Reply to Is Montessori really "for every child?"

Forum Index » DC Public and Public Charter Schools

Reply to "Is Montessori really "for every child?""

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]We were debating between a montessori and a reggio school (the only geographic options for us, along with a pretty old-school catholic program that looked like no fun) for our almost 3-year old energetic son last year. I actually talked to a childhood developmental specialist about the choice, and she highly recommended reggio for my son. She said montessori was great for independent, self-directed, calm and compliant kids. But if you're the typical active little boy, she said it was not a great fit at age 3. Although self-directed, she said that kids got to pick their own activity, but then were bound to use that activity as prescribed. No taking the beads from the bead station and "cooking" them in the pot at the kitchen station. She said a lot of 3-year olds (and in particular, girls) are great at this. But as described, my son would not be.

I wondered whether we should be helping my son to develop some of those more focused and obedience skills, but the specialist said almost all kids naturally learned those just in time for kindergarten - which is where you first "need" those skills. And you should pick a preschool for how your kid is; not for preparing them for school.

We also discussed the fact that most "montessori" preschools have very little to do with the true montessori method but just use the name for marketing.

And in the end - we loved the reggio school we picked, but it really highlighted some major sensory seeking behaviors my son has (which had been minor blips in his behavior prior to school, but a chaotic classroom really brought them out in a bad way). And so in hindsight, he actually would have done best in the old-school catholic program (where the nuns had the kids suspiciously quiet, orderly and well-behaved)! That was the one school we weren't really interested in at all.  You live and learn!!  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics