The point of making sure the kids follow instructions is because the montessori materials are to be used for specific purposes only and not creatively turned into other things. So the counting bead chains are for counting, not say making a pretend necklace.
They have lots of kids who are not good listeners, it's not that big a deal.
Ms Antonucci seems disagreeable and scary during the interview but as a teacher she seems laid back and kind.
I found it hard to sit back and have her boss my child round during the interview, but I felt like this was also a test of me.
In reality I love this school. Kids can work on learning multiplication when they are still in preschool! REally great learning materials.
If you want a school that is not focused on learning, but on just letting your child play freely than this school might not be for you. But if you want something that will actually teach your child rather than babysit them for preschool, then this montessori program is great.
As for not getting the 2nd sibling in, I think this is not a surprise. As great as any school is, they are in it for the money, not because they altruistically love your child. If you have a history of a short term stay they will not be as interested in you.

The best thing about montessori is that the kids learn at their own pace, and choose what to work on during the day, so that they can focus on one thing until they move really soaked it in and then feel comfortable moving on.

Anonymous wrote:Aidan does not push kids to acquire skills at a certain age, but the students do end up with a good foundation in math and reading. I'm no expert, but I think the montessori materials help children to really internalize a good sense of numbers and I am a real believer in the montessori method for reading. My children learned to read well by age four and they still are excellent and interested readers. The teachers consistently use the sounds of letters rather than the letter names, so it makes it very easy to learn phonetically. Beyond that, they had a good background in science and cultural subjects.

My children left Aidan for another private school, and they were very well-prepared for the next step.

Good luck.

Helpful,Thanks!

Aidan does not push kids to acquire skills at a certain age, but the students do end up with a good foundation in math and reading. I'm no expert, but I think the montessori materials help children to really internalize a good sense of numbers and I am a real believer in the montessori method for reading. My children learned to read well by age four and they still are excellent and interested readers. The teachers consistently use the sounds of letters rather than the letter names, so it makes it very easy to learn phonetically. Beyond that, they had a good background in science and cultural subjects.

My children left Aidan for another private school, and they were very well-prepared for the next step.

Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:My children went to Aidan and we had a positive experience. The teachers are the best -- beloved by students and parents alike. Unfortunately, the administration puts on a very snobby and elitist front which discourages good families from attending. Several of my friends had negative interview experiences.

Still, I would look at the school -- at least for the primary program. Your children will be well- prepared for elementary, wherever they go.

Can you tell me why you think your children "well prepared" for Elem school? Does Aidan stress having certain academic skills mastered by a certain age? (Sincerely interested, not being rude.)

Anonymous wrote:Aidan was the only school that actually "interviewed" my 2 1/2 year old. Ms. Antonucci took him over to a barn with a removable roof and animals. She showed him how to take the roof off. She then told him that he could play with the animals, but that he was not allowed to remove the roof from the barn. I know my child, and knew immediately that she had peaked his interest in that roof. Within 30 seconds my son had removed the roof and was peering into the barn. She turned to him and said, in a stern voice, "Didn't you hear me say not to touch the roof of the barn." Basically, it was a test to see if he would follow her instructions. I found the whole process to be sickening. At 2 1/2 years old, my son was not ready for that, and I'm so sorry that I put him through it. I would never do it again.

Is this "normal" behavior for Montessori instruction? I am very interested in Montessori, but that woman sounds just awful!

My children went to Aidan and we had a positive experience. The teachers are the best -- beloved by students and parents alike. Unfortunately, the administration puts on a very snobby and elitist front which discourages good families from attending. Several of my friends had negative interview experiences.

Still, I would look at the school -- at least for the primary program. Your children will be well- prepared for elementary, wherever they go.

Re: Aidan. Remember, Montessori primary is a very specific program for ages 3-6. If you pull out your child before the primary stint is up, then it seems to me Aidan most likely loses out on the tuition because they probably won't be able to fill your child's spot with another 5/6 year old who has Montessori in their background (on rare occasions someone will move from another country and have gone to Montessori) and could easily slip right into the spot.

It makes sense to me that if your family has a "history" (even just one child) of pulling out before primary is finished (the same age range as Kindergarten) then you might not be at the top of their list for a sibling because they fear you'd do it again. It is very hard financially for a relatively small school like Aidan to lose the 17K (or so) tuition for a child's spot that can't necessarily be filled. Effects like a tuition raise would be felt, the class sizes uneven between programs and classes (this is happening this year). We have a child at Aidan.

Anonymous wrote: The River School does the same. Won't help your child transfer on to any other private schools.

What does "won't help" mean? Won't do recommendation letters or director will not call ADs at other schools on behalf of your child?

Anonymous wrote:All montessori schools are a 3-year program, but I get the sense that Aidan holds it against you if you take one child out too soon and then apply for a second child to get into the school. Most other schools are more laid back about it.

As I mentioned before, Chevy Chase Montessori is very specific in their contract that they will NOT accept siblings if you withdraw the first dc before 3 yrs. Not sure about the others.

All montessori schools are a 3-year program, but I get the sense that Aidan holds it against you if you take one child out too soon and then apply for a second child to get into the school. Most other schools are more laid back about it.

I found Christine Smith at Aidan very understanding when we informed her that we were leaving the school because my daughter got into Sidwell. But from their perspective, they really feel that 3 year olds should stay still they are 6 years old at the very least since that completes the first phase of Montessori education. It's complicated and I can understand their frustration.

The River School does the same. Won't help your child transfer on to any other private schools.

Anonymous wrote:I recently spoke to a mom who had one child at Aidan. After two years in the program, she sent her child to a different school for K. Aidan is a three year program, and they get upset if you take your child out before the three years are up. In any event, when this mom applied to Aidan for her second child, the child was rejected. She feels that it was because she took her older child out before the three years were up. Just something to think about.

Not limited to Aidan. Chevy Chase Montessori has a similar policy and it's not even a selective program. Not sure about Franklin or the other Montessoris in the area.

I recently spoke to a mom who had one child at Aidan. After two years in the program, she sent her child to a different school for K. Aidan is a three year program, and they get upset if you take your child out before the three years are up. In any event, when this mom applied to Aidan for her second child, the child was rejected. She feels that it was because she took her older child out before the three years were up. Just something to think about.

To the 19:14 post. No I don't know what share of the children got into which schools but Sidwell and Beauvoir take AM children. It is always easier to get outplacement into pre-k programs simply because of the numbers (a lot more pre-k unfilled spots rather than K spots).