I know someone who is learning disabled and he is now in 2nd grade.?

Question

He attended a school that uses the Montessori method for two years. He was very unsuccessful there, which is why he transferred to a special school. Is the school district still providing an appropriate education to him without considering him in a traditional school that doesn't use the Montessori method? If yes, does that mean that the Montessori method is considered part of the mainstream and not part of alternative education?

Answer 1

I'm a special needs teacher aide and have worked with students of varied abilities. Montessori method is not good for learning disabled students because they need direction and structure in many instances. They need special services which many public schools provide during the school day such as speech, occupational and physical therapy, and social and psychological work. The appropriate placement is one in which the child's needs are met both physically, mentally, and academically.

Answer 2

Ok, i don't understand what you are asking.  No Montessouuri is not part of mainstream education.  It is an alternative route, and it is not very structured.  Students do things when they choose and if they never choose they do not do.  The lack of structure is probably whyy your LD friend did not do so well.  If he is in a regular school district he should be getting an appropriate education.  Please rephrase your question to get the answer you seek.

Answer 3

To begin with, your question is rather convoluted and hard to follow. Most of us are not too sure what you are asking. After reading it over a few times what  I think you are trying to say is this: A learning disabled child was at a school for two years that used the Montessori method.  He did not do well there and so was sent to a school for learning disabled children. You want to know if legally the district is doing their job by taking him out of the Montessori program.  

Well, according to the special ed laws he needs to be placed in an environment where he is learning to the best of his ability. If he was not learning in the Montessori school, and there is proof that he does have the ability to learn, then they were absolutely right to take him out of the school. Just because a school calls itself Montessori, or because there are a few Montessori materials in the classroom, does not mean it is a good school.

As far as Montessori being mainstream or not, that really depends on the district.  I know of entire districts who are Montessori. In their case Montessori IS Mainstream.  I know other districts like my own that have Montessori programs in them; in this case, they are a Mainstream "option".

I do feel the need to correct what many posters have stated.  Montessori education, when implemented correctly is VERY STRUCTORED.  Just because the children aren't all doing the same workbook sheet at the same time, or blindly copying from the board or overhead, does not mean there isn't any structure.  In fact, there is more since there are many more rules and regulations put into place to make sure that all children are working at their "maximum plane of development".

Additionally, in a true Montessori environment, children have a choice as to when they do something, and as to which material they use to do something, but NEVER can they choose not to do something. That is not Montessori Education.  That is Summerhill education. They are two VERY DIFFERENT philosophies of education. People who do not understand the difference should not be posting. They end up perpetuating damaging misconceptions and misinformation.

Answer 4

Montessori method is not considered mainstream.  

Other than that, I'm sorry your question was rather jumbled