Is a visit w/o intent to enroll out of line?

[jlpumkin]

I am sort of new to "formal" or "real" montessori. I have done some reading and really like the prinicples/theories. For a while I operated a daycare and tried to implement some bits like the 3 hour uninterrupted, nondirective work time. But I never called myself a montessori - bc I wasn't obviously.

Anyway, I'm really curious about actually seeing a classroom in operation. For a couple of reasons - 1st because I'm very curious... I'm tentatively pursuing a masters in education next fall and am hesitant bc I think montessori might be a better fit for me. Of course the decision will be made after much more research, including but not limited to an observation. 2d because I have a very "lively" ds who I think really would benefit from this environment - one day.

I'd like to observe (or visit) a room with the one day potential of enrolling him - but that's not actually my basis for observation. Would a school be receptive to allowing me to visit and see it in action or is it out of line to ask of a school? Thanks!

[Lillianna]

Hi
I don't think it's out of line at all. As a matter of fact, I did just that when I initially started my M career. I was just so curious about what it was all about, I didn't even have children at the time. I ended up working for a year as an assistant at that school before I went for training. We frequently have people other than prospective parents who come to observe...people working on ed. degrees or just plain curious. I would also let the school know that you are interested in going into M ed.

Did you know you can also get a Master's of Ed from Loyola College in Baltimore as part of the Montessori training? Here is some info: http://graduate.loyola.edu/graduate/...medprimary.asp
It's a great program!