What exactly are Montessori kindergartens?

Question

My daughter will turn 2 this year. What would she be learnig at a MK? Their fees are higher. Is it worth it?

Answer 1

The Montessori style of learning emphasizes discovery.  The children are not made to sit down and pay attention to rote lessons.  Rather, they are free to play in a variety of environments and centers that tend to encourage learning through natural discovery.

Montessori schools are a national chain based on the Montessori model.  Keep in mind that an individual school is only as good as the people that run it.

Answer 2

Mattfromasia's video post is very good!

Montessori education is based on the belief that children are individuals with their own strengths, needs, likes and learning styles. To used the latest educational catch phrases, Montessori education is “multi-modality, differentiated instruction.”

In more everyday terms, Montessorians disagree with the idea that all children learn in the exact same way at the exact same time of their life. They believe that a good teacher doesn’t say, “It is the 4th day, of the 3rd month, of second grade, so open your math book to page 49 and…” Instead we observe each child and ask ourselves, “What does this child understand? What is the next concept this child needs to learn? In which way does this child learn? (Are they observers? Talkers? Someone who needs to physically experience things? Do colors make things more clear? How about singing a song about the concept, will that help this particular child learn?...) What things interest this child so that I can use his/her natural interests and abilities to teach this concept that they need to know?

To achieve this a Montessori classroom is not filled solely with text books, writing paper and pencils. Instead it is filled with many materials that teach a range of levels and concepts all set up so that at a moment's notice a teacher can reach for a material and teach a student or students the concept they need to know. Or students can reach for the same material and use it in the way that they were taught so that they can practice a concept that they are working on.

Obviously, a Montessori classroom will not look like a normal classroom. Rarely, if ever, will you find the whole class sitting with their books out looking at the teacher show them how to fill in a worksheet. Instead you will see children, some in groups, some by themselves, working on different concepts, and the teacher sitting with a small group of children, usually on the floor around a mat.

Some people talk about the lack of “structure” in a Montessori Classroom. They hear the word “freedom” and think “chaos” or “free for all”. They seem to think that if all children are not doing the exact same thing at the exact same time that they can’t possibly be working, or that they will be working only on the things that they want and their education will be lopsided. Yet, if the teacher is organized this does not happen. Children will be given a work plan or a contract and will need to complete an array of educational activities just like in a more traditional classroom. The main difference being that the activities will be at each child’s “maximum plane of development”, will be presented and practiced in a way that the child understands, and the child will have the freedom to choose which he/she does first.

In the past few years there have been more and more studies published comparing Montessori Education and traditional education. Contrary to what some posters have stated here, Montessori children DO NOT have problems in social situations, in fact, ALL studies show just the opposite, Montessori children are ahead of their peers when it comes to social interactions.

For more information check out Angeline Lillard Ph.D's book Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius.

Lastly, I do want to state that Montessori schools aren't  a "franchise" or "national chain".  There is no headquarters or governing office.  This is both a good and bad thing.  It's good because individual schools have more of an ability to adapt to the needs of their students, but since there aren't any "standards" or "criteria" that all Montessori schools must follow, anyone can open a school and call it Montessori. In this case, Poet G is very correct,  "an individual school is only as good as the people who run it."

Answer 3

i intern at a monterssori, it a unique school that teaches children how to be independent, children learn to serve themselves, put their cloths, boots and jackets on all by themselves. The kintergardeners learn math, science, social studies, along with doing research. The do projects, and study different parts of the world along with learning about space.

Answer 4

Montessori is a theorist who believes children learn best through discovering and exploring.

I did a full essay on her the other week so write back if you want it

Answer 5

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...

I think one thing the video above does is give a great introduction to how the classroom works and some benefits of Montessori.

A responder above me wrote something about the way children do not have to sit in big groups.  I think this is a great aspect of Montessori throughout even the high school years.  How many times do we attribute childhood misbehavior with someone sitting in a chair all day long?  The more time I spend teaching outside of a Montessori classroom (not in one currently, unfortunately), the more I see how it's not the child's fault, but the environment.  The classroom is a distraction to them ~ not a benefit.

Go observe a school and decide whether you like it or not.  Decide if it's a good fit for you and your family.

Matt