What program do you feel complements Montessori?

[Oana]

If you were to pick from among Kindermusik, Music Together, Gymboree (art? music? gym?), story time at the library, etc... which activity would you feel best complements the Montessori education, for a toddler/preschooler?

My son is 2 and just started a Montessori program. I would like to do sometime once a week with him, to have some time with Mommy (he is going through school changes and the addition of a new sister). What type of somewhat organized activity would enrich his day more, given what Montessori provides already?

Any thoughts welcome!
Oana

[Terabith]

I would go with either Music Together or Gymboree play, depending on your son's personality, activity level, the school's amount of physical activity/ music instruction, and the quality of the Music Together teacher. I think Music Together is a WONDERFUL program, but if he's not getting enough physical activity at school, Gymboree might be a fun, relatively unstructured time for him. I'd lean towards Gymboree if he's in full time day care.

[flyingspaghettimama]

I think the structure of all of the programs you listed are so different from Montessori in that they are instructor-led learning programs rather than self-led learning? Not that this is a bad thing - sometimes we learn best from others who are trained in their fields.

That said, Gymboree in my area is HIGHLY structured, incredibly expensive (in my area, about $70/month for four 45-minute sessions - gah!)and usually led by what appears to be low-motivation college students without much training. I would go with Music Together. I don't know about Kindermusik, but I've enjoyed MT in the past.

Can you ask your child what they'd be interested in learning from an instructor?

[Lillianna]

If you have a chance, also look into Dalcroze and Suzuki. Both of these programs approach learning through activity/exercises and offer sequential lessons. Suzuki consists of an individual and a group class every week and uses similar theories of learning such as repetition and peer groups (community of learners). Starts at age 3 or 4 though.

[Drummer's Wife]

I was thinking Suzuki as well as it seems to compliment Montessori Pedagogy the most of any other extra curricular I can think of.

[Terabith]

I think Gymboree varies a lot from place to place. Here it is quite reasonable price wise and very unstructured; the teacher has activities but it's totally voluntary - they are more like suggestions. Lots of free form, active play. I guess it depends on what you mean by "complement." If you want an activity that is Montessori-ish, then I'd go with Suzuki. But if you want something different from Montessori, then I'd go with something physically oriented (gymnastics, dance, gymboree) or Music Together. MT is a really awesome program.

[lilzark]

What an interesting question! I have a 2-year-old too. We are not in Montessori but I am thinking about it for preschool. We currently take Gymboree and Kindermusik.

The atmosphere of Kindermusik seems to vary depending on the number of kids in the class. My child is very quiet and plays independently, so I like Kindermusik when it's just 3 or 4 other children, but in a group of 15 it's very chaotic. I agree with the suggestion that Suzuki music instruction would be more "Montessori-like." However, Suzuki in my area starts at 3 years old.

It seems like Gymboree might be a good complement to Montessori exactly because it is so different from it. It is all about exercise and pretend play and not academic at all. It is a good choice if you just want to do something fun together.

[CharlieBrown]

when dds were younger, they really enjoyed Music Together with their Montessori preschool.

[Oana]

Thanks ladies! I am looking into the local MT, not sure if she'll offer afternoon or weekend sessions which would work best for us. If not, maybe Gymboree...

By complement I mean something that would offer an experience which is not much covered during his school hours, so somewhat different from M.

Thanks again!!
Oana

[Terabith]

A lot depends on your individual Montessori school. My dd's has a wonderful music program. Now, early childhood music is one of my "things," so we do a ton of music at home anyway. But what I've felt the need to supplement in terms of school is art and messy play, physical activity, and imaginary play. So we go to the park a lot, swim, open gyms at gymnastics places, etc.

What I want to know is why nobody has combined the best of these programs. Why isn't there a day care that has a Montessori program in the morning, with the 3 hour work period, circle time, outside play, and then after lunch/ rest, an afternoon Waldorf/ Reggio Emilio/ great developmental play program school? You know, with Waldorfy stories/ puppet shows, dramatic play and blocks, lots of arts, music, motor skills, some teacher directed activities (cooking, etc), smaller groups, and lots of outside play again? Doesn't this seem like a no brainer to anyone else? With a co-staff of Montessori teachers and Waldorf/ Reggio Emilio/ arts inspired developmental play preschool teachers on the same faculty? Working together?

[lilzark]

Terabith, if only!! Someone start this school, and we will be there! I too am interested in all these methods, but I think there are too many philosophical differences between all of them. The best we could hope for is that someone would read M. Montessori, Steiner, and Reggio Emilia material, digest it all, and form it into a new whole. (Is this Enki, perhaps?)

[nocalmama]

DD is close to 3yo, she goes to montessori preschool and we supplement with music class at local music conservatory. We tried kindermusik this summer, but it's too general, I mean it doesn't specifically teach you how to play a particular instrument. The good thing is the kindermusik we attended incorporated sign language, imagination play, dance, and singing. It kind of give me an idea of what to do at home with dd.
Apart from music school, we usually do arts at home. Sadly we rarely go to the park due to time constraint, etc. We need to make some time to do this physical activity with her.

[flyingspaghettimama]

Originally Posted by Terabith

Why isn't there a day care that has a Montessori program in the morning, with the 3 hour work period, circle time, outside play, and then after lunch/ rest, an afternoon Waldorf/ Reggio Emilio/ great developmental play program school?

In most schools the teachers from the same philosophy don't get along with one another - can you imagine if there were several all combined?

MEEE-OW! Or, how did your gnomes get into my metal insets?

[Terabith]

[Lillianna]

I agree that it doesn't work as well to combine these philosophies though I do think that there are similarities. It's just that when you combine one with the other, the whole is necessarily divided into parts rather than maintaining it's integrity. In some ways, I guess you could say I'd prefer either a true Montessori environment or a true Waldorf class but not a combination because one of the child's most urgent needs is for a stable and safe place to explore in. It can be confusing for the child to have to adjust to such different sets of expectations throughout the day. Again, I do think that the methods have very similar core philosophy to respect and nurture the child, but the practice of pedagogy is drastically different. I had a similar situation to the combination you mention. In my first years of teaching I was transitioning an After Care program (puppets, dress up, puzzles galore, crafts, etc) into an All-Day Montessori program where the 3 hour work cycle is basically extended to the all-day work cycle. Games, singing, art, puzzles, dancing, outdoor activities, and the Montessori materials are all choices available to the children as well as lunch, snacks and napping.
The day flows so much more smoothly now. I have learned how to apply Montessori principles to each of the activities, rather than offering them in the "traditional sense" (teacher led). Montessori developed a philosophy that applies to education rather than a method to apply at certain times of the day or only to certain activities. I would personally love for my daughter to learn everything with the Montessori approach. We have looked into Waldorf, she takes Suzuki violin, little gym, dance class....I always think how great it would be if only these teachers were more influenced by Montessori's theories of freedom and the stages of development and how if every activity she were involved in, the adult knew just a little more how to let the child take over or how to initiate movement.