I'm a DC Montessorian. AMA.

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on Bethesda Montessori? Or Spring Bilingual in Kensington?

[Anonymous]

Do you think that play-based programs are "bad" for children? Or is there more than one way to skin a cat? I as because it seems like many pro-Montessori people act as if the Montessori way is THE way to educate children and that there methods are all-around superior to others. This cultish way of thinking freaks me out a little..

[Anonymous]

^sorry for all the typos, sleeping toddler in my lap!

[Anonymous]

Do Montessori teachers research other methods of teaching or do they strictly follow Montessori methods only? As a parent, I find education fascinating and pull from many different theorists and teachers. I think it would be hard as a teacher to only stick by one person's methodology. On the play-based question, Vygotsky in particular spoke about the importance of social interaction in learning and encouraged scaffolding for social skills, yet the Montessori response here was that social skills come naturally and need little intervention. Obviously even great educational minds differ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AMI stands for Association Montessori Internationale

AMS stands for American Montessori Society.

Both are Montessori programs, but from my observation in visiting quite a few AMS and AMI schools systematically over several years, I'd say that AMS programs are a little looser than the AMI schools with everything. As in the AMI sems more closely based with the Italian system, where Maria Montessori started.

AMS seems to be a little looser, a little more modified for American culture, etc. Both use the Montessori materials, both teachers are trained (I think they are trained at different programs, but not sure about that), etc.

(Note, I am a bit more than a layperson as I have a MA in ECE, I've taught and directed many Non-Montessori programs for 30+ years but I am not Montessori trained)

OP here- AMI training is a good bit more involved. We do a full year of grad school (it's a masters program) as opposed to 8 weeks of one AMS summer, followed by two weeks the next summer.

I prefer AMI tenfold, but tons of AMS schools and teachers are really kickass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Evergreen School (Montessori) in Silver Spring has a strong program for toddlers, Primary, Early Elementary. I also like Aiden in DC.

I am biased against Franklin because it is "for profit" and the consequence of that (imo) is that 1) Employees are unfairly compensated 2) Not as much money goes back into the school.

OP here- glad to see a PP noticing these things. Corporate Montessori is a real problem IMO. There are tons in DC.

Many of them are okay, a few are wonderful, a ton are disasters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do Montessori teachers research other methods of teaching or do they strictly follow Montessori methods only? As a parent, I find education fascinating and pull from many different theorists and teachers. I think it would be hard as a teacher to only stick by one person's methodology. On the play-based question, Vygotsky in particular spoke about the importance of social interaction in learning and encouraged scaffolding for social skills, yet the Montessori response here was that social skills come naturally and need little intervention. Obviously even great educational minds differ.

OP here- depends on the training program, and the school that later employs them. Personally, I like to stick to my guns. We're a diverse group of thinkers, though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on Bethesda Montessori? Or Spring Bilingual in Kensington?

OP here- not familiar with either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think that play-based programs are "bad" for children? Or is there more than one way to skin a cat? I as because it seems like many pro-Montessori people act as if the Montessori way is THE way to educate children and that there methods are all-around superior to others. This cultish way of thinking freaks me out a little..

OP here- "Bad" is a strong word. I mean, of course I think it's THE way, my bank account is evidence enough here. I have a pretty long winded response to this, but it involves the idea (and luxury) of doing Montessori in the long run instead of leaving for traditional school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think that play-based programs are "bad" for children? Or is there more than one way to skin a cat? I as because it seems like many pro-Montessori people act as if the Montessori way is THE way to educate children and that there methods are all-around superior to others. This cultish way of thinking freaks me out a little..

OP here- "Bad" is a strong word. I mean, of course I think it's THE way, my bank account is evidence enough here. I have a pretty long winded response to this, but it involves the idea (and luxury) of doing Montessori in the long run instead of leaving for traditional school.

OP, I take your answer as implying that you think Montessori is beneficial not only at the Primary stage but also at the Lower El (and also Upper El) stages? What do you think about this? We are at Aidan and our kids are loving the experience in Primary. We would like to stay there through Lower and Upper El, but frankly just do not know much at all about Montessori beyond Primary/Montessori for older kids. What do you think?

[Anonymous]

This is a wonderful thread. Thanks, OP, for starting it.

I am a parent of a child about to enter his second year of primary at an AMI school. I also have an Master's in Education. Thought I might comment on a couple of earlier points....

1) Children in Montessori do have a chance to "play." They are children after all! It just doesn't happen during the 3 hour work cycle in the same way it does at "play based" preschool. My son plays on the playground with his friends during recess, at aftercare and at home/outside. I do not feel he is lacking at all from not "playing" in his classroom. As for play based programs being bad, just like with any program, it depends on the quality being implemented. I prefer Montessori starting at primary because of the balance (IMO) it provides with unstructured play outside of school.

2) Social/Emotional learning most definitely happens in a Montessori classroom. Children are taught to control their impulses, respect their own and other's personal space and work, and to work in small groups. They learn to express their feelings, just as in a "play based" preschool.

3) Scaffolding certainly happens in the classroom. Many of the materials in the classroom are used for progressively challenging lessons as the individual child is ready.

For #s 2 & 3, part of the beauty of primary spanning across three years (3-5 years). The teacher knows each child so well and the children have a chance to be the youngest and oldest. The teacher is constantly creating and revising individual lesson plans.

I personally chose Montessori for my child because I love that he is learning at his own pace in a way that is meaningful to him, rather than learning about the same topic that an entire class is studying. He enjoys going to school and so far it has been a very positive experience for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do Montessori teachers research other methods of teaching or do they strictly follow Montessori methods only? As a parent, I find education fascinating and pull from many different theorists and teachers. I think it would be hard as a teacher to only stick by one person's methodology. On the play-based question, Vygotsky in particular spoke about the importance of social interaction in learning and encouraged scaffolding for social skills, yet the Montessori response here was that social skills come naturally and need little intervention. Obviously even great educational minds differ.

I am the other Montessori poster (not OP.)

I pull from different teaching methods to enhance the Montessori curriculum. Maria Montessori believed in "following the child"....and sometimes this means incorporating different philosophies for different children's strengths, weaknesses, learning styles, interests, etc.

*I always say that the educational philosophy being taught is only as good as the TEACHER that is in the classroom!!!*

[Anonymous]

Thoughts on Barrie School? TIA

[Anonymous]

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church as an "atrium" Montessori program that's religion-based. From what a parent with a child in the program tells me, they do practical life skills like folding vestments. Is this accurate? How do you think religion plays a part in the Montessori philosophy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evergreen School (Montessori) in Silver Spring has a strong program for toddlers, Primary, Early Elementary. I also like Aiden in DC.

I am biased against Franklin because it is "for profit" and the consequence of that (imo) is that 1) Employees are unfairly compensated 2) Not as much money goes back into the school.

OP here- glad to see a PP noticing these things. Corporate Montessori is a real problem IMO. There are tons in DC.

Many of them are okay, a few are wonderful, a ton are disasters.

I am at Franklin. I think the indoor space is nice and teachers seem good. But you see the corporate side all the time-- huge classrooms for one. I don't see why you need 30 kids in a class to "do" Montessori.