A little frustrated with prices!

[MariposaMami]

Sending my children to a Montessori school isn't an option because of the cost (Whatever happened to helping the poor children in Rome?). So, I am getting training in Montessori so that I can home school my children. I am so frustrated because the prices for materials are absolutely ridiculous! I have a lot of the material already and was blessed to be able to buy them used from a school that was closing, but I'm having to fill in the gaps and buy stuff that we are still missing. I have the continents puzzle from Montessori-N-Such and need the other puzzles to go with it. I could not believe my eyes when I saw that they are $46 a piece! For a puzzle! Can anyone explain this! It is absolutely bizarre to me! What would Maria Montessori think of these prices I wonder?

[BCFD]

I agree that the prices seem WAY overpriced. Have you tried Montessori Outlet or Alisons Montessori? I just got the USA puzzle map for $20 (it's a bargain basement special at Alison's right now). What other things are you looking for? I will keep an eye out on good prices for you.

http://www.alisonsmontessori.com/Mon..._Canada_p/cl16.

I think this is a good price on the land and water globe:

http://www.alisonsmontessori.com/Mon...ater_p/g14.htm

And the geo solids that contain the box AND stands:

http://www.alisonsmontessori.com/Geo...nce_p/cl46.htm

Plus, at Alisons you can get an extra 10% off by typing in the code ALISONS at check out.

I bought a pink tower from there, too. Definitely try Montessori Outlet. Also, have you looked here? AMAZINGLY cheap prices on a lot of practical life stuff:

http://www.montessoriservices.com/store/

[eepster]

We're having trouble finding a Montessori preK we can afford too. If I lived in New Mexico I'd ask if we could do a coop class with you as the teacher since you've gone to the trouble of getting the training.

Maybe you can find other families in your area who would like to start a coop class with you and help share the cost. Possibly some of the other parents could even make some of the items you need (I look at those counting beads and know I could make them.)

[BCFD]

Originally Posted by eepster

We're having trouble finding a Montessori preK we can afford too. If I lived in New Mexico I'd ask if we could do a coop class with you as the teacher since you've gone to the trouble of getting the training.

Maybe you can find other families in your area who would like to start a coop class with you and help share the cost. Possibly some of the other parents could even make some of the items you need (I look at those counting beads and know I could make them.)

The counting beads would be really easy to make! I saw that Michael's carry the wire (not copper) pre-fabbed into the shape that is perfect for Montessori beads! The only problem is once you buy the beads and the wire sometimes you can find what you're looking for for really cheap i.e.:
http://www.alisonsmontessori.com/Sho...Tray_p/m23.htm

Only $12 with the tray (I just got this for our at home shelf).

But if you want to make a ton of materials, you could definitely do it for cheaper.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by BCFD

The counting beads would be really easy to make! I saw that Michael's carry the wire (not copper) pre-fabbed into the shape that is perfect for Montessori beads! The only problem is once you buy the beads and the wire sometimes you can find what you're looking for for really cheap i.e.:
http://www.alisonsmontessori.com/Sho...Tray_p/m23.htm

Only $12 with the tray (I just got this for our at home shelf).

But if you want to make a ton of materials, you could definitely do it for cheaper.

If all one needs is that single tray I wouldn't bother to make them myself either, but when you start looking at the more advances decimal work where you get into the hundreds and thousands and you have those cubes all those tens bars... well your talking lots of gold beads if you want to do serious math. If one orders them from a jewlery supply wholesaler (it would get prertty pricey from Micheals) then one just needs to put them onto wires, very easy.

Then there are other supplies like this
http://www.alisonsmontessori.com/Yel...bes_p/m144.htm
If another parent in the area, who also can't afford Montessori made this (supplies for it would be around $10) she could be the teacher of the class and then the class would have more than 1 student.

If she had the other parents full participation, then it would be kind of like having a playgroup over. You could call it a "cooperative Monterssori homeschoolers class." If all the student would have there parents present and you would just be guiding the activity, then I doubt you would need any kind of lisencing though you might need to check out your homeowners insurance.

Ok, I know I'm a little crazy, but the idea of going and getting the training, then running a coop M school has been in my head for a bit. I just don't think I could pull it off. I'm not great with other peoples children, I don't have room in my house, and I don't have the time to go get the training. However, since she has the training, maybe she could pull it off.

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by MariposaMami

Sending my children to a Montessori school isn't an option because of the cost (Whatever happened to helping the poor children in Rome?). So, I am getting training in Montessori so that I can home school my children. I am so frustrated because the prices for materials are absolutely ridiculous! I have a lot of the material already and was blessed to be able to buy them used from a school that was closing, but I'm having to fill in the gaps and buy stuff that we are still missing. I have the continents puzzle from Montessori-N-Such and need the other puzzles to go with it. I could not believe my eyes when I saw that they are $46 a piece! For a puzzle! Can anyone explain this! It is absolutely bizarre to me! What would Maria Montessori think of these prices I wonder?

Here's actually a good link that describes the cost of Montessori Materials:

http://tinyurl.com/8bvzq

Matt

[Lillianna]

Originally Posted by MariposaMami

Sending my children to a Montessori school isn't an option because of the cost (Whatever happened to helping the poor children in Rome?). So, I am getting training in Montessori so that I can home school my children. I am so frustrated because the prices for materials are absolutely ridiculous! I have a lot of the material already and was blessed to be able to buy them used from a school that was closing, but I'm having to fill in the gaps and buy stuff that we are still missing. I have the continents puzzle from Montessori-N-Such and need the other puzzles to go with it. I could not believe my eyes when I saw that they are $46 a piece! For a puzzle! Can anyone explain this! It is absolutely bizarre to me! What would Maria Montessori think of these prices I wonder?

Hi MariposaMami! You go girl!
There are Montessori-missionaries in less affluent countries of Africa putting materials together with found objects. I have some photos that are really cool, I will look to see if I can find them. You do what you can with what you have. Many of the practical life and language materials are handmade anyway.
The materials are made to be durable because, for many important reasons, they are meant to be used by classes of up to 40 children a year. They are made of natural materials so that the care of the item becomes part of the lesson (like polishing the puzzle maps and using them with care). But the prices sure are high.
Where are you doing training?
Good luck!

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by Lillianna

Hi MariposaMami! You go girl!
There are Montessori-missionaries in less affluent countries of Africa putting materials together with found objects. I have some photos that are really cool, I will look to see if I can find them. You do what you can with what you have. Many of the practical life and language materials are handmade anyway.
The materials are made to be durable because, for many important reasons, they are meant to be used by classes of up to 40 children a year. They are made of natural materials so that the care of the item becomes part of the lesson (like polishing the puzzle maps and using them with care). But the prices sure are high.
Where are you doing training?
Good luck!

They're also made to be exactly a certain size. That's another critical thing that drives up the prices.

I think a good program might be to buy Montessori materials then rent them out to families for a year. The families pay for any pieces that can't be fixed beyond a paint job, but they get to have the materials at a fraction of the cost. Or at least pay it off in the 3 year time period so you make your money back quickly.

Hm....I might be on to something here.

Matt

[mamalemon]

Have you looked here: https://www.montessoriconcepts.com/~johann/index.php

A friend just suggested this site to me and said that they will match prices so as not to be undersold.

[Lillianna]

check this out for inspiration:
http://montessoriaroundtheworld.org/home.html

It can be done! Do what you can with what you have.

[ramama]

If you are interested in making your own materials, check out the Montessori Makers yahoo group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/montessorimakers/
There is the main discussion group, and once you join that one you can join their "storage" groups that have all sorts of information on the different areas of study. They also have links to other websites that offer free printable materials. Seriously, a lot of this stuff is easily and economically made. I have made a whole bunch of materials without any problems.

There is also a Montessori Swap yahoo group where members post to sell and buy Montessori materials.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Montessori_Swap/

[MariposaMami]

There are Montessori-missionaries in less affluent countries of Africa putting materials together with found objects.

Where are you doing training?
Good luck![/QUOTE]

I have been praying (yes, literally praying!) that I could find a way to get my 5 children (ages 6 and under) a Montessori education if that was the best thing for them. Well, I started "straying" a bit from Montessori and decided to join a local homeschool co-op forum online. I was curious and decided to type "Montessori" in the search box. It turned out that someone had posted that a Montessori directress was retiring and closing her school and that she was having a sale the day! I was the first person to show up and was so excited to see all the material! I ended up getting a ton of stuff and the directress told me she would like to help me and come over to my house from time to time! This was such a blessing! She told me that I would really have to learn the ins and outs of Montessori and encouraged me to take a distance training course at least. It turned out that a friend of mine who home schooled her daughters (now teenagers) using the Montessori method, still had her training manuals from a distance training course created by Phyllis Wallbank, and that is what I am using, as well as Dr. Montessori's books, etc... My Montessori journey has truly been a blessing! There is still such a long way to go in training myself and learning to make good observations, etc.. but I think with God's help I can make it happen!

Thank you all for your suggestions on where to get or make the materials I am still missing. I have been selling furniture and stuff to raise funds and make room for the childrens shelving and work space. I've got about $500 saved up to use on Montessori stuff and will see what I can make. Thank you all so very much for your kindness and help! It is greatly appreciated!

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by MariposaMami

I was curious and decided to type "Montessori" in the search box. It turned out that someone had posted that a Montessori directress was retiring and closing her school and that she was having a sale the day! I was the first person to show up and was so excited to see all the material! I ended up getting a ton of stuff and the directress told me she would like to help me and come over to my house from time to time! This was such a blessing!

I know a few people that would be envious to hear this story. What a great thing to have happened. :

[BCFD]

And I thought I lucked out when I found some knobless cylinders and a Nienhaus moveable alphabet box at a local thrift store. Congrats!

[guestmama9911]

Originally Posted by MattBronsil

Here's actually a good link that describes the cost of Montessori Materials:

http://tinyurl.com/8bvzq

Matt

That's a very snarky response, and not the main reason for the high prices. :

Premium Montessori materials are expensive because they aren't made of cheap materials in places like China. When you choose to buy discount materials, you choose to buy lower quality.

I buy the discount materials because that's what my budget allows, but I do get what I pay for - I've had my pink tower only two days and the paint is already chipping. And, the materials are made in China. So you have to weigh the pros and cons. If I was buying for a school, I would definitely consider the premium materials worth the investment. For my homeschool with two children, cheaper materials are fine for me.

[mtnjenny]

It is unfortunate that prices are so high, and it is unfortunate that Montessori education has developed an elitest image in some cases. (Proud to say I'm in a public program - hard to find, though.)

I tried to save some of my classroom budget by buying some cheaper materials last year, and just a year later, they're a mess. And the better, expensive, materials I've used for 10 years still look perfect. The idea is that you pay a lot up front, and then they last forever so you're not replacing and taking on new things each year. Obviously that doesn't help those of you trying to do this at home or on a small scale. People have given some great suggestions!

The important things about Montessori education are:
1. the development of independence, concentration, coordination, and order
2. allowing the child to follow his/her own interests
3. working from the concrete to the abstract.

The materials are amazing and are definitely a core part of the education, but you can have all the materials in the world and if you're not true to the method, it's not Montessori. We've all heard great stories about folks who have made materials from nothing. Don't get too hung up on materials, but make sure you're reading about the method and philosophy.

[MariposaMami]

I understand the whole quality issue, but really, like at Nienhuis $30 for a box to hold Sandpaper letters?
http://montessori.nienhuis.com/us/00...menu=m4____m24