lined up by size and nothing else? It is so restrictive!

You either buy the Montessori style of education (literally because tuition is expensive) or don't. If it's not for you, don't apply and move on. The school likely has someone on their wait list who WANTS to get in, derives some value in their kids being taught this way, and is willing to pay for it.