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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How do you know if Montessori is going to be good for your kid in the long run?  I see it as being great for PK/K, but unsure about the higher elementary grades.  [/quote]

Parent of a pre-schooler at LAMB here. I don't know how you tell if your kid will do well in Montessori until they do (or don't), but I can share this from our experience:
Montessori emphasizes independence and student-directed learning. There is a structure to it, but it's not as apparent as in a classroom where all the kids learn everything at the same time.  In the primary level, the classes are mixed with about 1/3 in Pre-K3, 1/3 in Pre-K4, and 1/3 Kindergartners. There are Montessori "games" (though I'm sure they're not called this) set up all over the room with some that are appropriate for the 3yos, some for the 4yos, and some for the Kindergartners. Kids have to master the "games" in an order - e.g., master the 3yo level, then the 4yo level, then the 5yo level. The students know which "work" they are supposed to do in general, but have the right to choose which things they want to work on. So my kid really likes science and "practical life" and gravitates towards those things. The teachers give a "presentation" on how a "game" or activity works and then they let the student practice it. The 4yos are meant to mentor the 3yos and the Kindergartners mentor the 3 and 4 yos. The teachers work 1:1 with kids or in small groups, helping the kids to master the activities and develop skills over time. It's amazing to me to see the progress my son has made -- both in practical skills (he's super independent at home) and in academic skills (already doing the early bit of math). All of it is called "work" but in the way it occurs, it feels like "play." My kid loves it.  We also really like the continuity of having the same teachers for 3 years (but people do switch, if needed) and our son is super motivated by the desire to do what the bigger kids in class do. If your child needs more structure and guidance -- perhaps is more timid and wouldn't like to work independently -- then maybe Montessori won't work for him/her. But, I am (clearly) no expert. Just a parent observing it as we live it.[/quote]

And I see now that you were asking about the higher grades. I think if your kid does okay in Montessori at the lower grades, Montessori is all they know and they're fine. But, I haven't gotten there yet, so it's hard for me to say for sure.

One interesting thing is that I've heard a lot of stories about kids that leave LAMB/Montessori and then go on to non-Montessori middle schools -- and they do really well. I think LAMB does a lot in 4th and 5th grade to prep kids for middle school (non-Montessori), and the kids are very successful after LAMB.  This all just based on random anecdotes from parents who talked to other parents and even to some students at DCI that didn't come from LAMB, but said that their LAMB peers are often top performers.[/quote]

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