Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a good fit for my very social, active DS. Would have hated working at stations, emphasis on fine motor, and high student:teacher ratio. Went for play-based preschool with lots of outdoor gross motor play time instead.

What happened when he had to start traditional school? Working at a desk, emphasis on fine motor, etc all elements of traditional public school.

I'm the poster at 10:26, the "regular" teacher, and I have seen this phrase here before "emphasis on fine motor" about traditional public school. I'm curious what you mean by it. I think one of the greatest strengths of the Montessori program is the amount of emphasis on fine motor. Kids are working on bilateral integration (e.g. pouring, and tying) and pincer grasp (e.g. picking up small objects) from very early on, and they spend a lot of time on tracing through stencils and sandpaper letters.

Traditional, play based preschools also provide a decent amount of fine motor, but that disappears once kids get to Kindergarten in this country. Other things have really pushed handwriting instruction out of the way, and it's a shame.

I just don't understand how emphasis on fine motor is either bad, or an element of public schools.

I'll also point out that it's a minority of public school classrooms have desks in the primary grade. I know my school starts them at 4th. Before then we have tables that are the same ones I've seen in many Montessori schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a good fit for my very social, active DS. Would have hated working at stations, emphasis on fine motor, and high student:teacher ratio. Went for play-based preschool with lots of outdoor gross motor play time instead.

What happened when he had to start traditional school? Working at a desk, emphasis on fine motor, etc all elements of traditional public school.

That's why we now spend the $$$ to send him to a highly regarded private school in DC. 1-2 hours of outdoor play daily, PE daily, reading formally introduced in first grade not PK, 45 minutes for lunch (just lunch, not lunch/recess), etc. He loves school. That, to me, is worth every penny.

It is unfortunate that even the very good public schools in NW DC have to relegate things like sports to after school activities rather than have them as part of the normal curriculum. Children like mine would not do well there.

How did this thread get so far off topic?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a good fit for my very social, active DS. Would have hated working at stations, emphasis on fine motor, and high student:teacher ratio. Went for play-based preschool with lots of outdoor gross motor play time instead.

What happened when he had to start traditional school? Working at a desk, emphasis on fine motor, etc all elements of traditional public school.

That's why we now spend the $$$ to send him to a highly regarded private school in DC. 1-2 hours of outdoor play daily, PE daily, reading formally introduced in first grade not PK, 45 minutes for lunch (just lunch, not lunch/recess), etc. He loves school. That, to me, is worth every penny.

It is unfortunate that even the very good public schools in NW DC have to relegate things like sports to after school activities rather than have them as part of the normal curriculum. Children like mine would not do well there.

Anonymous wrote:I just can't get past the fact that children get to call adults by their first names

Um, you're thinking of Burgundy Farms.

Anonymous wrote:Not a good fit for my very social, active DS. Would have hated working at stations, emphasis on fine motor, and high student:teacher ratio. Went for play-based preschool with lots of outdoor gross motor play time instead.

What happened when he had to start traditional school? Working at a desk, emphasis on fine motor, etc all elements of traditional public school.

Not a good fit for my very social, active DS. Would have hated working at stations, emphasis on fine motor, and high student:teacher ratio. Went for play-based preschool with lots of outdoor gross motor play time instead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Montessori produces kids who have a hard time adapting to a regular classroom and are frequently considered to be a pain in the ass by their teachers.

I'm not a parent yet, but was a Montessori student ages 5-12. I have to say that the above is true, but not necessarily in a bad way. Transitioning to a mainstream middle school sucked for me because I was used to working at my own pace, asking questions and having the freedom to seek out the answers. I think these are wonderful qualities that should be nurtured more in all children. I'm pretty sure my teachers thought I was a PITA, but I also believe that it's a teacher's job to recognize and encourage inquisitive learners (I myself am a teacher now).

PP,

Maybe you would have been a PITA no matter where you went to school.

And in terms of transitions or getting used to new environments when not going to a non-Montessori school later, I think that may depend on the kid and their personality not the teaching method.

Anonymous wrote:What if you only do Montessori for preschool and switch into mainstream for kindergarten forward. Are the same adjustment issues still a concern at that age?

I posted at 11:57. I don't think that would be an issue (and is why I am still considering a Montessori preschool for my 3 year old). My understanding is that most "traditional" educational programs do not become structured until K or 1st grade. Before that, I think it's a really great way for kids to learn skills and get interested in things. A lot of preschool programs will incorporate some of the things Montessori does as well. Words like "play-based" and "block learning" identify those programs.

What if you only do Montessori for preschool and switch into mainstream for kindergarten forward. Are the same adjustment issues still a concern at that age?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Montessori produces kids who have a hard time adapting to a regular classroom and are frequently considered to be a pain in the ass by their teachers.

Completely untrue.

Not a Montessori teacher or parent, but the things that upthread former Montessori kid said are true for Waldorf as well. If you're used to school being a particular way, it can be hard to adapt, in my experience. I don't know if I was a pain in the ass, though. My best friend was a Montessori kid, and she also mentioned the issue of being used to work at her own pace as being problematic for a while - both for her and for her teachers in non-Montessori grade school.

I'm not saying that the first PITA post is true all the time. But it's also not completely untrue all the time either.

This is a great research-based book to learn more about Montessori.

http://www.amazon.com/Montessori-The-Science-Behind-Genius/dp/019536936X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365003965&sr=8-1&keywords=science+behind+the+genius

Anonymous wrote:Montessori produces kids who have a hard time adapting to a regular classroom and are frequently considered to be a pain in the ass by their teachers.

Completely untrue.