so.. what's the bad stuff about montessory? - Page 4

[1pink*2blue]

Not all Montessori school's are bad

I run a Montessori school for children 0-3 years. I was trained by NCME (a form of Montessori training that was close to where I live and convenient to complete while raising a at the time 2 yr old DD, rather than drive 90 miles to the nearest AMS/AMI training center). If I had to describe my training, it is more like mainstream current research mixed with montessori principles.

I take what I know works that is Montessori, and add what is requested by parents and the child development community as a whole.

Like it has been said before, every school is different, every teacher is different, everyone comes to this table with different experiences and temperments, just like any other traditional preschool.

My school is not one of those pin-drop classrooms. We have toddlers, mostly 18m-36m of age. We do have materials on the shelves, and at circletime I do what I like to call 'job presentation', where each child will pick a activity off the shelf bring it to my rug, and I will show them how to play/learn from the activity. I find this helps them see how to play with it, also if it is something they do not play with, it helps re-peak the interest in that certain activity.

I change the environment/classroom every month so there is something new and exciting for the kids to play/work with. New books, new songs, new activities.

I encourage parents to stay as long as they want to, and I have an open door policy (state law in California). I let the parents know children will indeed act differently when their parents are around, and to keep this in mind during their observations.

We also allow the child their independant "me do it" mindset to do things on their own, however we are there to help as needed. We are also a 1-6 ratio 12 children total home-school environment.

There are some schools that are extremely strict, mine is not one of them. But like another message said on here, different parents are going to want different things for their child.

I just hope with all of the negative posts the overall belief is the theory that each Montessori school and each teacher brings their own beliefs and values to the mix, and to carefully screen a Montessori school as you would any other school you are considering.

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[rosiemama]

I think it's really important to consider what suits your child. My kids were in three years of montessori preschool and my dd went to grade 1 too.
Preschool was fine but elementry was a dissaster. It was everything school should not be.
I had my kids in preschool because I liked it, my mom had taught it, I went, etc, it suited us (and my ds's school was fantastic).
Here's the negitive...with the particular elementry school.
Lot's of m kids seemed to be hot housed. In the elementry school I found that they were not only going to school but also lots of outside academic classes through learning centers. They had mostly been to very strict ("true montessori") preschools and were ahead of their age requirements, thus the expectations were much higher.
Socially dd's school was weird as kids lived all over the place and they were always busy, there were few opportunities for the kids to get together. (Part of childhood, imho)
My dd likes to fit in, being slower or more creative, or not ready for multiplication at age 5 hurted her.
My dd needs lots direction, she got none. M teachers guide (if they are any good) but do not provide much strucure imho.
My dd needs reassurence, M is all about the individual so she got none... She likes stickers etc. M is more about personal satisfaction.
DD likes predictability (spelling at 9, math at 10 etc), in M it was do your work...
I found the kids, not just mine, lacked grounding in fundementals. ie) they're doing long division at 7 but don't know simple math facts at age 10.
After much distress I pulled dd from the system. She learned more in three months in a regular system than she did in all of gr 1 M.
Her self esteem improved tremendously. She stopped calling herself stupid and slow.
In my opinion M suits the child who is self motivated. When the child is motivated and the environment is calm and welcoming it can be a beuatiful thing. Think about how your kids is in other activities, what do they like. Dd excels in a really old fashioned environment, not one that would suit me, but it's not about me...

[Lizafava]

Hi all,

After reading through most of these threads, I'm sot sure I read any posts from folks who went to montessori, post preschool. I agree that it really depends on the child and the school, and for me, I THRIVED. I went to montessori until fourth grade, and then we moved to a small town with no montessori. The transition was horrible. And I think thats a major problem.

I was easily three years ahead of my peers in math and many more ahead in reading and writing skills. I had never seen a textbook, called any adult by their last name, and I had never had any homework. I adjusted poorly to group work, and my teachers did not like me. I could tell they thought I was precocious and wierd (I was). They refused to put me in the gifted program because my montessori did not give out letter grades. I was bored out of my skull, and very resentful of what I saw as the meaningless routines of public education.

I feel like the transition has to be managed very carefully. It was not, in my case, and for the first time I did not like school, and eventually grew to hate it.

I want to send my children to montessori, and hopefully we'll be able to find a suitable and possibly affordable alternative to public school post montessori elementary.

Thanks! This thread has given me a lot to think about.

-L

[Deja]

Originally Posted by Rhonwyn

in that they vary greatly from school to school.

A good friend of mine sent her daughter to a Montessori school where the children were taught to hold their hands behind their backs (in a very specific way) as they moved from one activity to another, or from one room to another.

I love Montessori, and know that many schools have really butchered the intent behind her theories and approaches. I'm sure that some of the schools are great experiences for some children, but I love fantasy and the world of the imagination. I love Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny and all of those other holidays that a creative mother can make so magical for her children, and I think that this makes childhood so incredibly special. I wonder if most Montessori schools discourage this type of fantasy.

[alwayslearning2]

choosing a NEW montessori school

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post about the guide speaking harshly and arm grabbing.
We have decided to move ds to another school.
The guide doe snot seem to speak harshly as much now, however he still needs a guide who is "naturally" very gentle. I think he would challenge that type of teacher much less, as long as she also lets him know what is expected and re-directly him if he "takes a detour from productive development"
The school he is at has another classroom with a very nice guide who is a allows more freedom with materials ( trained in Washington, believes that it is Ok to make a fence with the color tablets, as long as not hurting anyone/ thing)
HOwever, it is in the same town as a power plant, which makes me very nervous.

The other school is 2 grand more per year and farther away, not AMI but the guides seem to have a balance between kindsness and structure.

what to do.

[Karrie]

Ditto...I could not say it better.....Same with out school.....

You have to check them out....


Member


Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Florida
Posts: 134 We are in our 8th year at our montessori school. It is true that anyone can use the name Montessori, but you can't say you are AMS, AMI, etc. if you haven't been certified through them.

Our school is AMS, and it's a great mixture. We are a Montessori school, following montessori principals, but there are other interests included.

The real life vs. imaginary was never an issue. It's never even been discussed within the realm of montessori principals at our school. My kids got/get plenty of playtime and plenty of opportunities to express themselves through their imagination.

Currently my boys are in 3rd and 5th grade, and will continue Montessori through 8th grade. If we are lucky enough to somehow get a montessori HS in this area, they will attend that as well.

You know the saying "It takes a village to raise a child"? I consider our school part of my village!
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