I was wondering what you ladies think of Montessori education. We are thinking about sending our daughter when she turns 2 in January. I have heard that kids have a hard time adjusting back to public school after being in a Montessori pre-school. Any suggestions would be great.
Montessori education is the best, I think. I found out about it years ago when I worked as a nanny in Flower Mound. Now I own a school!
My own children and my graduating students all trasitioned smoothly into public school. The teachers love them because not only do they love to learn, they are also more mature and have great work habits and social skills.
My school is Countryside Montessori. The website is countryside-montessori.com
Let me know what you find out! I want to send my little on to St Alquins. I have seen some of the "products" of montessori, and they are the most delightful, well behaved children I have ever seen. Which one are you looking at? I would love your input! feel free to email me directly
____@____.com
As a Kindergarten teacher, I think some kind of preschool is great for a child whatever it might be. As long as she is learning the basics, having time away from mommy, and interacting with other children before she starts kindergarten she should be fine.
My oldest currently attends Barbara Gordon Montessori in Colleyville, and I can't say enough good about it. She started there the last 2 months of 1st grade when I pulled her out of KISD, and is now going into 3rd. If they had it, she'd go through high school! However, if you are not considering Montessori beyond the primary years- into K & up, I don't know that I would go that route. The Montessori kids learn very differently/ are taught quite differently than the general public school education, and I can certainly see where that could pose a difficulty with some kids- esp. ones that are slow to adapt.
Good luck!
Darla
My daughter's son was in Montessori from 18 mos through 1st grade. He was so focused and independent that he had a very difficult time adjusting...or should I say the teacher. When she would call his name, he was focused on his work and frankly just didn't hear her. Got in trouble for being disrespectful when that was not the case. As well as he didn't have his name on his paper and got counted off 10 points each time making all of his perfect papers down to a B. He was used to his "slot" at Montessori and didn't have to put his name on top.
Further, he get up when he wanted to take his paper to the designated spot. It took a good 1/2 semester to get in the groove and his grades suffered and felt the "talkings to" unfounded.
My daughter (the other one) worked in a Plano Middle school next to a teacher who used to teach second grade. She told my daughter she always dreaded the Montessori kids because they were so independent and worked at their own pace and was either a little behind, way ahead, or just plain bored to the routine of a public school classroom. They "always gave her trouble".
So that's what I know. It's hard on both the child and the teacher. If only we could all afford Montessori all the way to graduation. So for what it's worth...
I recieved a lucrative job opportunity at a M. school. Through all of my research and observation it seemed VERY impressive. The only reason that I even accepted the job was because my 3 year old would recieve free $700/mo. tuition. After one day I left. I was so horrified by the actions of the little kids--they weren't natural. Also, I run a home daycare/preschool and I have a 6 year old (for the summer) and he attended M. preschool. His mother said that he was burnt out by the age of 5.
K.
P.S. While I was at the M. school, one little boy started to cry because he didn't want to do his work. He had to go to the "principal's office"..the principal told him that school was for working and home is for playing--just thought that was a little overkill for a 3.5 yearold.
I received a Montessori education up through the 6th grade, and think that it's a fantastic way to learn. My experiences were nothing like what is described below. And I never had a problem adjusting to a regular school. However, while I had planned all along to send my daughter to a Montessori school, I realized that it wouldn't be a very good fit for her, and she attends a play-based preschool. You might take a look at the preschool selection book on The Savvy Source (www.savvysource.com). It has a lot of great information on how to determine which kind of preschool is best for your child.
