Anonymous wrote:Riverseed aims for 8 PK3 in their primary class (3-6 yo).

Anonymous wrote:OP here just wanted to add:
I learned yesterday about the Wildflower Riverseed school and I'm intrigued but that's also kinda far away (although about the same driving time as Lee Montessori). And it seems they only admit around two prek3 kids per year?

Anonymous wrote:
If he needs lots of movement. Why would you send him to school early? Keep him at home with a nanny so that he can have lots of outdoor time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here just wanted to add:
I learned yesterday about the Wildflower Riverseed school and I'm intrigued but that's also kinda far away (although about the same driving time as Lee Montessori). And it seems they only admit around two prek3 kids per year?

I wouldn't. I'm not sure it's going to survive its upcoming 5-year review.

I hear you that you "believe in" Reggio and Montessori, but I'll remind you that even the accredited programs aren't going to be as Reggio or as Montessori as you'd probably like, due to all the rules and restrictions of the public school system. You get what you pay for. Really consider whether you want to drive far for something that isn't really what you want.

That's a good point. The place I worked a long time ago, they sent teachers to the actual city in Italy to train and teachers came from all over the country to observe there so I suppose my bar might be too high 😅 They won me over though with their focus on outdoors. If I could do it without a 30+ minute commute I'd send my kiddo to an outdoors school. He definitely has significantly higher movement needs than his peers that I've observed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You're not gonna get anything like Italian Montessori here. And you need to be aware that many of the Montessori schools in this area have serious management issues.

I suggest you focus on your DC's movement needs and potential special Ed needs that he may have. Montessori can be a real struggle for certain kids-- sometimes those with ADHD or poor social perception aren't able to do the long work periods and higher level of autonomy. Really think about this-- don't believe that because you like it on a policy level it'll be right for your specific child.

Do you have any recommendations for schools that stand out with respect to movement needs? From what I understand, none of them are particularly great in that area. That's why I was trying to prioritize having a playground onsite. And Lee Montessori at least seems to have a longer recess time than others I've seen (45 min + an afternoon recess).

My kiddo definitely is genetically predisposed to ADHD so it's something I need to keep an eye on as he gets older but he generally does ok with playing autonomously for extended periods of time (magnatiles, trains, etc) as long as he has the opportunity to run as fast as he can for about 15-20 min first 😂

None of the schools have as much movement time as you're looking for, because they're public schools. They have a mandated number of minutes in the day for certain subjects, and then there's lunch and nap. That just doesn't leave a whole lot for recess.

What I'm trying to tell you is that the hyperfocus at home doesn't always translate to the Montessori setting because at home he's got a lot less distractions and has toys he likes. In a classroom, the environment is more distracting and the teachers will be trying to get him to learn certain things (even in a Montessori), and he won't always be able to hyperfocus on things at the time he wants to. It's also not just about autonomous play, it's also about social skills, which can sometimes lag in kids with ADHD. The Montessori classroom in its purest sense tries to develop age-appropriate social skills, and relies on kids having them, and sometimes it works really poorly for kids who don't naturally have strong social skills.

Having worked in a public Montessori...yup. It absolutely doesn't work for every student and any admin telling you it does, just wants those enrollment numbers to go up. Students need to be self-motivated. That isn't the case for every student. Many (most) need structure. Montessori students in DCPS will absolutely suffer when it comes to high school or higher ed because they don't implement it well and they take any student they can for said numbers.

Anonymous wrote:We are inbounds for Maury, and unless he gets into SWS (HA!), we'll likely transition to Maury for K. After much belaboring and research, this is what I've got, wdyt?

Priorities were walkability(/public transport) from our house near Lincoln Park, onsite playground, and curriculum. Ideally our nanny (who will be caring for our younger child) will pick him up from school, rather than us using aftercare, and she doesn't drive.

1. School Within School - I used to work at a reggio school and I'm super passionate about it so it really bums me out that this isn't a real choice
2. Maury
3. Miner - realistic hope for where we end up
4. Two Rivers 4th St - heard great things but definitely a schlep. But on the busline
5. AppleTree Oklahoma - not a fan of AppleTree's curriculum but at least this one has a playground on site
6. AppleTree Lincoln Park
7. Lee Montessori - we would have to drive here but hoping there is some carpool, probably would wind up doing aftercare
8. Two Rivers Young - ditto above
9. Friendship Chamberlain - don't know much about this one but I think he's guaranteed to get in?

Also had Payne on there for a bit but if he got in there he'd probably also be in at Miner and I'd rather he go to Miner because of the number of Maury families there. And the new building/playground seems nice. Also had JO Wilson because I think he could get in because of the renovations but the swing space is a schlep and so is the school itself.

Anything I'm missing??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You're not gonna get anything like Italian Montessori here. And you need to be aware that many of the Montessori schools in this area have serious management issues.

I suggest you focus on your DC's movement needs and potential special Ed needs that he may have. Montessori can be a real struggle for certain kids-- sometimes those with ADHD or poor social perception aren't able to do the long work periods and higher level of autonomy. Really think about this-- don't believe that because you like it on a policy level it'll be right for your specific child.

Do you have any recommendations for schools that stand out with respect to movement needs? From what I understand, none of them are particularly great in that area. That's why I was trying to prioritize having a playground onsite. And Lee Montessori at least seems to have a longer recess time than others I've seen (45 min + an afternoon recess).

My kiddo definitely is genetically predisposed to ADHD so it's something I need to keep an eye on as he gets older but he generally does ok with playing autonomously for extended periods of time (magnatiles, trains, etc) as long as he has the opportunity to run as fast as he can for about 15-20 min first 😂

None of the schools have as much movement time as you're looking for, because they're public schools. They have a mandated number of minutes in the day for certain subjects, and then there's lunch and nap. That just doesn't leave a whole lot for recess.

What I'm trying to tell you is that the hyperfocus at home doesn't always translate to the Montessori setting because at home he's got a lot less distractions and has toys he likes. In a classroom, the environment is more distracting and the teachers will be trying to get him to learn certain things (even in a Montessori), and he won't always be able to hyperfocus on things at the time he wants to. It's also not just about autonomous play, it's also about social skills, which can sometimes lag in kids with ADHD. The Montessori classroom in its purest sense tries to develop age-appropriate social skills, and relies on kids having them, and sometimes it works really poorly for kids who don't naturally have strong social skills.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You're not gonna get anything like Italian Montessori here. And you need to be aware that many of the Montessori schools in this area have serious management issues.

I suggest you focus on your DC's movement needs and potential special Ed needs that he may have. Montessori can be a real struggle for certain kids-- sometimes those with ADHD or poor social perception aren't able to do the long work periods and higher level of autonomy. Really think about this-- don't believe that because you like it on a policy level it'll be right for your specific child.

Do you have any recommendations for schools that stand out with respect to movement needs? From what I understand, none of them are particularly great in that area. That's why I was trying to prioritize having a playground onsite. And Lee Montessori at least seems to have a longer recess time than others I've seen (45 min + an afternoon recess).

My kiddo definitely is genetically predisposed to ADHD so it's something I need to keep an eye on as he gets older but he generally does ok with playing autonomously for extended periods of time (magnatiles, trains, etc) as long as he has the opportunity to run as fast as he can for about 15-20 min first 😂

Anonymous wrote:
You're not gonna get anything like Italian Montessori here. And you need to be aware that many of the Montessori schools in this area have serious management issues.

I suggest you focus on your DC's movement needs and potential special Ed needs that he may have. Montessori can be a real struggle for certain kids-- sometimes those with ADHD or poor social perception aren't able to do the long work periods and higher level of autonomy. Really think about this-- don't believe that because you like it on a policy level it'll be right for your specific child.