Anonymous
Post 04/16/2010 12:39     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher I would just like to add my own input. I have had many students transfer from Montessori schools to my public school classroom and truly struggle. In Montessori education students are not taught deadlines or accountability and are often shocked when they have to hand in reports or essays on time. Parents too are shocked when they see that their Montessori educated child is not always the star pupil of the class. I have also found that although these children enjoy reading and love to write and write and write, if one actually reads their work it is riddled with grammatical errors. This has just been my observation over my years of teaching. Hope that helps some people.


I have to disagree. I completed the cycle as a child from 3-6 and entered elementary school w/o any trouble. My daughter had no transitional issues either. In fact, she is doing very well - both socially and academically - at her new school.

I think it depends on the school. Ours didn't cave to parents; they stressed independence and expected students to express WHY they loved learning w/o necessarily needing praise from an adult.

I can guarantee that my child would have transitioned smoothly into any other academic enviromnent after leaving our M school.

I loved it!
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2010 10:17     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher I would just like to add my own input. I have had many students transfer from Montessori schools to my public school classroom and truly struggle. In Montessori education students are not taught deadlines or accountability and are often shocked when they have to hand in reports or essays on time. Parents too are shocked when they see that their Montessori educated child is not always the star pupil of the class. I have also found that although these children enjoy reading and love to write and write and write, if one actually reads their work it is riddled with grammatical errors. This has just been my observation over my years of teaching. Hope that helps some people.


I'm a M parent and I agree. Yes, it's a common experience for M kids to have a tough transition to public. Most kids adjust after 6 months. And yes, there's a difference in philosophy about values - creative thinking, writing, independent thinking, grammar and spelling. In M education, they want the kids to write and write their own creations, and slowly the M teacher highlights the grammar and spelling. That's why a M school advises not pulling a kid out of the M school until completing 3 year cycle (grades 1-3, 4-6).

As a parent I'm not always comfortable with the Montessori philosophy. It takes a lot of faith in the method.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2010 20:07     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

As a teacher I would just like to add my own input. I have had many students transfer from Montessori schools to my public school classroom and truly struggle. In Montessori education students are not taught deadlines or accountability and are often shocked when they have to hand in reports or essays on time. Parents too are shocked when they see that their Montessori educated child is not always the star pupil of the class. I have also found that although these children enjoy reading and love to write and write and write, if one actually reads their work it is riddled with grammatical errors. This has just been my observation over my years of teaching. Hope that helps some people.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2010 12:47     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

Anonymous wrote:As a new teacher to the Montessori setting I have a big concern about how much time they don't spend outside. The children in my class are far too anxious and on edge to spend so much time inside and "focused". I am not sure I want to get Montessori certified and this is fact is something that I am considering when making that decision. It is also something anyone who is considering putting their child in a Montessori school should also consider.


Is the school AMI or AMS accredited? There are many hybrids out there that claim to stay true to the practice. So I'd be careful in choosing where to work or where to enroll my child.

True montessoris really only do a half-day of academics for pre-K. But b/c of the need for daycare, many have extended hours and go year-round. Ours did not follow that pattern; it was a "true" montessori in that sense.

Furthermore, there was outdoor time everyday - sometimes even when the weather wasn't that tolerable. Maria M. was indeed a nature fan, as one PP pointed out. Learning from nature was just as important as training a mind to handle numbers.

If you're not happy, PP, start your research now. I'm thinking that your director isn't all that, right?
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2010 09:12     Subject: Re:Pros and Cons of Montessori education?


1:14 here again. Forgot to say to PP, sorry about your DD. One of my DDs was the odd person out in K because there were only 3 K girls. I felt so bad for her and wished there was something I could do. Wished I would have thought more about the small number of M kids. In other grades, when my DDs were not the excluded ones (hooked with a friend), we always talked to our girls about the non paired up girl. We always reminded them to include everyone. We always reminded them about how hurtful it can be to be the odd girl out. The other girls’ parents and the M teachers didn’t seem to care. Fortunately, DD’s 1st grade year had an even number of girls, so she had a good year.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2010 07:41     Subject: Re:Pros and Cons of Montessori education?



1:14 here. PP, thanks for asking. PP I so agree with you. Odd numbers (especially 3) can be a problem.
To answer, I think after K or 1st grade, the limited number matters. At the K level, the girls and boys still play together, so the small number doesn’t matter as much. Once 1st grade hits, the sexes tend to separate for friendships, so the numbers matter more. The number of same sex peers is a problem, but added to this is the fact that the program has a 3 year cycle. My 1st – 3rd grade Montessori child was with the same 3 (or fewer) girls for 3 years (some left over the 3 year period). They did everything together, even eat lunch. They were friends, or friendly, because there was no one else. Conversely, my non-Montessori DD spent 1st - 3rd grade in homerooms with about 8 other girls in her grade. Each year she was in a different homeroom with a new set of kids. Over the 3 years, my non-M DD learned a lot about friendships because she was exposed to a lot of different kids her age. My M DD was with the same 3 girls for 3 years. I don’t think it’s the best environment.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2010 10:04     Subject: Re:Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

I have no idea if I was the 1:14 poster but I do agree that the small number of same-age classmates is an issue. It can be an issue as young as 5, when the 5 year olds start staying for the afternoon. For ex, if there are only 2 kids of the same gender. What if their personalities clash or they just get sick of each other? And if there's one 1 boy or 1 girl, that's not acceptable to me. I wouldn't want my kid to be the only one.

At our M school, it becomes a bigger issue in the lower elementary class and a very big issue in the upper elementary class. People choose to leave our school because of it. My own child is in upper elementary and has said "5 is a bad number. The other 4 girls my age pair off and I'm left alone."

We have the problem at our school where one child has a really strong, negative personality. Kids get sick of spending their days with such a person and beg not to go to school. If there were more kids in the class, the negative personality wouldn't be so overwhelming and every child would be able to find a friend.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2010 22:31     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

If 1:14 checks back in, I'm curious as to at what age you think the limited number of true peers (same age group) becomes a problem.

I absolutely love the montessori school my child attends, but next year may only have 5 or 6 other kids same age (those who will be 5 or turn 5 during the school year) and probably only 1 or 2 of those will be same gender as DC.

I think DC will learn more at montessori than continuing in public school K, which is the alternative, but this peer issue is becoming almost a dealbreaker for me.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2010 21:18     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

The montessori school my kid is attending right now blends in art, music and about one hour of outside play time. We are quite please with the school.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2010 18:55     Subject: Re:Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

"As a new teacher to the Montessori setting I have a big concern about how much time they don't spend outside. The children in my class are far too anxious and on edge to spend so much time inside and "focused". I am not sure I want to get Montessori certified and this is fact is something that I am considering when making that decision. It is also something anyone who is considering putting their child in a Montessori school should also consider. "

We have the opposite at our school. The kids have a fenced in yards attached to several classrooms. When the weather is nice they can take their work outside, and they have a garden and trees they have planted. They have separate playground areas and do free play in the morning and afternoon. There is a big oval track for tricycle, bike, etc riding. They also have a nature program where once or twice a week they go on nature walks or do something outside with the outdoor teacher.

Is your school in the city? I know some preschools in the city have less outdoor time because they don't have access to safe outdoor places.
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2010 23:23     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

Anonymous wrote:As a new teacher to the Montessori setting I have a big concern about how much time they don't spend outside. The children in my class are far too anxious and on edge to spend so much time inside and "focused". I am not sure I want to get Montessori certified and this is fact is something that I am considering when making that decision. It is also something anyone who is considering putting their child in a Montessori school should also consider.


What age and how much time are the kids getting outside? At my kids' M school, the primary class has 2 recesses (in the morning and after lunch), bith for 40 minutes. The older kids (lower and upper elementary) only get one recess after lunch (30-40 min) plus PE for 1 hour two days a week. How does this compare to your experience?
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2010 23:22     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

Anonymous wrote:As a new teacher to the Montessori setting I have a big concern about how much time they don't spend outside. The children in my class are far too anxious and on edge to spend so much time inside and "focused". I am not sure I want to get Montessori certified and this is fact is something that I am considering when making that decision. It is also something anyone who is considering putting their child in a Montessori school should also consider.


Sounds like it's not being taught properly. The kids shouldn't be anxious at all.

Plus Maria Montessori was a HUGE advocate of nature. Get them outside and learn.
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2010 23:16     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

As a new teacher to the Montessori setting I have a big concern about how much time they don't spend outside. The children in my class are far too anxious and on edge to spend so much time inside and "focused". I am not sure I want to get Montessori certified and this is fact is something that I am considering when making that decision. It is also something anyone who is considering putting their child in a Montessori school should also consider.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2010 17:14     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

My child went to Montessori for 8 years from pre-k to the equivalent of 6th grade. It was amazing. People really have to check if the "Montessori School" has proper certification and Montessori trained teachers. Kids in Montessori are reading and doing math before K. We thought the kids were on prozac or something...when we visited 2 year olds -- they were all sitting, eating, talking and just having a really nice time together. There were about 25 in a class with 2 or 3 teachers and it was a wonder. I wish I had a picture.

I am biased but I found Montessori much more loving than traditional elite private schools. Our daughter had done fantastically well thanks to her Montessori education. Kids sang in their own plays and danced and cheered each other on.

For the ADHD questions -- I would ask the respective schools. Some Montessori Schools will take ADHD kids -- some wont. Sometimes the work is too difficult for certain kids whether they are ADHD or not.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2010 18:51     Subject: Pros and Cons of Montessori education?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hi,

I live in Brazil and we have an american school here, wich is montessori. My son is ADHD and I really think he would learn better going to montessori school and learning english wich is the primary language there. Do you think he would pay more attetion/learn better over there?

www.escolaamericanadecampinas.com.br


I would think Montessori would be good for a child with ADHD, because one of the aspects of a Montessori school is that the students are in motion around the room throughout the day. So rather than sitting still and listening to a teacher (which is hard for them), they are moving from activity to activity at their own pace. This is my own personal opinion, not based on any studies done on children with ADHD.


I'm pp ADHA mom... and I was thinking the same thing about would be better than sitting and listening to a teacher...

Tnx


I'm not so sure this distinction is really that true especially for preschool. Even in Montessori, the children have to sit and listen to a teacher show them how to use materials. This is not so unlike any other preschool. Nonmontessori preschools do not just expect young children to sit at a desk and listen to a lecture all day long. What kids at this age really respond to is a routine. Montessori has it's own little routine and while a child may choose to have snack when he or she wishes, there is still a routine to the day. This is the same for nonmontessori. The difference will be that there may be a set time for snack, but there certainly are times when the children are free to play various activities just as in Montessori. I would put a lot more emphasis on the school, the teachers and how the school is run. If your child is ADHD, I would really ask whether the teachers are knowledgable about working with children with ADHD.