Waldorf Vs. Montessori Vs. Charter Vs. Public??

I had my daughter in a charter school and I really liked it. we could take any lesson and tweak it to suit her. For example, if we were learning about history we could go to a museum for an assignment. We could make a story board to show reading comprehension. Things like that. I liked the freedom to be creative. And working with her one on one raised her grades from C's and D's to A's and B's! She wanted to go back to public school to be around friends but the time we did the charter school was a great one.

I highly recommend that you never consider putting your children in public school. The influences of the public system are corrupt from the top and the peer pressure on children is sometimes very negative, and you only find out about it after the fact. Why subject your children to that when you are able to provide them loving guidance and spare them from negative influences?

Hi G.,
If you promise not to laugh (too hard), I'll let you know that I first began looking into what type of educaion I wanted my son to have --when he was just 3 months old. I actually visited Sacramento's Waldorf school (on Bannister Rd) w/ him at that time. At home, we set up our house very Montessori-style for our son almost from the get-go. My lean-to was also more Montessori than Waldorf, but I appreciated aspects of both educational philosophies. Before having my son, I use to work at the now defunct 'California Nannie College', teaching in the classroom and going on site visits to clear okay placements for our students in field study and also to check up on our students already in field study placement. I visited numerous homes, daycares, in-home daycares, pre-schools, etc to evaluate the sites and programs (and also our students). I took everything in as ideas for my own child someday, of what I wanted for my future child even at the earliest age. By the time my son was in pre-school (a parent co-op, very creative and child-led w/ a 'play' focus but also offering a wealth of educational options daily), I was once again looking for "the" school for him, but more seriously at that point (of course). I picked up countless school's 'report cards' to go over the 'on paper' information, asked for recommendations from moms I know and would come across, read up like crazy, and visited many schools (all types) both w/ and w/o my son before choosing the public K we went w/ or our son. Despite getting our 1st choice school, we ended up home schooling for 1st, expecting it to be temporary (a year or two) to get us through a life 'hump'. We ended up falling in love w/ it, though, and have home schooled 7 years now through a charter school (for the Fine Arts) and using a mix of Charlotte Mason and classical education philosophies (w/ Montessori thrown in --and our own philosophy mix as well... we're eclectic). The charter's home schooling "program" we used offered on-campus classes w/ other home schoolers, field trips, and numerous activities to bring the home schooling families using the program 'together' as much or as little as they wanted. It worked for us, although, if we had the finances at the time for a private Montessori tuition, we would have likely opted for that from K on. That was what I most wanted then. I don't think there's a stigma attached to creative schools or the various alternatives and options available to California families (for edcuation). As long as the children are learning, love learning, and are advancing (are getting their educations), I can't imagine what could be wrong w/ that, regardless of which type of education they are receiving. If it works for your child, for your family, whatever you feel is best for your child --go for it. Children aren't all the same, they are all different, and just as there are myriad different careers in the world for them to have in adulthood (to fit the differences), there are also several different educational choices to fit them -as long as they receive a full education w/i them. They can learn all they need to know in different educational environments and even at different pacing. Don't be afraid of a creative, paced Waldorf or child-centered Montessori education for your daughter if that is what you feel is best for her, if it fits her and she will thrive, learn, and grow well on that educational path. Also, though, if you want a good public school, don't worry about that either. There are some wonderful, solid public schools and charters out there as well. But, if you choose a public school just b/c you are worried that it if you don't, your daughter 'won't be like everyone else', I'd hesitate to choose one for that reason alone. your daughter isn't 'like everyone else' and neither are (I hope) the kids at any school. Go for what's best for your daughter, not what's mainstream just for the sake of being mainstream --unless that is what you feel is best for your daughter and where she'd most thrive. I do think, though, that if you go Waldorf, you should go all the way through w/ it or up 'til 8th. It's pace is quite different and I would think that a transition to a different school environment before 8th (maybe 6th?) after yrs of Waldorf would be best. Montessori, I'd stick w/ as long as possible just b/c I'm biased towards it and love it as you do (although I only attended a Montessori pre-school in my own childhood --public K & private Catholic for the rest). I've just always loved Maria Montessori's philosophy and research. Read up on Waldorf and Montessori some more and visit local schools to see what YOU think of them. It will carry more weight than anything anyone (myself included) can say. I think you'll find a nice bunch to choose from. I really think there are some great choices out there (in every educational option).
Take care, good luck, and enjoy!
M. B

G.,
I am a HUGE fan of Montessori! My daughter has been going now for 2 years and is finishing up her Kindergarten year. I really believe in the philosphy behind Montesssori and my daughter has thrived there. However, I would talk to the schools you are interested in and see when they suggest you start. I think your child would be behind the other kids if she started in K. For Montessori I believe it is best to start in preschool. So I would start her this Fall as a 4 year old. But please talk to the teachers and ask them what they think.
From what I have learned, Waldorf and Montessori are actually VERY similar in much of their philosophy. The one key difference is imaginitve play. AT a Waldorf the kids will do a lot of pretend - like pretend to cook and serve food etc. At a Montessori, the kids will actually cook, or help to set up snack for the following day. It is a portion of their curriculum called practical life. My daughter still does art, crafts, games, and has a big imagination so I do not feel like Montessori has diminished that at all. However, Waldorf is definitely going to take art and pretend a step further.
Our s Montessori school ends at first grade. Some parents then send their kids to public school and others send them to special charter or private schools. The parents tell me they have no problem transtioning and that they are all advanced in their schools academically.

I am not an expert myself in this field, so I am just sharing someone else's opinion with you. What I have gathered from other moms is that, if you send your kid to a Waldorf school, it would be best that he/she finishes the entire curriculum of K through 8. I heard that the kids are behind for the first couple years of elementary school and start accelerating later in test scores. If for some reason your child does not like the Waldorf education system and you decide to pull your child out of the school, he/she will need some extra tutoring in order to catch up with kids her age from other education systems. Hope this helps.

My boys are in Breen Elem. and Rocklin Elem. in Rocklin. Breen has been great. My oldest son qualified for the GATE program and we chose to put him in the all GATE class in Rocklin Elem. starting his 2nd grade year, which has been excellent. Rocklin Unified School District elementary schools have been very good, in general.

Rocklin Elem. shares its facilities with the Maria Montessori
Charter Academy. I don't know much about it except that I see a lot of involved parents and happy kids there.
http://www.mmcharter.org/

Both my boys spend one year each in Rocklin Montessori Preschool. That is a very sweet school with a charming environment for kids but perhaps not a good fit for high energy boys. My second son preferred Rocklin Preschool (run by the city), which is what I can only describe as a "normal" preschool.

I can't imagine paying for Waldorf when there are such fabulous kindergarten classes for free in our Rocklin public schools. That being said, my friend was not pleased with the kindergarten at Parker Whitney Elem. since it was a K/1 combo. Your best bet is to check out your local school. So much depends on the teacher your student has that year, so it doesn't really matter what the whole school is like if you have a tired teacher or a creative, motivated one.

My friends in Antelope/Roseville are not always as pleased as I have been, but again, so much depends on the teacher. Still, I suggest you visit your local school and see for yourself.

My older daughters have both attended christian private schools. My oldest dauhter who is very intelligent started getting mental blocks, I feel because she was being pushed so hard academically. We all resented all the unnecessary homework. For the past two years I have had them in a waldorf-methods charter school in Orangevale (Golden Valley). I would prefer Sac Waldorf, but it is very pricey and has waiting lists for some grades. The main advantages of the Waldorf modality is of course all the creative & artistic approaches--everything is about a story, game, or art project. The children make all their school books. They have the same teacher (ideally) from 1st-8th grade.
Good luck.

I'm looking at elem schools for my kids now too. I don't have a lot to say except that I've learning that not all schools that call themselves Montessori actually use that method - there's no "licensing" of the use of that name. So be sure to check out the individual school and see if they actually follow the true Mot. method.
Also, I'm interested in a Waldorf-based charter school in the Sac City Unified Dist. I've heard a lot of good things about it from other parents, and feel it's a good blend of Waldorf and public school. (Plus, it doesn't cost anything!) See if there's one in your district.