Montessori schools?

Question

Does anyone's child attend Montessori school? How do you/the child like it? Please tell me about the curriculum, schedules, anything...

Answer 1

My children go to a public Montessori and they LOVE it.  They can't wait to go to school in the morning and often call to ask if they can stay late afterschool Their teachers are the most loving and dedicated teachers I have ever seen, and really look at children as people.

In our school their day starts off with all the children in circle around a large rug that is a map of the world.  They talk, sing songs, share and so on.  They do fun activities. My children's favorite is drawing the equator and the tropics on the map with chalk and jumping from continent to continent.

Then they go to do their work. Since my children are in elementary school they have workplans.  It's a paper that has a list of the work in all the different areas that they need to do.  It is set up so that they have to do a mixture of things and all the areas of school things are done. They can't just do math all day. And they can't play all day either.And all the work is at their level.  If they are good at something, they get harder work, if they are having problems, they stay and work on the area that they are having problems until they are understand it and then they move on. They don't get forced to do something that they aren't ready for.But they can do their work in any order that they want. I love the workplan.  It has taught them to be organized and responcible. They love it too.  One of their favorite things to do is to show the whole family their finished workplan.  

Durning work time their teachers sit with small groups of children and teach them.  This way the children get the spacific help that they need and they feel special.  All the children get to be close to their teacher, she is not someone who just stands in front of the room.

I have 5 children who have been in Montessori and many of my friend's children have too.  When they go to junior high school they know more than the other kids about reading and math and they know about things that the other children don't like science, history, and geography.

Answer 2

I have worked at a montessori school and a 'normal' state school. I would never send my children to a montessori one after what I saw.

I like the idea behind them but in real life they were very strict, doesn't allow children to be children and doesn't actually educate the children that well. It also puts too much responsibility on the kids. Little health and safety is done and if they hurt themselves they simply get asked to work out why they got hurt rather than anyone actually giving them care and attention.

I agree every montessori school is different as I worked as a supply teacher to many. However I would have the same concern in all of them.

Answer 3

1.  Montessori is not a franchise and yes, anyone can open a school and call it Montessori; that's the way Maria wanted it.  To be a Montessori Early Childhood teacher you have to take a teacher training course and do a one year internship with a trained teacher.  Then you can get an AMS (American Montessori Society) teaching certificate.  So if you go to a Montessori school and they can't produce proof of training you might not want to send your child there.

2.  There is a lot of structure and a lot of freedom in a good Montessori school.  Structure can be found most easily if you know what you are looking for.  Each classroom has rules, listening times, learning times, and sharing times.  During work time it may look like the children are just wandering around having a good time but even work time is full of structure.  Each work has a control of error built into the materials so that the child can see if an error occurs.  Children are expected to use the materials in a respectful manner and are not allowed to use them inappropriately.

3.  When it comes to caring for the children that really depends on the teacher.  I'm the hugging type but not all of my coworkers are.  If a child gets hurt I tell them I'm sorry that happened check the sore spot and give them a big hug.  I might even offer to let that child sit in my lap at circle time.

4.  Montessori schools are based on the idea that the child can teach him/herself given the correct materials and environment.  The teacher in this setting is only a guide who shows the child how to do each work as the child is ready.

5.  There are five major curriculum areas in a Montessori (3-6) classroom.  They are practical life, sensorial, language, math and geography.  There are also art and science lessons available.

I could go on for hours but I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Each Montessori school is different because anybody can call themselves a Montessori school. You would need to go observe to see what it's like.

Answer 5

I attended a Montessori school for kindergarten back in the late 80s. It was a very hands-on form of learning and children really focused on their work. We had lots of project learning, like punching out a world map by hand and creative play areas. Ours was a full-day program and I received much more learning time than the kids who went to our public school's half-day program.

To be a Montessori school you do have to go through certain training levels - not just anyone can open a school and call it a Montessori. But it is best to interview the director, observe the classrooms, and find out their style.