Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 20:29     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Anonymous wrote:

For the Montessori pedagogy to be effective, it also requires parental engagement to ensure certain continuity between home and school environments, but this is typically challenged when the parents have no clue what Montessori is.



Pretty much any DC public school would be effective if there was parental engagement and continuity between home and school environments. But the reality is there are very few schools where this is true for the majority of students. The schools DCUM views as successful either 1) have a majority of students with engaged parents or 2) find a way to be successful despite a lack of engaged parents.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 20:17     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Anonymous wrote:What you are describing is not a Montessori pedagogy problem. This is rather how it is being implemented in a public school setting.
A lottery system with a constant stream of large number of new students is a disservice to the Montessori classroom continuity from year to year. Montessori students require a normalization period and this not going to properly happen in a lottery system.

For the Montessori pedagogy to be effective, it also requires parental engagement to ensure certain continuity between home and school environments, but this is typically challenged when the parents have no clue what Montessori is.

The “can’t stand still” is really not a Montessori problem! It is a societal problem. A properly Montessori- normalized child would usually develop wonderful focus and analytical skills.


I’m the PP and youre not wrong…. The influx of non-Montessori students in yearly is a major problem. They don’t have a clue what Montessori is and they also aren’t being taught it once they are there, especially new 4th and 5th graders. It’s unfair to the students who grew up learning Montessori and understand the model because they are constantly disrupted by students who think school is just a free for all where they can do whatever the want. Admin doesn’t tell them any different either. There are no actual consequences for anything. Again, they actually seem to be rewarded instead. It’s a very backwards, bizarre school.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 17:31     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Anonymous wrote:What you are describing is not a Montessori pedagogy problem. This is rather how it is being implemented in a public school setting.
A lottery system with a constant stream of large number of new students is a disservice to the Montessori classroom continuity from year to year. Montessori students require a normalization period and this not going to properly happen in a lottery system.

For the Montessori pedagogy to be effective, it also requires parental engagement to ensure certain continuity between home and school environments, but this is typically challenged when the parents have no clue what Montessori is.

The “can’t stand still” is really not a Montessori problem! It is a societal problem. A properly Montessori- normalized child would usually develop wonderful focus and analytical skills.

I am the poster here and will add that the middle school at CHML is not Montessori (unfortunately). But the majority of the middle school teachers are wonderful, skilled, and very dedicated! Signed- a CHML parent.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 17:26     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Anonymous wrote:What you are describing is not a Montessori pedagogy problem. This is rather how it is being implemented in a public school setting.
A lottery system with a constant stream of large number of new students is a disservice to the Montessori classroom continuity from year to year. Montessori students require a normalization period and this not going to properly happen in a lottery system.

For the Montessori pedagogy to be effective, it also requires parental engagement to ensure certain continuity between home and school environments, but this is typically challenged when the parents have no clue what Montessori is.

The “can’t stand still” is really not a Montessori problem! It is a societal problem. A properly Montessori- normalized child would usually develop wonderful focus and analytical skills.


But if the Montessori schools around here could not add new kids, they would run out of kids because so many people leave. No kids, no school
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 17:22     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
What you are describing is not a Montessori pedagogy problem. This is rather how it is being implemented in a public school setting.
A lottery system with a constant stream of large number of new students is a disservice to the Montessori classroom continuity from year to year. Montessori students require a normalization period and this not going to properly happen in a lottery system.

For the Montessori pedagogy to be effective, it also requires parental engagement to ensure certain continuity between home and school environments, but this is typically challenged when the parents have no clue what Montessori is.

The “can’t stand still” is really not a Montessori problem! It is a societal problem. A properly Montessori- normalized child would usually develop wonderful focus and analytical skills.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 16:32     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The feedback is good. JOW swing space over TR Young. CHML to avoid the swing space if its far away from you. Avoid the admin issues at TR if you can. You can probably this year only get in at JOW post-lottery or OOB specifically because of the swing space.


I don't think anyone here recommended CHML in the least.


Beyond student behavioral issues, which tend exist in almost every public school, what are the problems with CHML?


The behavior problems here massively hinder learning. Admin doesn’t do anything, so students never change their behaviors, and the other students in class suffer. I left there years ago and from what I’ve heard from parents and teachers alike, nothing has changed and if anything, has gotten worse.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 16:30     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The feedback is good. JOW swing space over TR Young. CHML to avoid the swing space if its far away from you. Avoid the admin issues at TR if you can. You can probably this year only get in at JOW post-lottery or OOB specifically because of the swing space.


I don't think anyone here recommended CHML in the least.


Beyond student behavioral issues, which tend exist in almost every public school, what are the problems with CHML?


The CHML behavioral problems are exacerbated by the Montessori set up of huge classes, "self-directed" learning and enormous disparities in abilities in one class (diverse school + actually covering 3 years age-wise = complete fail).


Not only this, but the students can’t sit for direct instruction as a whole class for longer than 5 minutes. They don’t know how to act in a “normal” classroom as they basically do whatever they want all morning long. It’s going to negatively impact the majority of students when they move to middle school (if they switch) and high school. It works for academically motivated students but it doesn’t work for the average kid (or below average kid) which is the majority of the school make-up.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 15:26     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The feedback is good. JOW swing space over TR Young. CHML to avoid the swing space if its far away from you. Avoid the admin issues at TR if you can. You can probably this year only get in at JOW post-lottery or OOB specifically because of the swing space.


I don't think anyone here recommended CHML in the least.


Beyond student behavioral issues, which tend exist in almost every public school, what are the problems with CHML?


The CHML behavioral problems are exacerbated by the Montessori set up of huge classes, "self-directed" learning and enormous disparities in abilities in one class (diverse school + actually covering 3 years age-wise = complete fail).
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 14:05     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The feedback is good. JOW swing space over TR Young. CHML to avoid the swing space if its far away from you. Avoid the admin issues at TR if you can. You can probably this year only get in at JOW post-lottery or OOB specifically because of the swing space.


I don't think anyone here recommended CHML in the least.


Beyond student behavioral issues, which tend exist in almost every public school, what are the problems with CHML?
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 10:38     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
TR was better until “those” people showed up.
Anonymous
Post 05/19/2025 10:20     Subject: Re:CHML of Two Rivers?
I definitely would avoid both TR campuses at all costs. For some years PK-1st was fine, but I don't think those grades have decent teachers and can avoid the admin rot. Even the most clueless, in-denial-drink-the-performative-Kool Aid-TR parents are realistic about the schools' slide.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2025 19:33     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The feedback is good. JOW swing space over TR Young. CHML to avoid the swing space if its far away from you. Avoid the admin issues at TR if you can. You can probably this year only get in at JOW post-lottery or OOB specifically because of the swing space.


I don't think anyone here recommended CHML in the least.


I did but only for ECE with a plan to lottery into L-T or elsewhere once you milk the Montessori for what it's worth. I'd take it over the JOW PK even though JOW PK is quite decent.

Would take either over TR4.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2025 18:47     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Anonymous wrote:The feedback is good. JOW swing space over TR Young. CHML to avoid the swing space if its far away from you. Avoid the admin issues at TR if you can. You can probably this year only get in at JOW post-lottery or OOB specifically because of the swing space.


I don't think anyone here recommended CHML in the least.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2025 17:24     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
The feedback is good. JOW swing space over TR Young. CHML to avoid the swing space if its far away from you. Avoid the admin issues at TR if you can. You can probably this year only get in at JOW post-lottery or OOB specifically because of the swing space.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2025 07:49     Subject: CHML of Two Rivers?
Not OP, I hijacked the thread because I was looking for a similar comparison, just adding in Young. Bad etiquette not to specify, but thanks for the feedback.