considering M for older student

[jkenc94]

Hi everyone!
My husband and I are considering taking our 8 year old out of the public school and try her in M. She isn't doing well and I think (hope) that the M methods will help her learn where traditional methods are failing. We met with the local M school and we like what we see.

I would love to hear feedback from parents of older students that may have joined M late like this. I am also wondering about the transition from M to public high school. How has that gone for some of you out there? Wonderful? Disaster? Non-issue?

Thanks!

[nkm1968]

My kids were both in Montessori from preprimary on, but they both have had some pretty incredible classmates who came in during the 6-9 lower elementary cycle. I think it is important to observe any classroom you are considering and to read as much as you can about Montessori to see if you think it could be a go for your daughter. There seems to be a settling-in period for new elementary students that can be short or very long...maybe some detox necessary for kids to move from a reward-and-punishment based learning system, which seems to decrease intrinsic motivation, to a system where for the most part kids are encouraged and expected to follow a passion. I always recommend a book called "Children Who Are Not yet Peaceful: Preventing Exclusion in the Early Elementary Classroom" by Donna Goetz Bryant to folks looking for something different for a kid struggling in traditional school--highly readable, and a great intro to elementary Montessori pedagogy. However, as a shrink, I also have to caution folks whose kids may be on medication for stuff to not throw out the baby with the bathwater, as the author is highly against medications for children (not that anybody even in psychiatry is super gung ho about medications).

[vaw]

My son started M this year in 1st grade (he is 6). He is the only student in his class that is a first timer this year. It was a rough 16 weeks for him to get acclimated. He is very happy in montessori now; is still figuring some things out, but pretty much knows what is going on.

His teacher was a first year teacher to montessori this year as well. I think his transition would have gone much more smoothly if she had been more experienced, as she didn't seem to understand why he couldn't just do what the other kids were doing without instruction. It took a lot of conferences to get this working well for all involved.

If they had stepped back a little and introduced montessori to him (as in, this is how you handle your mat, this is how you carry the works, etc) then some of the confusion would have been less, IMO. The teacher feels he is missing a lot from not having the sensorial lessons from the 3-6 room.

We are looking at a private montessori class for the summer, and the two teachers are going to work together for a list of lessons that would benefit him (that the public school M can't focus on) as well letting him continue advancing in his works for the summer.


Long term I believe I will be happy with my choice of putting my son in M, but this school year has had many frustrations and I have constantly had to remind myself that it can take months and months for a child to 'normalize' in the classroom.

Without being in the M class, we would not know how beautiful his cursive is; he would not have been introduced to multiplication; I wouldn't be able to tell the teacher something my son is 'researching' at home and have it continue in the classroom. . . .

I would question the school you are looking at about how often they have students new to montessori, how they help them transition, the experience of the teacher your chidl would have, etc

[Flor]

Ds started M at 3, but he has classmates who join the school at the elementary level. I agree with the previous poster who said there will be a transition period expecially coming from a rewards/punishment setting to a setting where intrensic motivation is the norm. The teacher told me how they got a new 10 year old who kept asking questions like "Well, how many book reports do I have to do?" "As many as you want." "Yeah, but how MANY." etc. The child was also very concerned with due dates, length of assignments, etc and took a while to adjust to the "do your best work all the time, take the time you need, and follow your interest" philosophy. I would also ask the teacher what the plan is for helping the child adjust.

[MattBronsil]

Many schools won't consider it at that age because it is a difficult thing. It's hard to get used to the materials, independence, etc. But if you find a school that is willing to work with you and you are dedicated to it, it might really work out well.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[mtnhighmama]

My son started when he was 9 or 10, as a 4th year in the upper el classroom (4,5,6). I'll be honest and tell you it was a hard transition. He wasn't familiar with the materials or how to use them, and didn't really know how to handle self-directed learning. It took him a full year to really integrate the academic aspects, but adapted well immediately to the classroom environment.

He's now in middle school, and I can't see that there is much difference between him and the kids that started around age 3.

Our middle school does lots of prep work for integrating into traditional high school and I'm not really worried about it. Most of the kids that come from an M background have an ingrained self-assurance that helps make the transition not as difficult. Those that come back and visit and share their experiences seem to be doing well both socially and academically.

[Lingmom]

My daughter started at 6, mid-year, without any trouble at all. In a way, it was good that she started mid-year because the rest of the class was 'normalized' already (i.e., were able to self-direct and work well in the classroom as a community) and the teacher could focus on helping my girl learn the materials. If I recall, she started her off with a lot of easier works to help her transition easily.