Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taught years ago with a K teacher who had a Montessori classroom. Nothing on the bulletin boards. NO decorations in the class and it was super quiet.


I have no direct experience with montessori instruction, but I definitely prefer the calm feeling of the clsssrooms over the crazy overstimulation and disorder I have seen in many regular preschools. Kids do not need to be constantly having their senses assaulted.

Understandable to a point. When you have students who have very poor language skills you need a little noise.

It is generally not recommended for speech delayed kids. And, they don't want kids with delays. (well, one we found was supportive but several we looked at were not). I like calm and structured but there needs to be a balance.

Montessori teacher training does not prepare their teachers for working with delays or LDs. Traditional programs for LDs and delays get good results by pushing the kids a little bit. Montessori teachers really aren't comfortable pushing kids, and that leaves kids with delays or LDs to languish and then fall behind.

I would choose the neat classroom every time!

To each his own. Hopefully, your kid has language skills already. Many don't.

Anonymous wrote:cont. My class, meanwhile, was loud and messy. One group painted at the easel every day. We sang and sang phonics songs, etc.

I would choose the neat classroom every time!

Long before my daughter started at her montessori preschool, she insisted on helping me with laundry, mixing things in the kitchen, and took pride in being able to clean up her spills. I remember how fun it was to fold clothes and sweep the floor as a kid. It's not boring to them. Just like letters are not boring to her either - she calls writing "drawing" and asks to practice writing letters when I pull out coloring sheets for her. It's what she's ready to learn and it's what she wants to work on.

She's since learned a lot about how to care for herself and the house and she feels good about it. That's how most kids seem to react to the Montessori approach. If your daughter is happy and learning to take on more responsibility for herself, then what's the problem? If she's unhappy, then yes go find something else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taught years ago with a K teacher who had a Montessori classroom. Nothing on the bulletin boards. NO decorations in the class and it was super quiet.


I have no direct experience with montessori instruction, but I definitely prefer the calm feeling of the clsssrooms over the crazy overstimulation and disorder I have seen in many regular preschools. Kids do not need to be constantly having their senses assaulted.

Understandable to a point. When you have students who have very poor language skills you need a little noise.

It is generally not recommended for speech delayed kids. And, they don't want kids with delays. (well, one we found was supportive but several we looked at were not). I like calm and structured but there needs to be a balance.

Anonymous wrote:OMG are you me? That was us last year. My end result was that the kids enjoyed it, learned a lot but as a parent MY experience was sub par. Eh, but I'll live.

Same here. My kid loves it, and she is learning a lot, but I feel alienated from the school. Her teacher is good, even if some of the other teachers don't seem that friendly

We run to a better school environment for our 3 y o son. I noticed he was do frustrated every time I pick him up. Conference with his teacher was a waste of time because I knew she wasn't telling me the truth. We been there for 4 months and then I decided we had enough.

We also found the many Montessoris we toured to be joyless. Like an orphanage, as DH said. No dress up area, little outside time, limited art and music, socialization only in small groups. Not for us. We chose a Reggio program for our kids and were so happy with the focus on wonder, joy and creativity.

That said, to each their own; we have friends who love Montessori. We are happy with our choice but don't proselytize to the world. Our friends with kids in Montessori definitely seem to have drunk the koolaid, and always need to tell everyone how much better they think it is

I think there's a really long thread still on Montessori if you do a search debating this very thing. I found the really strict Montessori schools to be quite serious like the one you described and many others to be very friendly and have lots of engagement during the day. There is a bit of seriousness encouraged for part of the day at all Montessori schools. I'm perfectly fine with some time allotted for concentrating and reflecting. My child has been in preschool/daycare for 8 hours a day and can use some time for thinking and reflecting during the day instead of songs and play all day long. I just don't like the schools where this is the type of behavior throughout most of the day. Personally I think 3 hours a day for 5 days is too much time for a preschooler. DC's school implemented a 3 hour work day for 3 days during the week and then the other days they had some work time but also specials or additional activities. It was a nice mix.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't base your opinion of Montessori on this one school. Our school is not like what you described. The Montessori method is amazing.

Agree!!!
Signed, Montessori teacher

Same here. Our school is pretty much the exact opposite of OP's school.

NP here, can you explain how? A lot of what OP says rings bells with me - my child is at a public Montessori. There are definitely a lot of rules that often make parents feel excluded. They've tried to explain them but it still doesn't feel welcoming to not be allowed in your kid's classroom.

Anonymous wrote:Taught years ago with a K teacher who had a Montessori classroom. Nothing on the bulletin boards. NO decorations in the class and it was super quiet.


I have no direct experience with montessori instruction, but I definitely prefer the calm feeling of the clsssrooms over the crazy overstimulation and disorder I have seen in many regular preschools. Kids do not need to be constantly having their senses assaulted.

Understandable to a point. When you have students who have very poor language skills you need a little noise.

I'm the K teacher who posted earlier. I do love the manipulatives used in the Montessori classroom.

It's preschool. It's convenient for you. It'll be alright (or at least not that important)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't base your opinion of Montessori on this one school. Our school is not like what you described. The Montessori method is amazing.

Agree!!!
Signed, Montessori teacher

Same here. Our school is pretty much the exact opposite of OP's school.

Anonymous wrote:Please don't base your opinion of Montessori on this one school. Our school is not like what you described. The Montessori method is amazing.

Agree!!!
Signed, Montessori teacher