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[quote=Anonymous]This is a wonderful thread. Thanks, OP, for starting it.

I am a parent of a child about to enter his second year of primary at an AMI school. I also have an Master's in Education. Thought I might comment on a couple of earlier points....

1) Children in Montessori do have a chance to "play." They are children after all!  It just doesn't happen during the 3 hour work cycle in the same way it does at "play based" preschool. My son plays on the playground with his friends during recess, at aftercare and at home/outside.  I do not feel he is lacking at all from not "playing" in his classroom. As for play based programs being bad, just like with any program, it depends on the quality being implemented. I prefer Montessori starting at primary because of the balance (IMO) it provides with unstructured play outside of school.

2) Social/Emotional learning most definitely happens in a Montessori classroom. Children are taught to control their impulses, respect their own and other's personal space and work, and to work in small groups. They learn to express their feelings, just as in a "play based" preschool.

3) Scaffolding certainly happens in the classroom. Many of the materials in the classroom are used for progressively challenging lessons as the individual child is ready. 
 
For #s 2 & 3, part of the beauty of primary spanning across three years (3-5 years). The teacher knows each child so well and the children have a chance to be the youngest and oldest. The teacher is constantly creating and revising individual lesson plans.

I personally chose Montessori for my child because I love that he is learning at his own pace in a way that is meaningful to him, rather than learning about the same topic that an entire class is studying. He enjoys going to school and so far it has been a very positive experience for him.[/quote]

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