Montessori schools....what can you tell me?

story1267

story1267

Cathlete
Hi group! Does anyone here send their kids to a Montessori school? If so, what do you think about it?

I'm searching for a place for my DD and the philosophy sounds good, but I don't know if it's a match considering she has a few special needs. I know that some needs are *special-er* than others and I'm not sugar-coating her situation, but, I feel as though if she could find the right kind of calmly paced, nurturing environment that she could do better. Certainly better than she's doing now in the local high school. :(
 
They are less structured than traditional schools which works well for some kids. They often have cross-age classes, which allows for different learning paces. It depends on what your DD's issues are, but Montessori is definitely good for kids who like to "think outside the box." The downside can be that they can attract kids w/ serious discipline problems, not just ones w/ learning difficulties.

I looked at them for my DS (Aspergers, ADHD, Anxiety), but it wasn't a good fit due the non-structured approach.

I'm sorry your DD is having a hard time in high school. Can she do some independent learning?

Sending (((((hugs))))) since I'll be agonizing over this when DS starts high school in another year and a half.
 
I sent both sons to Montessori preschool/Grade 1. Worked very well for my outgoing, bright, extroverted older son who likes to self teach. He went to an "open" concept high school where the work is handed out and students are expected to attend seminars as required to learn work or self teach. He is now in Design Engineering with an open curriculum and it works perfectly for his brain style.

My younger son needed a more structured day. He is quieter, doesn't like to read and prefers to be taught rather than self teach. My older son went to Montessori for a couple of days with the younger one and told me the little one just wandered around and didn't "work" like one should work in Montessori. Montessori was far too unstructured for the little one so he went back to more of a structured environment. He will not be going to the open high school concept, he will continue in the regular curriculum.
 
The previous poster hits the nail squarely on the head. Montessori suits some kids' learning style, but not all. It didn't do much for my eldest daughter and so we didn't bother enrolling our youngest in the same type of school. Both girls are doing exceptionaly well academically now in their teens and the Montessori doesn't seem to have made any difference at all. Luckily, the overly Christian and dogmatic approach to early education left no lasting effects on the younger one either, so I think the home environment and teaching from the parents has way more effect at this young age than what may or may not go on in a classroom.

I often thought the concept of Montessori was gimmicky. I still do. The idea that your child will naturally gravitate towards the things she needs to know strikes me as a pile of crap. I asked at the time and I ask now, how does leaving it all up to the child ensure a balanced education? If your child is only interested in language, how will she get her numbers work in?

You have to decide for yourself if it is the right atmosphere for your child.

Also, do not assume that just because it is Montessori that the school or individual teachers will not approach the curriculum with a disciplinary or authoritarian stance. My daughter's teacher was overly disciplinarian. She liked to bring me in to discuss "behavioural issues" she thought my daughter had. Pile of crap. She was 3 years old, bright as a button, but with a clearly marked personality that had no time for things she was not interested in and she refused to respond to the woman's "authority" and that drove the teacher, who most closely resembled Hitler's daughter, up the wall. Ah well, my daughter is now an A student in 11th grade and clearly her attitude towards both learning and authority have served her well.

The choice of which pre-school totally depends upon logistics for the family, economics, child's needs and your own instinctive response to the program, in spite of glowing reports other parents may have about a school. How do you react to it? Any doubts? Then it is not the right place for your child. When locating child care and pre-school facilities, you have to use your instincts a lot when making the decision.

Clare
 
My daughter is in 3rd grade Montessori and has gone there since preschool. I was told every Montessori is different. In elementary they have to work on each subject. For example in reading she loves nonfiction, but she still has to read fiction maybe just not as much. They are very disciplined and can't wonder around the room at all. I think they are easier on the little ones because they want them to like school. Next year we will send her to public school.
 
Have you considered homeschooling? I know it's not for everyone, but it is another avenue to think about. Just putting it out there. : )
 
I did a lot of research on Montessori and actually planned to do a lot of it with our kids at home. I bought a lot of the materials and tried it with my DD for over a year and finally gave up. I am a totally structured person and Montessori was all over the place for me. And my daughter just didn't seem interested. A lot of the preschool things were just good toys for them and helped build their motor skills so that was ok but the learning style did not work for her. I was working so hard to teach her phonics that way and ended up using Hooked on Phonics... relatively ironic. Learned that she is a total "workbook" lover and that avenue has really worked well for us.

While Montessori may appear to be unstructured, bear in mind that it is very specifically taught. There are steps to each activity and they are taught with exact precision. It's actually somewhat creepy!

My husband attended Montessori school until 5th grade and is (imho) brilliant and is an engineer and very successful. BUT, I'm not sure Montessori really had anything to do with this and would agree with a PP who mentioned that what is done at home can have all the difference on the success of a child.

Also, I think Montessori can be very beneficial and "fun" in the early years (what it was originally intended for by Maria Montessori) but probably not as effective in HS.

HTH,

angie
 
Thanks so much, everyone, for your thoughtful and informative replies. There doesn't appear to even be a Montessori high school option in my area. I knew of some schools here but wasn't really aware that it is mostly geared towards the younger kids.

But, in truth, DD really, really needs structure. She has one class that's being taught at her level, with sufficient breaking down of concepts, and individual support - and she's doing very well in it. Outside of that...not so much.

I've struggled since she was in 2nd grade to understand what she needs, and understand how she learns, and try to explain to her exhausted teachers that, no, really, she needs even MORE compassion and empathy. *Sigh* It is a hard road, my heart breaks for her. She's such a smart, sweet, effervescent kid and I feel like her education so far is just working hard to extinguish her every little spark.

Sorry for the rant. It's not that her teachers are bad, they're just working against so many obstacles. When I look at my DS, who has more clearly defined and obvious special needs, and how his needs are being met, it just makes me sad that the same thing can't happen for DD.

I have considered homeschooling, Fembot, but I just don't think I have what it takes (organization, um, actual knowledge of mathematics, never mind the resources). I admire those who do for sure.

Thanks again everyone. Even knowing what won't work helps baby-step us towards what might.
 
Suzanne - why don't you talk to the Montessori schools directly. From what I'm reading about your DD, she may actually benefit from the style of teaching of a Montessori school. Many school offer up to grade 6 for Montessori.

My experience with 2 very good Montessori schools was that yes, things are less structured, but they are that way in order to encourage your child to learn at her own pace and to provide creative ways for her to overcome obstacles that prevent her from learning in the more traditional style.

Before I wrote off such a school, I would schedule meetings with at least one school to see what they have to say. A good Montessori school will want your daughter to succeed and will tell you whether or not she would be a good fit.

Honestly, I'm THRILLED my daughter went to Montessori for Pre-school and Kindergarten. I had more problems with teachers in traditional schools who tried to squelch her nature inquisitiveness.
 
Hi Christine. I'm glad that Montessori worked for you. Unfortunately for us, I think we've missed the boat on what benefits it might have provided. DD is in 9th grade now and there are very few programs after age 15 and none in my area that I can find.

We'll keep searching. We're set up to have further testing done and that should clarify her needs a bit better.
 
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