When to start sending child to Montessori
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Anonymous
| DS has recently turned 2 and we'd like to send him to Montessori school Where most likely he will be in a two year olds classroom even though he will be on the older side. Does it make sense in this case to start sending him in the 2017-18 school year (at the beginning of which he will still be two and at least for sometime will stay in toddler room) or should we wait for another year and just send him straight to the primary classroom? He is a very typical 2 year old, a little delayed language wise (just hitting milestones actually although recently he's picking up words much faster) which to some extent we attribute to the fact that he's exposed to multiple languages. |
Anonymous
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Maria Montessori's preschool program was developed for 3 to 6 year olds. Make sure that you're sending him to a certified Montessori, the name is not protected.
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Anonymous
There are certifications for infants, toddlers, primary, and elementary from both AMI and AMS. While it's always a good idea to check certification, just because they have a toddler program doesn't mean they aren't certified or that the toddler room isn't "true" Montessori. OP, we were in a similar situation with DS and we chose to wait and send him to Primary. With DD, just because of her age, she did a whole year in the toddler room. I SO wish we had done toddler for DS! Obviously it depends on the school and the teacher, but the toddler room at our school is amazing! DD got so much out of it, and was so loved and cared for. Even a few months of that environment would be awesome. Plus, the toddler community is much much smaller than the primary room and obviously has much higher teacher/student ratios, so it's a nice gradual transition to school in general and Montessori in particular. |
Anonymous
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11:26 again...
Also ask your school about when and how they move kids up to primary. At our school there is a minimum age, but it is also developmental and totally dependent on each individual kid. So your child may well spend the majority of 2017-2018 in the toddler room, and if he doesn't, it will be because he's ready and raring to go for the primary room |
Anonymous
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We are at Aidan Montessori, and I'm pretty sure they sometimes send almost-3 kids to the Primary room. So it's not set in stone that they have to be 3. That may be different with the DCPS montessori charters, though.
Also, I've heard of kids starting in the Toddler room mid-year, so that may be an option as well. If you're going for private, discussing this with the Admissions team may be fruitful. |
Anonymous
| Language development isn't a strength of Montessori programs, particularly at the toddler level. I'd find a language rich preschool for the 2 year old year, and then, based on how he does, consider either staying there or moving to Montessori for the traditional 3 year cycle starting at 3. |
Anonymous
| NP here -- I also started DC in a toddler Montessori program and was similarly amazed at what she learned. By the end of the year she was choosing work on her own and putting it back, waiting her turn to get a snack, etc. She really blossomed in terms of basic language and math as well as social skills and practical life. |
Anonymous
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The Montessori I sent my DC was not strictly following the Montessori standards. There were a lot of foreign born (Southeast Asians) teachers and one of their aim was also for the students to have a seamless transition to public schools in Kindergarten. I really appreciated it.
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Anonymous
| This is OP. Those who posted that their toddler did well in Montessori, would you mind sharing the name of the school? Thanks. |
Anonymous
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We attended Rock Creek Montessori in Kensington/Silver Spring. I sent my older son when he was just about 3 and he went right into the primary room. I sent my younger son when he was 18mo and he went into the toddler room. He needed more socialization and activity than I could provide at home. The program is great. They are AMI certified, which really suited us. Both of them are flourishing.
Whether you choose to send your child or not depends on them and the program you are considering. Do you want more socialization? Do they seem bored with their current situation? If you are a SAHP do you need more time to get things done that a 2yo's patience and temperament won't allow? When you tour the facility do the children seem (in general) happy and engaged? Do you want to ensure you can get into the primary program? (Many programs give priority to those currently enrolled.) There are lots of reasons. You know your child best. Do your research and go with your gut. |
Anonymous
Our Montessori experience was that the toddler class was very strong in language. There is constant talking (seems like) and sandpaper letters and language development by naming and labeling objects for increasing vocabulary. Learning to get along with others is constant talking and modeling conversations. "May I please, etc." |
Birdmom5
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| We never had experience with a Montessori school. Good luck with your decision! |
Anonymous
Bwahahahahahahah! A toddler Montessori program is so incredibly language rich. The teachers are talking and interacting with the kids all the time. They do all sorts of language work, even the snack time is set up to be a language experience. OP, my kid thrived in the toddler program - I actually like it a lot more than the primary program precisely because it is so language and social-skills intense. |
Anonymous
Naming and labeling is such a small part of language development. Manners is another tiny part. The fact that Montessori programs over focus on those two rote skills, is a big part of why research shows that any gains kids make in Montessori disappear by 3rd grade, unlike the gains that kids make in programs that develop the whole child. |
Anonymous
I have never in my life heard someone call good manners a "rote skill" - how odd. I'd love to see links to this research you talk about? Also, what language skills do you think are missing in a Montessori class that are present in a toddler (not preschool) "whole child" program? |