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[quote=Anonymous][quote]We're considering sending our son to a Montessori pre-school. Can someone explain the theory behind Montessori education, and perhaps how good it is for preparing a child for kindergarten?

I'd also love to hear pros/cons or comparisons of Montessori versus traditional pre-schools. [/quote]

The OP is asking about preschool not K-12 so some of the previous posts may not be relevant. I kept my kids in Montessori until K and plan to keep my youngest in Montessori for K. About half the parents/kids in my childs' classes decided to stay for K or go to K for public school. Academically, every kid was ahead entering MCPS so in terms of preparation for K or 1st grade it is a good option. The caveat is to make sure that you choose a real Montessori school that is AMI not AMS.

I think the way Montessori schools approach reading and math builds a better foundation for the kids. They start introducing concepts when they are 3 like learning the sounds of the letters and the first sounds of works or counting quantities in larger sets. They do teach sight words later on but the jump to coding and decoding seems easier and faster since they have some experience with the phonic approach. For kids who are advanced, it is a good setting because they can easily move ahead faster. For kids with any delays, one of my children has an auditory processing disorder, the approach is helpful too. There is benefit that he can move forward in other areas and still work in places were he struggles without feeling like he is behind or holding up the class. If you compare the curriculum/skills at the end of Montessori and the MCPS K, the Montessori program should be much farther ahead than MCPS.

From a transition standpoint, the big difference is time and independence. In Montessori, the kids are allowed to work on a particular activity for somewhat as long as they want. I say somewhat because the teacher does guide them to move on at some point..ie they are not allowed to do the multiplication board for 6 straight hours. At MCPS the time is much more rigid and switches often. The kids get X minutes to complete something and must move on. They are given things to do rather than being able to choose. One of my kids had a hard time stopping after 6 minutes and was always upset that she could not finish. If your child has a propensity to be a perfectionist then I would suggest practicing at home over the summer using a timer.

MCPS K is not that challenging, which IMO is not a bad thing. I don't think you need to worry about your child being well prepped. One of DD's friends is smart but went to a bad preschool program. While she was behind others in reading at first, she quickly caught up in K. [/quote]

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