Experiences with Aidan Montessori?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: What does the current research say about montessori and early childhood education?

Montessori has been largely ignored by academic researchers since an earlier study in 1930s which asserts that it is not a good approach to early education.

I am a mathematician but I found the Montessori way of teaching math very strange, to say the least.

Very interesting. Would you care to elaborate?

For the most up to date research, I would recommend reading "Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius" by Dr. Angeline Lillard published about 2 years ago. It's the first scientifically based study of outcomes of students in Montessori schools. There's also a great little book that's just come out on Montessori math called "Math Works."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah, Ms. Antonucci -- this brings back memories. We interviewed with her a few years ago. These anecdotes all ring true. I don't think the point was to humiliate, though. We laugh about the whole experience in retrospect, but I think she had a purpose to her method. It was a test of two types. First, how does the child operate, and would s/he be a good fit at the school. Second, how do the parents react, to see whether they will be happy with the school. She explained to us why she did most of the things she did (I forget now exactly all of them, although I do remember her telling our DC that she wasn't getting into the chair properly--she was climbing, rather than sitting down and pulling it under her). I assume that what she was trying to do was screen out people who didn't fit into the teaching method, and I'll say that we probably did not (not accepted, FWIW).

If Aidan is able to fill its classes with her as the gate keeper, more power to them. But I have to say that she certainly didn't make us feel welcome, and I doubt she's very good advertising for the school.

Gate keeper is a very nice way of describing her. I found her to be more of a storm trooper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah, Ms. Antonucci -- this brings back memories. We interviewed with her a few years ago. These anecdotes all ring true. I don't think the point was to humiliate, though. We laugh about the whole experience in retrospect, but I think she had a purpose to her method. It was a test of two types. First, how does the child operate, and would s/he be a good fit at the school. Second, how do the parents react, to see whether they will be happy with the school. She explained to us why she did most of the things she did (I forget now exactly all of them, although I do remember her telling our DC that she wasn't getting into the chair properly--she was climbing, rather than sitting down and pulling it under her). I assume that what she was trying to do was screen out people who didn't fit into the teaching method, and I'll say that we probably did not (not accepted, FWIW).

If Aidan is able to fill its classes with her as the gate keeper, more power to them. But I have to say that she certainly didn't make us feel welcome, and I doubt she's very good advertising for the school.

Gate keeper is a very nice way of describing her. I found her to be more of a storm trooper.

Oh for God's sake, the bashing of Ms. Antonucci by bitter parents needs to stop.

Her job at the interview is to assess your child in terms of their likely fitness with this particular Montessori school, not to be warm and fuzzy. She is very focused and, yes, expends little energy tending to the emotional or social needs of the parents. The degree of focus she brings to her assessment of your child is uncomfortable for pretty much everyone who has never had their child assessed in such a way. But it's her job.

In reality, she is an amazing, talented, warm and caring teacher. We are Aidan parents and were actually disappointed that our child did not end up in her class. Other parents I know of have requested that their child be put in her class because they respect her so much (requests which are not fulfilled simply on this basis, ever).

Get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah, Ms. Antonucci -- this brings back memories. We interviewed with her a few years ago. These anecdotes all ring true. I don't think the point was to humiliate, though. We laugh about the whole experience in retrospect, but I think she had a purpose to her method. It was a test of two types. First, how does the child operate, and would s/he be a good fit at the school. Second, how do the parents react, to see whether they will be happy with the school. She explained to us why she did most of the things she did (I forget now exactly all of them, although I do remember her telling our DC that she wasn't getting into the chair properly--she was climbing, rather than sitting down and pulling it under her). I assume that what she was trying to do was screen out people who didn't fit into the teaching method, and I'll say that we probably did not (not accepted, FWIW).

If Aidan is able to fill its classes with her as the gate keeper, more power to them. But I have to say that she certainly didn't make us feel welcome, and I doubt she's very good advertising for the school.

Gate keeper is a very nice way of describing her. I found her to be more of a storm trooper.

Oh for God's sake, the bashing of Ms. Antonucci by bitter parents needs to stop.

Her job at the interview is to assess your child in terms of their likely fitness with this particular Montessori school, not to be warm and fuzzy. She is very focused and, yes, expends little energy tending to the emotional or social needs of the parents. The degree of focus she brings to her assessment of your child is uncomfortable for pretty much everyone who has never had their child assessed in such a way. But it's her job.

In reality, she is an amazing, talented, warm and caring teacher. We are Aidan parents and were actually disappointed that our child did not end up in her class. Other parents I know of have requested that their child be put in her class because they respect her so much (requests which are not fulfilled simply on this basis, ever).

Get over it.

I'd have to agree. We recently had an interview at Aiden, & I walked in w/the preconceived notion built up by this forum, & I found nothing to be true about what's posted here. She was very nice to us, & she took our son around the room to different activities. I would say to anyone considering Aiden, go find out for yourself, & stop listening to what I would describe on this board as some 'disturbed individuals'.

[Anonymous]

I'm not "distubred" at all. She was insulting during our interview, and I know three other people who had a similar experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not "distubred" at all. She was insulting during our interview, and I know three other people who had a similar experience.

I find it difficult, nigh impossible to believe that she insulted you. However, I find it easy to believe that you don't understand her evaluative methods and chose to be insulted by her detailed examination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not "distubred" at all. She was insulting during our interview, and I know three other people who had a similar experience.

I find it difficult, nigh impossible to believe that she insulted you. However, I find it easy to believe that you don't understand her evaluative methods and chose to be insulted by her detailed examination.

It wasn't really an examination. It was more of an interrogation, and she was probing as to whether we'd be able to afford the annual tuition increases. We should just agree to disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not "distubred" at all. She was insulting during our interview, and I know three other people who had a similar experience.

I find it difficult, nigh impossible to believe that she insulted you. However, I find it easy to believe that you don't understand her evaluative methods and chose to be insulted by her detailed examination.

It wasn't really an examination. It was more of an interrogation, and she was probing as to whether we'd be able to afford the annual tuition increases. We should just agree to disagree.

13:19 here again (and this is the first time I've posted since that response). But I really find it hard to believe that she was discussing this with you at the child's interview. This is not a topic that came up at all in any other interview I have ever heard of - in fact, what Ms. Antonucci is most usually called out for is the fact that she really doesn't talk much with the parents [b]at all[/b] or answer questions. And she certainly doesn't discuss tuition or financial issues. Yours is really not a credible post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not "distubred" at all. She was insulting during our interview, and I know three other people who had a similar experience.

I find it difficult, nigh impossible to believe that she insulted you. However, I find it easy to believe that you don't understand her evaluative methods and chose to be insulted by her detailed examination.

It wasn't really an examination. It was more of an interrogation, and she was probing as to whether we'd be able to afford the annual tuition increases. We should just agree to disagree.

13:19 here again (and this is the first time I've posted since that response). But I really find it hard to believe that she was discussing this with you at the child's interview. This is not a topic that came up at all in any other interview I have ever heard of - in fact, what Ms. Antonucci is most usually called out for is the fact that she really doesn't talk much with the parents [b]at all[/b] or answer questions. And she certainly doesn't discuss tuition or financial issues. Yours is really not a credible post.

I really don't care whether or not you believe me. Maybe she was having an off day. But my husband and I walked out of that interview in disbelief ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: What does the current research say about montessori and early childhood education?

Montessori has been largely ignored by academic researchers since an earlier study in 1930s which asserts that it is not a good approach to early education.

I am a mathematician but I found the Montessori way of teaching math very strange, to say the least.

Very interesting. Would you care to elaborate?

For the most up to date research, I would recommend reading "Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius" by Dr. Angeline Lillard published about 2 years ago. It's the first scientifically based study of outcomes of students in Montessori schools. There's also a great little book that's just come out on Montessori math called "Math Works."

FWIW, our DS is in Montessori, and I think the math materials are fabulous. He is 4 1/2 and is doing 1st grade math. His intuitive sense of numbers is much stronger than his older sibling who didn't do Montessori. The Montessori materials allow kids to go very far in math. For example, basic counting beads are already teaching kids multiples and multiplication. Binomial cube teaches seems like a toy, but really shows a 2 dimensional representation of a plus b quantity squared (algebra). Plus, I think the materials encourage the kind of physical organization that helps kids to be successful in math and represent math in multi-sensory ways. I love the Montessori math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not "distubred" at all. She was insulting during our interview, and I know three other people who had a similar experience.

I find it difficult, nigh impossible to believe that she insulted you. However, I find it easy to believe that you don't understand her evaluative methods and chose to be insulted by her detailed examination.

It wasn't really an examination. It was more of an interrogation, and she was probing as to whether we'd be able to afford the annual tuition increases. We should just agree to disagree.

13:19 here again (and this is the first time I've posted since that response). But I really find it hard to believe that she was discussing this with you at the child's interview. This is not a topic that came up at all in any other interview I have ever heard of - in fact, what Ms. Antonucci is most usually called out for is the fact that she really doesn't talk much with the parents [b]at all[/b] or answer questions. And she certainly doesn't discuss tuition or financial issues. Yours is really not a credible post.

I really don't care whether or not you believe me. Maybe she was having an off day. But my husband and I walked out of that interview in disbelief ourselves.

13:19 here again. Okay, since you responded so reasonably and without histrionic defensiveness, I am more inclined to believe you now.

All I can say is that, on behalf of Aidan, I am very sorry to hear that you had such a negative experience. It certainly was not an accurate reflection of the character of the school (or of Ms. Antonucci, for that matter, who must have been having as you more kindly put it "an off day"). And I will, in a gentle but meaningful way, talk with the Head of School about some of the issues raised in this thread.

For anyone else, I encourage you to check the school out for yourselves and not pre-judge it based on some of the more harsh comments about perceptions of Ms. Antonucci's behavior that are posted on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not "distubred" at all. She was insulting during our interview, and I know three other people who had a similar experience.

I find it difficult, nigh impossible to believe that she insulted you. However, I find it easy to believe that you don't understand her evaluative methods and chose to be insulted by her detailed examination.

It wasn't really an examination. It was more of an interrogation, and she was probing as to whether we'd be able to afford the annual tuition increases. We should just agree to disagree.

13:19 here again (and this is the first time I've posted since that response). But I really find it hard to believe that she was discussing this with you at the child's interview. This is not a topic that came up at all in any other interview I have ever heard of - in fact, what Ms. Antonucci is most usually called out for is the fact that she really doesn't talk much with the parents [b]at all[/b] or answer questions. And she certainly doesn't discuss tuition or financial issues. Yours is really not a credible post.

I really don't care whether or not you believe me. Maybe she was having an off day. But my husband and I walked out of that interview in disbelief ourselves.

13:19 here again. Okay, since you responded so reasonably and without histrionic defensiveness, I am more inclined to believe you now.

All I can say is that, on behalf of Aidan, I am very sorry to hear that you had such a negative experience. It certainly was not an accurate reflection of the character of the school (or of Ms. Antonucci, for that matter, who must have been having as you more kindly put it "an off day"). And I will, in a gentle but meaningful way, talk with the Head of School about some of the issues raised in this thread.

For anyone else, I encourage you to check the school out for yourselves and not pre-judge it based on some of the more harsh comments about perceptions of Ms. Antonucci's behavior that are posted on this thread.

I'm sure that the PP is relieved to hear that you believe her now.

If you want to help Aidan, I'd suggest you stop posting as its advocate. You're doing the school no favors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you want to help Aidan, I'd suggest you stop posting as its advocate. You're doing the school no favors.

Oh please, people post negative comments and flame schools on here for no valid reason quite frequently. When someone uses words like "a storm trooper" and "interrogation" to describe a beloved and respected teacher, the exaggerations create a foundation upon which it is reasonable not to take the person's comments that seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm sure that the PP is relieved to hear that you believe her now.

If you want to help Aidan, I'd suggest you stop posting as its advocate. You're doing the school no favors.

Oh this is utter nonsense. I'm not 13:19 btw, nor am I an Aidan Montessori parent, staff member, etc. I have no connection to the school, whatsoever.

I find it ridiculous however, that someone would suggest that a spirited defense of the school is somehow unhelpful. Especially when so many of the posts about the school have the bitter, huffy tone of sour grapes. Personally, I think it speaks well for the school and its family community that someone is willing to speak up for it. Aidan Montessori is widely known as a good school, but this forum offers anyone the opportunity to slime and smear just because they're angry that they got rejected. (Sorry, but that's completely how these negative posts come across.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm sure that the PP is relieved to hear that you believe her now.

If you want to help Aidan, I'd suggest you stop posting as its advocate. You're doing the school no favors.

Oh this is utter nonsense. I'm not 13:19 btw, nor am I an Aidan Montessori parent, staff member, etc. I have no connection to the school, whatsoever.

I find it ridiculous however, that someone would suggest that a spirited defense of the school is somehow unhelpful. Especially when so many of the posts about the school have the bitter, huffy tone of sour grapes. Personally, I think it speaks well for the school and its family community that someone is willing to speak up for it. Aidan Montessori is widely known as a good school, but this forum offers anyone the opportunity to slime and smear just because they're angry that they got rejected. (Sorry, but that's completely how these negative posts come across.)

I couldn't disagree more. My DC didn't get into NCRC, but the play date was great. The staff was warm and engaging, and I have nothing but praise for their process. Aidan was different. And I have nothing against Ms. Antonucci personally. It sounds like she's a wonderful teacher, from all accounts I've seen on this board. But like I said before, she handled our play date, and those of several people that I know, in a way that left us baffled.