Is Montessori the best method for most kids?

Question

Our daughter is turning 3 on June 5th, and she has been in her Montessori school since January. She refuses to do the work and is very uncooperative, while all her peers thrive. I don't know what her problem is and why she doesn't seem interested. Does Montessori work for all kids? Should we stick this out until she's a little older and see if she snaps out of it?

Answer 1

I had to do a quick google search to know what the montessori method is... anyway, I think that part of what you need to remember is that she's only 2!  2 year olds aren't supposed to be cooperative with doing "work."  If she's 2 and the montessori method is supposed to be self directed, I would assume that a lot of what she should be doing would be play, not "work."  Most time spent in most normal preschools is play and free choice time, anyway...  I think that providing your child with learning opportunities through play is the best thing to do right now, and leave "work" for kindergarten.

Answer 2

If she is unhappy, then move her.  There is not a "one size fits all" for educational methods and whether any work with all children.

Have you observed her in the classroom?  Is this from the teacher's description?

You can try for a few more months or look for something that fits her learning style best.  Does she like active learning, sitting quietly, or self directed?  Watch her at home and see.

Three is really young to make a permanent decision for the rest of her education.

Good luck!

Answer 3

no, my cousin goes to one and when i ask her how was school (shes 5) she tells me that they washed windows and learned how to fold napkins....im sorry this isnt what 5 year olds should be learning. oh and they can only bring certain types of foods in, no naps, and when you pick them up from school, you cant be on the phone and they have to put them in the car..not you. also my aunt told me that they dont even start to have homework until 5th grade! and there arent many montessori middle schools and high school so you would most likely transfer them into a regular public school

who knows you're child might like this type of enviroment and maybe all montessori schools aren't like this but you never know it might be the type of method that your child needs. :)

good luck with your decision!  :)

Answer 4

"She refuses to work and is very uncooperative, while all her peers thrive."

There's a lot in there I do not understand, necessarily.

1)  What is she refusing to do?  And why is she refusing?  A teacher with good observation skills will be better able to answer that question.  Sometimes, it's something as simple as changing the color of some baskets that makes all the difference in the world.

2)  Uncooperative in what way?  It almost sounds like the school is placing certain expectations on her.  If it is, why are they calling themself Montessori?

3)  Her peers thrive in what way?  Be careful comparing her to other children.  Look and see what your child needs and look to see if those needs are being met.

Are you sure she's just not a visual learner and an analytical and is watching everyone work?

It's hard to say without seeing the actual school and your daughter in that school.  Your best bet is to (if you have not) learn what Montessori Education is and see if the school is actually following that model.  If not, it's best to pull them out.  If it is, then talk to the teacher and see where the areas of concern are and what steps you need to take.

I'll gladly continue the discussion off the board if you want to e-mail me through my profile.

Answer 5

Idaho here, unless it has changed over the past few years, I always found Montessori more of a structured/disciplinary method. Not saying it could be bad if more disciplinary with some of the problems public schools are having are being being reported on the news.

An idea you may want to check into would be to check with your local Head Start program and see if your family is eligible.  Head Start teachers are required to have a degree in Early Childhood Education.  Remember you want child's education and experience  to be a positive one. It is important for your child to have interaction with other children in her younger years of her education. .

(Never fails I have to run when I try to answer a question on here...will edit this in a bit...hope I was helpful.)

Answer 6

No. Montessori does not work for all kids. Montessori puts the child at the centre of their own learning, so the child needs to be able to work independently and follow rules. If the child is unable to do this, then they will struggle in a Montessori environment. I would consider moving her to a different preschool until she can achieve the above skills. And then if you still prefer Montessori, then move her back into it when she's ready. A child I worked with a few years ago, had been asked to leave a Montessori preschool (she was 4, and didn't yet have the required cooperation) - she was labelled "an uncooperative child" which I think has enormous potential to be damaging to the child's self-esteem.

Answer 7

Montessori schools are a matter of opinion. for some kids, they work wonders while for others, they might not.

if i were in your situation, i would sit down with the teachers from her classroom and talk about the progress she's making and where you have concerns. go into the meeting with positives and concerns and try to get some really honest feedback about what you can expect to see happen with your daughter.

then, i would check out some other preschools in the area, preferably co-ops and NAEYC accredited ones and tell them what's going on. see what they say they can offer for your daughter.

good luck!

Answer 8

Montessori is fine for some kids, but more creative and independent kids sometimes find it very frustrating. They don't have much tolerance for make believe or free spirits and the emphasis on work is not necessarily appropriate.

Answer 9

Not necessarily... I personally am not a fan.

One of my good friend's son is in Montessori and my son isn't. They are 3 months apart. (3 years old as well)

Mont. wouldn't work for my son. He needs structure.

I think structure creates discipline...

Also, it's really hard to find a Montessori high school... And when the child makes that transition from Montessori to a Mainstream environment it's hard.... They are going to have to adjust to a structured environment, stay in their seat and read a book on their own from cover to cover...