What is a montessori school?

Question

are they cheap?

Answer 1

it is an educational system where the kid learns from experiments and only those that pique his interest.  They let a kid learn on their own pace through continual experiments and games and stuff.

Much more expensive than most private schools

Answer 2

Montessori schools are based on the montessori educational beliefs and they are really structured.  Children don't play - they work.  They have special toys that they play with by themselves where they learn specific tasks that will help them be smart.  No they are not cheap and not really any better than a regular school - in fact I think regular school is way better!

Answer 3

Its like private school for little kids...

And its d**n expensive..

Answer 4

They charge tuition, so no they aren't cheap. They believe in a different way of teaching a child. Its more based on the child's discovery and interests than in the teacher telling them certain things about each subject.

Answer 5

from my point of view as a relief preschool teacher who gets out there and sees many different types of schools I believe montessori schools are more harmful then helpful for a child.  Montessori focuses on individual learning and like one of the previous people said work.  The children do some amazing activities but i am not so sure i would like my child participating in...( cutting an orange in half and juicing it then drinking the juice)  clever but why does a child need to learn this so young, this knife is sharp enough to cut easily through the orange.  For me i think it is much more important for a child to engage in social play with their peers.  they need to learn problem solving, social etiquitte, sharing and i dont believe this is learn't too well at montessori.......   hope that helps.  PS:  very expensive

Answer 6

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 teacher 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.

You asked if a Montessori School is cheap, well, they run the gambit, some are very, very expensive and some are free.  The free schools are part of the public system, ususally they are charter schools that have chosen to follow the Motessori system.  Across the board most Montessori Charter Schools have the highest standardized test scores in their district in addition to having children who test higher in their understanding of community, fairness, and equality.

For more information check out Angeline Lillard Ph.D's book Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius http://www.montessori-science.org/montes...

It is based on her 10 year side by side study of Montessori education and traditional education.