toddler's mom seeks advice about Montessori from parents of older children

[Anonymous]

My very verbal and very social DC will turn 3 in the fall and I am contemplating enrollment in Montessori. I am a little concerned because 1) there seems to be a range of Montessori and 2) some other parents tell me they really want their child in a more "play-based" environment (I have also heard criticism of some play-based preschools as not very stimulating for the kids - a separate post, I know). My questions for parents of elementary school or older Montessori alumni:

What do you now see as the benefit of your child having had a Montessori experience? (e.g., progressed in early grades faster, has more of a sense of the surrounding world, is intellectually more curious, is kinder and gentler, etc)

would you do this again, knowing what you now know about Montessori and your child at his/her current age?

Are there some specific questions I should be asking the teachers or myself to help me decide?

thanks in advance

[Anonymous]

Today was my observation day at my kids' Montessori school so I can tell you what my kids did this morning. I observed my 3 year old spooning lentils from one little bowl to another, playing with clay, drawing a picture and then ripping it into tiny pieces to make it "food" for her sister's paper dolls at home. After that I observed my almost 6 year old sew a pouch and then do long division (!) using wooden pieces with numbers on them. There were two 6 yo boys next to her who were reading little cards that had words on them like "sit" and "skip" and they had to act them out. They were having a blast. Finally, I observed my 8 year old make up sentences with classmates using words her teacher suggested in order to learn different sounds and word usage (nouns and verbs). Then my 8 year old joined the rehearsal for the school performance that is next week. She is suppose to act as the stem of a flower that blooms. After all of this, I had to do my co-op job at the school, which means I watch the 5-6 year olds eat lunch and then take them out to the playground. Lots of pretend play happening there. I'm exhausted from spending the majority of my day at the school but my kids had a great day.

What do you now see as the benefit of your child having had a Montessori experience? (e.g., progressed in early grades faster, has more of a sense of the surrounding world, is intellectually more curious, is kinder and gentler, etc)
Our school is very, very loyal to the Montessori Method. The director is always quoting Maria Montessori so I think we're getting the full Montessori experience. My 8 yo didn't start in Montessori until age 5 so her learning didn't evolve the way my almost-6 yo's learning has. She is in her 3rd year in the primary class and it is really cool to see her reading and math skills come together. All that time working the movable alphabet and the golden beads and the subtraction bead bars is really paying off. What I appreciate most about the Montessori method is that it fosters independence within limits. So if you child is really into counting, they can chose those kinds of works for most of the day. It's up to the teacher to keep an eye on that to make sure that all the subjects get covered over the course of the week. In the elem. class, the kids have a workplan and they check things off as they work.

I know kids at the school who have progressed faster because they are allowed to learn at their own pace but our experience has been at the other end of the spectrum. My 8 yo was a late bloomer for learning how to read. I was grateful that we weren't in public school where there would have been pressure to read and panic about her lack of progress at age 6 and 7. She became a fluent reader a month before her 8th birthday and her teachers were fine with that.

Yes, my kids have a good sense of the surrounding world because our school values diversity, especially economic diversity. But you can get that at public school, too.

Who knows if my kids are intellectually more curious because of Montessori. A good teacher at any school will foster that. But the teachers at our school highlight that as a big advantage of Montessori schooling for grades 4-6 (age 9-12). Based on Maria Montessori's writings, ages 1-3 are development years when kids are learning new skills, then ages 3-6 are using their skills to explore intellectually, then again at ages 6-9 kids are learning new skills and at ages 9-12 kids are using their skills to grow and explore as their curiosity leads them.


would you do this again, knowing what you now know about Montessori and your child at his/her current age?
YES. It's been a great experience so far. The only down side I can see is if your child doesn't like his teacher, that can be tough because you have the same teacher for 3 years. I think my kids feel very capable because their school teaches them to do practical things and the school has the attitude that kids are capable of doing things. So rather than pretending to be a teacher, they actually give lessons to their younger classmates. And rather than pretending to be cook or be farmer, they actually cook and grow vegetables.

Are there some specific questions I should be asking the teachers or myself to help me decide?
I would ask to observe the teacher that your child have for 3 years, and find out as much as possible about her. And I would ask to talk with families who have sent their kids to the school for a few years so they can tell you the real strengths and weaknesses of the school.

[Anonymous]

Ask to observe and observe for a few hours or come back on different days.

I had my daughter in a Montessori class and it was nothing whatsoever like whatthe PP describes. I think it was a bad example of Montessori.

[Anonymous]

It very much depends on the specific school. There are a few good ones, but many are not so good.

[Anonymous]

Can I ask the poster with the great Montessori experience where her children attend school?
I am in the process of looking at schools and would love to take a look at that one if
it's close by.

[Anonymous]

My kids go to Christian Family Montessori School www.cfmschool.org
It's in Mt. Rainier, MD, just steps over the DC line, close to Brookland. We draw students from Columbia Heights, Brookland, Mt Rainier, Hyattsville, College Park areas.

[Anonymous]

Me again - we also draw students from Capitol Hill.

[Anonymous]

We attended one of few accredited Montessori preschool to grade 3 programs in NVA. After our first year, it turned out to not be for us. It may have been the teacher. There happened to be favored children in the class (turns out one of the problem children's parents bribed the teachers throughout the year!); so it was not for us. That aside, it was likely still not for our children. The curriculum is more independent and less focused than a traditional education. Others will disagree, I am sure. But I swore by Montessori, read every Maria Montessori book, bought and did every classroom activity (a huge investment monetarily and mentally); and was absolutely certain my children were perfect candidates. If children are not, it is far from the end of the world. Looking back, I can barely recall why it was so important to me! And my kids are so much happier without it. In the end, I want them to like school, not Montessori this or that. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Quick response from a Montessori Alum (Primary through 6th grade) who is now graduating from American University...

Maria Montessori died before she got a chance to copyright her method. Unfortunately, this means schools are able to claim they use "Montessori" when they don't. There is some abuse so it is smart to be cautious.
The "best" accreditation a school can have is AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) accreditation. This requires the most teacher training and holds most true to Maria's methods and desires. AMS (American Montessori Society) accreditation is good but not AS good. Teacher training is less intensive and there is more freedom in interpreting.

AMI schools can be difficult to find as they require that all teachers be AMI trained. There are significantly fewer AMI schools however it is my opinion that they are worth seeking!
Of course, I am biased. My mom is a Montessori teacher and I plan to get my training in the Fall of 2010. Though I will say, Montessori has been a GREAT experience for me and I did not face into any of the "transitional issues" so many fear.

Go observe a classroom and see if it would be a good fit for your child. Montessori is not for every child, but if you get a good feeling and are able to accept Montessori into your home, your child will benefit!

[Anonymous]

I went to Montessori K-4 and I loved it because I was able to learn at my own pace and explore things I was interested in.

My mother, an educator herself, told me she didn't send me to Montessori preschool at the SAME school because it adhered too strictly to the Method and didn't allow creativity.

So, for every school I visited, she suggested I ask about how they used the materials, such as "What happens when a child builds a city out of the pink tower materials instead of stacking them from large to small?" With that in mind, I visited three Montessori preschools and asked that question or a variation of it.

One school director told me that a teacher would gently show the child how to build the pink tower properly. The second school director told me she would let the child build as she wanted for a little bit and then show her how to make the tower. The third school directory told me that of course they show the children how to build the tower but that she would take pictures of the kids' creations and hang them on the wall. I guess I'm not a true Montessori method convert, because I only liked the third school!

[Anonymous]

I think 15:32's advice is brilliant. Also, aren't there two Montessori organizations in the U.S., should any interesting parent found out which organization the school belongs to. I'm not sure how much this matters, perhaps people can share thoughts on that, but my impression is that it might mean something in terms of curriculum, philosophy. I agree that visiting the schools is key because they, and their interpretation of the Montessori method, are so varied.

[Anonymous]

I would also agree that 15:32 gave good advice. My son is in his second year of Montessori preschool and has loved every minute of it. My husband has a PhD in Education and was adamant our son attend Montessori however we did not have much choice of schools. Wurs is more like #3 above. When he first entered he was strong academically (as much as a 3 year old can be anyway) but VERY shy socially.
Socially I have watched him transform before my eyes. His teachers noted this was a 'challenge' area for him so designed his work plans around becoming more socially comfortable. He will now approach new kids in almost any setting and ask them to play whereas before I could not detach him from my leg.
Academically, though, he has exploded. He is a very self directed kid (very important in a Montessori setting) and chooses challenging works. At four he can read, enjoys writing 'stories', does simple addition, subtraction, and multiplication (x2), and a very avid imagination.
We could not be happier with Montessori but as others have pointed out, it's not for everyone. Observe, ask questions, and do what feels most comfortable in your gut. Luckily, at 3, most decisions we make on preschool won't ruin our kids for life !
Good luck!

[Anonymous]

MY DC went to a M school but we regret very much about it.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone here gone to Butler school in Darnestown, or had their kids enrolled there? I can't find much feedback on it, but it is an AMI school.

Thanks.