Anonymous wrote:What does it mean when the previous previous poster wrote that young Montessori classrooms tend to be quiet. Do the kids not talk to each other? Are they supposed to be quietly working at a station? Is there a right way and a wrong way to use the classroom toys? If a preschooler wants to do a task in a different way, is he or she allowed?

In the Montessori classrooms I've seen, the tasks given to the youngest children are generally tasks that are done solo. A child might work on the same task side by side with another student, but they generally aren't sharing materials and each has a defined workspace. As they get older there are more shared activities.

There aren't toys in a Montessori classroom. The materials are generally designed to be used one way, like a puzzle would be, although there are some materials which can be used different ways by students at different levels. In some Montessori classrooms, and I believe in Maria Montessori's original schools, students are redirected if they use a material in a way other than how they've been shown. The Montessori teacher above has said that she allows, or even encourages, her students to explore, within parameters, with a material after they have mastered the task it was designed for.

What does it mean when the previous previous poster wrote that young Montessori classrooms tend to be quiet. Do the kids not talk to each other? Are they supposed to be quietly working at a station? Is there a right way and a wrong way to use the classroom toys? If a preschooler wants to do a task in a different way, is he or she allowed?

Anonymous wrote:Any child should be able to thrive in Montessori if the teachers are practicing what the method preaches: that children move at their own pace, that they get scaffolding, and appropriate environments and support for their needs.

Young montessori classrooms tend to be "quiet" with children working individually on their own projects. However, there's nothing that says that the teacher cannot accommodate children who are active and "in motion" or otherwise have non-silent ways of coping. So with that, you're getting whatever skills the teacher happens to have.

Just as with any school, the method doesn't always guarantee good experiences. For example, there's a Montessori where I live (I'm no longer in the DC area--moved away a little while ago) that has a great reputation particularly with supporting children's emotional and social development, and another that has a reputation for creating a more "Lord of the Flies" environment with kids' poor behavior not being corrected and peer nastiness being more pervasive.

What this means is you have to shop around. Not all Montessoris are the same. And you can get a really great non-Montessori education, of course! Just look for some key components: child-centered, supportive, challenging, creative, and fun schools with wise and loving teachers. When you find that, GRAB IT!

PP here. Totally all true in my experience.

Any child should be able to thrive in Montessori if the teachers are practicing what the method preaches: that children move at their own pace, that they get scaffolding, and appropriate environments and support for their needs.

Young montessori classrooms tend to be "quiet" with children working individually on their own projects. However, there's nothing that says that the teacher cannot accommodate children who are active and "in motion" or otherwise have non-silent ways of coping. So with that, you're getting whatever skills the teacher happens to have.

Just as with any school, the method doesn't always guarantee good experiences. For example, there's a Montessori where I live (I'm no longer in the DC area--moved away a little while ago) that has a great reputation particularly with supporting children's emotional and social development, and another that has a reputation for creating a more "Lord of the Flies" environment with kids' poor behavior not being corrected and peer nastiness being more pervasive.

What this means is you have to shop around. Not all Montessoris are the same. And you can get a really great non-Montessori education, of course! Just look for some key components: child-centered, supportive, challenging, creative, and fun schools with wise and loving teachers. When you find that, GRAB IT!

Anonymous wrote:The school I am considering has 30 students in a class with 3 adults. Seems like a bad ratio, although the school is beautiful.

I am the previous poster whose son did not do well. We had a similar ratio. And it was one of the most reputation schools you hear on these boards. I think most kids indeed can survive in such an environment and may do well. However, three boys left soon after entering the primary program in this school because mutual feelings of bad fit. And I have talked with at least one unhappy parent after we left. Although in her case, her little girl doesn't act out so she cannot leave without a financial hit. According to her, many others in the class are not exactly happy but they tolerate it because the kids learn a lot academically. A neighboring play based preschool director said they have several children who left this school to go to theirs. Our pediatrician was also not surprised that some kids don't fit in there.

So in short, not every child do well in a Montessori school. In general, more compliant and self-motivated children do better. The teacher herself said that the most important thing to do well in her classroom is social maturity and then they can advance academically. My son is academically precocious but socially less mature and he is doing so much better in his new school where the teachers are just that much more patient and flexible. I am still not convinced entirely that our case was simply a bad fit with the philosophy. It was certainly a case of bad fit with the teacher. I would not recommend anyone to her classroom.

The school I am considering has 30 students in a class with 3 adults. Seems like a bad ratio, although the school is beautiful.

I'm the PP with a son and daughter in montessori and wanted to say that our school has 2-3 outside periods during the first 4 hours of the morning.

The head teacher told me that children learn better if they have time to run and play and have fresh air. In good weather, they are outside first every morning, which is such a great way to start the day.

Like any system, there are good and bad montessori schools. Iwould recommend not only touring the schools, but also asking to speak with parents about their experiences - I'm one of the parents who gets lots of calls from prospective parents at our school, and i love talking to new families.

It seems hard for some Montessori schools to believe, but there are indeed schools that can be as good or better than they are without the Montessori name. I've toured about 20 preschools and all of the Montessori ones were exactly the same for the Montessori core hours so I would consider them all genuine. It all comes down to the school facilities and the teachers and directors though which make a good school. A school with just a slide and a sandbox and little room to run isn't going to lure me just because of their academic materials. I happen to find independent schools and Montessori schools that encourage creativity, motor skills, and group interaction to be superior preschools to the stricter Montessori schools even if the children aren't sewing a sweater or doing multiplication by kindergarten. The only benefit I see at the stricter schools is that the children are often ahead in core academic areas. Usually though they are behind in other areas of preschool growth. Many of the Montessori elementary schools have a lot of freedom and teach students well, but you pay a hefty price for this and typically have smaller class sizes than the preschool levels.

OP here. Just wanted to chime in that I appreciate all the perspectives and experiences shared. It's helpful to hear from parents and educators about the benefits and drawbacks. You've given me a lot to think about, not just in terms of Montessori, but also more generally in terms of what kind of preschool/elementary school experience would be best for my child. Thanks!

OP, I didn't read the responses, so this is just a fresh perspective, but first of all, I've been really surprised at the variety of schools that call themselves "Montessori," so that's the first thing I'd caution -- being sure that you are looking at a place with a true Montessori philosophy.

I have two sons and they've been going to Montessori for several years - two completely different personalities. (My daughter will start as a 2 year old next year.) My younger son is quiet and used to be sort of nervous, always wanted to be given directions rather than jump into things, the older one is really, really, really energetic, jumping around all the time. Both thrive-their school is so structured, student-centered, peaceful, creative-I can't say enough about it. I don't know how they do it, honestly, but the math, reading, social skills, behavior, artistic projects, etc...it's all fantastic.

Agree w/ 18:27! Montessori is often "misunderstood."

Something makes me think 19:33 was waitlisted at some montessori schools and is now talking about the sour grapes she didn't want anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you 22:48 and 23:28. I think you've done a good job of describing the strengths of a Montessori program. It's not what I want for my child. Setting the table, organizing shoes, and making up extra math problems aren't the kind of creativity I look for, but for many parents it may be. You clearly both feel passionate about Montessori, and I'm sure that you, 23:28 are a wonderful teacher.

Your poor kids. What those stories you denigrate demonstrate is executive function, leadership, problem-solving, self-motivation, and subject mastery. Those are skills that will take a person far in life, and I'm sorry you don't value that for your kids.

True, but they were offered in response to a request for examples of activities that specifically develop creativity. It's not that I don't value those activities, the students in my school and my own child can do all of them too, I just think they're a relatively low bar and that Montessori doesn't develop higher level skills.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you 22:48 and 23:28. I think you've done a good job of describing the strengths of a Montessori program. It's not what I want for my child. Setting the table, organizing shoes, and making up extra math problems aren't the kind of creativity I look for, but for many parents it may be. You clearly both feel passionate about Montessori, and I'm sure that you, 23:28 are a wonderful teacher.

Your poor kids. What those stories you denigrate demonstrate is executive function, leadership, problem-solving, self-motivation, and subject mastery. Those are skills that will take a person far in life, and I'm sorry you don't value that for your kids.

2:39, what kind of education do you want for your children? My oldest is about to enter public school, and I can't say I'm the least bit excited about him having to basically sit in a desk for 8 hours, listen to lectures, and drill facts specifically designed to help them pass standardized tests. I don't see ANY useful skills coming out of public school these days. So if you don't want your child in a less structured class room where they can learn at their own pace with hands-on activities, what do you want? Play based is great for the younger kids, but I'm pretty certain they aren't designed for the over 5 crowd.