Public or Montessori School?

Hello!
Yes Montessori is very different to public schooling! It is based on the idea that children develop at different stages, which they do. BUT be careful if you do choose Montessori, for some do not introduce subject matter at all, they allow the child to develop an interest in it before they proceed. Which at an earlier age, it's great, but as the child gets older, they definitely need to have things introduced to them. Some Montessori schools are better than others! I have my degree in elementary ed. and studied a bit about Montessori in college. Good luck! L.

As a Special Ed Teacher and Parent I feel that Montessori Schools give kids a distinct advantage. We plan to send out 18 month old as soon as they will take her.

I also posted a related question but have not yet received a response, I too have been considering montessori preschool for my daughter, Maleeha, after looking for a more holistic approach to education, I have found after doing some research that its benefits outweigh public preschool, in my area there is also a private middle school and high school with the same/similar approach, which I will consider when the time comes. I have also found the cost is comparable with public childcare programs. Right now I am in the process of setting up tours with Montessori schools in my area, "shopping" to see where it feels right, you may want to do the same and if you don't feel comfortable somewhere, then don't send your child there, but on the other hand, if you get an overwhelming sense of comfort and inspiration, you'll know it's the right choice.

here is a little snippet on public preschool vs. Montessori:

A 2006 study published in the journal "Science" concluded that Montessori students performed better than their standard public school counterparts in a variety of arenas, including not only traditional academic areas such as language and mathematical reasoning, but in social cognition skills as well. [Lillard A, Else-Quest N. "The early years. Evaluating Montessori education." Science. 2006 Sep 29; 313 (5795): 1893-4.]:

On several dimensions, children at a public inner city Montessori school had superior outcomes relative to a sample of Montessori applicants who, because of a random lottery, attended other schools. By the end of kindergarten, the Montessori children performed better on standardized tests of reading and math, engaged in positive interaction on the playground more, and showed advanced social cognition and executive control more. They also showed more concern for fairness and justice. At the end of elementary school, Montessori children wrote more creative essays with more complex sentence structures, selected more positive responses to social dilemmas, and reported feeling more of a sense of community at their school.

The authors concluded that, "when strictly implemented, Montessori education fosters social and academic skills that are equal or superior to those fostered by a pool of other types of schools."

also, go to:

http://www.montessori.edu/

there is a lot of easy to read info, I am also reading "Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three" by Paula Polk Lillard & Lynn Lillard Jessen (a mother who is a Montessori teacher, and her daughter who was raised with a Montessori education and now teaches it as well) I found the book in the teaching reference section at Borders, along with several other books on the subject.

I hope all this helps, let me know what your outcome is, and please share any info on any schools you may find and tour (I find FINDING the schools is the greatest challenge, I've had to look on several websites, the phone book, and even some just found by driving by).

Best wishes,

N.

Hey, Meredith. My husband and I faced the same dilemma. We have a 6 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. We both work for a local school system, and because of the intense focus on testing under No Child Left Behind, we decided to enroll them at Thacher Montessori School in Milton (which also goes up to 8th grade). This is their second year here, and we're VERY happy with how they're doing. Our town is facing significant issues with school funding, so we don't even feel tempted to enroll them here.

Hi M.,

My daughter is 5 and attends a Montessori school. I love the values it imparts in addition to everything she is learning. We have friends whose children have attended Montessori school and very successfully transitioned into public schools - both at the middle and high school levels. One friend's daughter is now at an exam high school in Boston (meaning she had to test into this hard-to-get-into school) after being at the Montessori since kindergarten. You should check out a Montessori school because it is a bit different, but in my opinion, in a very good way!

Hi M.,

I have 2 children who both went to Montessori school for preschool (through Kindergarten) and are now in public schools. I can't say enough wonderful things about the Montessori philosophy. It is so different that the typical "teacher teaches and the child learns" public school mantra. Each child in a Montessori program learns at their level and they learn through the tools and materials that are at their fingertips (sometimes without even realizing that they are learning). My son was reading at 3 and doing multiplication at 5. My daughter has special needs and the self-help skills and her increased self-esteem that she was able to master due to their philosophy was amazing. As I try to paint a full picture, of course nothing is "perfect". My son did have a little difficulty transitioning to public school. He was ahead of all the children in his 1st grade classroom, yet he did not want to appear different, so he tried to "dummy" himself down. We still have a few issues like that (2 years later) but we have better techniques to handle them. As far as your school going through Middle School, thats FABULOUS! High school is such a different "beast" in the educational food chain. I am not sure what district you are in or how large your high school is, but by the time you reach high school, you have all different middle schools, religious schools, some private schools, all merging together for high school. If the Montessori school that you choose is as good as it should be, his self-confidence and preparation should sail him right into honors. Just a Mom's opinion. Good luck.

I am glad you posted this question. I have a little guy who turned 4 yesterday. I checked into the Montessori school nearest to us (the one close to Benny's) but there is a long wait list and only openings if someone leaves. If anyone knows of a good school that is in there area, that is currently accepting applicants - I would be interested as well.

The funds were not available to send my four girls to Montessori, but had they been, I would have sent them in an instant. My oldest managed to fly though public schools with straight A's, but my 2nd daughter is dyslexic. She struggles terribly hard for the same grades. My third is a free spirit to whom self expression and art are far more important than grades, and my youngest is a kindergarten diva who would like nothing more than to spend her days in the spotlight. So, four very different kids, but I still think all would have benefited from the opportunities that Montessori would have given them. I know my two middle children would have especially shone, and maybe dealt with less problems than we found at public school. I am now trying to make the decision if I want to pull those two out and home school because our public middle school is not at all to my liking.

I say, if it within your means, go for it. High School is sooner than you think.

Dear M.,

A LOT depends on which Montessori school. Our daughter is at one in Old Town, ME that is the best school I've ever worked with. We love them more everyday! If the school is structured correctly and run correctly, your son will have no trouble whatsoever transitioning to a public high school. But it ALL depends on the teacher and the school. It isn't about the difference between "standard" education and Montessori education, it is about the teachers and the directors of the school and if they really care about your son.

If you are seriously considering a Montessori school, I recommend that you set up an appointment to observe in a classroom, talk to the teachers and administration and discuss your concerns. Both of my children go to Montessori and I couldn't be happier.

If you have that choice, go Montessori. They do a lot of hands on stuff that is so good, especially for boys. The folks I know had extremely good success with their children and they thrived in high school. They were independent thinkers and able to complete a task with no trouble at all and they never seemed to have sibling problems, as is common with kids that are in public school.

I have never used a Montessori school, but know people who have and they love it. We homeschooled, then in the 8th grade my son wanted to go to regular school. Wow did things go down hill. We both tend to think that was a mistake. Perhaps you could stick with the Montessori and then for high school check out the possibilities of high school online or non public high schools or a charter school? My friend's children used an online high school and they are both in college now. For the first time in 15 years she doesn't have to do lesson plans.

For what it is worth I hope it helps.

L.

Hi Meredith, having raised 4 children who are all adults now, who went to "regular" preschools and public schools, and having worked at a MOntessori preschool/kindergarten, I would if you can afford it, send the children to Montessori. Please read up on it first, there are books available in the library.
Montessori, more than any education method I have ever seen, gives the child an invaluable sense of competence, responsibility for oneself and one's actions, confidence, self discipline, compassion and respect for other children and their teachers, and I haven't even started on the actual academics. Older children are usually in the same environment as the younger 3 year olds, as they learn from each other, and it is a wonderful thing to see the 4 and 5 year olds reading to and teaching the younger ones, both actively and by role modeling. The math concepts that my daughter in public school was learning in the 4th grade(for example), the 4 year olds were learning the same concepts in Montessori, using a physical, hands-on approach, and they understood it a lot better than my 4th grader. The culture that they learn about, the curiosity that they are encouraged to lead them to exploring geography, science, and literature, the learning of the practical everyday life skills, gives them the foundation to feel a real sense of themselves as a valuable member of their families, school and society in general. If this sounds like how you would like to start off your child in his educational journey, I highly recommend this form of education. I also would not wait this long for your second child to start in a Montessori preschool, as the younger they start, the easier it is for them to learn, because each stage of their growth and cognition is tapped into, as certain concepts and behaviors are naturally absorbed at certain stages of development and ages. If this sounds complicated, it really isn't. It is essential though, that the parents do work with the concepts at home also, otherwise the child is conflicted. For example, t.v. is discouraged, as are any books or movies that are not reality based, ie. talking animals, non-real witches, fairies, goblins, superheroes, etc. Before the age of 6, children have a hard time distinguishing between what's real and what isn't and this can lead to fear and insecurity. There are plenty of beautiful books and stories for children that involve real people, places, animals and adventures. Anyway, hope I've helped clarify this a bit. Do some research and reading. As I said, my kids are 32, 29, 27 and 19. I know that many of my 5 and 6 year old Montessori students have better understanding of many math concepts, and will clean up their own "work" and messes, better than my sophomore in college. What more can I say? Good luck in your decision.

Hi M.,

My son is currently in his third and final year of our local Montessori school (it is designed for ages 2-1/2 to 6) and our daughter went to the school up until first grade as well. We had no idea about the Montessori philosophy when we signed her up, but we are complete converts now. Montessori encourages independence in a very structured environment, and virtually every activity fosters both motor and cognitive skills. As kids accomplish their individual tasks, they gain confidence and they become excited to learn more. The best advice I can give you is to go and observe a classroom. What you will likely see is children working either by themselves or in small groups on a number of different projects, including washing the dishes and tables after lunch. It is an amazing thing to see in action! We are hoping to have the option of an elementary program in this area, but I think it will come too late for us. Best of luck!

Have you read any Maria Montessori books? sHE WAS AMAZING AND HER VISION for children was incredible. Nurturing the Spirit by Aline D. Wolf is also an excellent read too.

If he's a bright child he'll thrive and do very well in a montessori school. Their approach is letting the child learn at their own pace. I put my son in Montessori in Kindergarten and had to take him out. He has a birthday late in the year and it wasn't a good fit for him. My nephew however did extremely well in montessori because he was very bright and advanced very well. it all depends on the individual child.

Montessori is a very hands on learning technique.. I would suggest you calling schools now to see what their enrollment is like, what the process is and if you need to put him in preschool to prepare him.

Hi M.,

I have 7 year old boy/girl twins who started in a Montessori pre-school at age 3 and transitioned to public school in first grade. It was a dramatically different learning environment in the public school, even with a small class size (15), and each child had their challenges. Looking back, we knew relatively little about the differences in educational philosophy, but they have shaped both kids in significant ways. Montessori gives quite alot of choice (and also responsibility) to kids, and this can make for a harder transition into the public school classroom, where there are no real "choices" to the way the day is segmented. Most parents we know either transitioned their kids right at kindergarten or at 3rd grade (since additional training is necessary for the elementary curriculum, most Montessori programs run through kindergarten and sometimes thru grade 2). If you like the elem. program, this gives you more options. My daughter had absolutely no problem with the two environments and thrived right away in public school. My son hated his new classroom structure and rules and ended up acting out. It was awful for him that he couldn't go to the bathroom when he wanted or get a drink and he was very bored with the way information was presented. In Montessori, kids can stay with a topic for long stretches and can decide how they want to organize their day, as long as they complete work in each of the subject areas. Presentation of new skills and group work is also scheduled. At mid-year of first grade, I moved him back to Montessori and he stayed through 2nd. The Montessori elementary program ended up folding because they didn't have enough kids to make it financially viable and it was rough for all of the kids and parents, too. The good news is that both my kids learned to read at age 3 1/2 and have continued to be voracious readers. The math foundation was just as impressive, where they were working in place value at age 4. My advice is to also think about the pre-K program if it is financially feasible for you. Make sure you go to the school and observe for several hours to see how kids are responding. I think the pre-K program is truly remarkable. For my family, the elementary program was just not big enough to have enough interaction and that led to the biggest challenges in transition. All kids are different. You and your son will know right away if this learning style is the right fit for him. Be prepared for things to change over time -- development stages change rapidly, the mix of kids makes for different social conditions, teachers leave, etc. Good luck!

Meredith, Have you visited the Montessori? The Admissions person and Director can give you quite a bit of information. And information about transistioning into more main stream schools. We will be putting our child, soon to be 3, in a Montessori in the fall for the 3-4-5 yr old class. It may be the same school you are thinking of as it also goes to 8th grade. Right now we will do the younger class and cross the public vs. private/montessori bridge in 3 years. I have visited and observed in several Montessoris as well as other pre-schools and, IMHO, the Montessori education is amazing. Good luck with your decision.

Hi Meredith, I teach the middle school program at a Montessori school and have training at the elementary level. I would be more than happy to talk with you about Montessori at all levels. If fact, if we're in the same area, you may be looking at my school! (Anyone can message me for Montessori info)
best,
Lis

I have a friend who is actually being trained to teach Montessori and I actually got a very unusual response when I was trying to make a decision. She said that originally it was geared toward a younger set and what she was finding was that the children were turning into little adults if they were in the program longer than the originally recommend age, which I think is 6 years old. I think that I may go ahead and put my daughters in for a short time and than switch schools. As far as switching schools goes, I was in a military family and we switched schools every couple of years and kids adjust better than we adults do.

Hi M.,
I had the same worries when my son was getting ready to start kindergarten about the schools in Tiverton. I grew up in Attleboro, MA and I really didn't know too many people in Tiverton to let me know about the schools, so for financial reasons we decided to try the public and it has been great so far.When my son was in kindergarten at Ranger the teacher noticed he was having trouble with holding his pencil and scissors and they suggested the occupational therapy. The O.T. was done right in the class room and it helped him so much..My son is now in the Middle school and he is doing great and loving school, so so far I'm very pleased with Tiverton Public School system..I had the same concerns about Montessori when it comes to the grade ending at 8th grade and then how do they adapt to a different style school.I hope this info will help you out alittle.
M. C