What is the difference between a Montessori preschool and a regular nursery school.. besides price? Thanks!?

Question

What is the difference between a Montessori preschool and a regular nursery school.. besides price? Thanks!?

Answer 1

I have had children in both kinds of schools.  Before you complete your decision making process, might i recommend that you read Montessori's book, "Discovery of the Child."  At least spend 2 hours with it.  I highly recommend not just her phylosophy but also a correct implementation of it - the latter is something I found highly lacking in the Palo Alto area.  If you research carefully, you will discover that one local school that liberally uses the Montessori name is not certified by either national and international Montessori organizations [they refuse to certify them b/c of many modifications they make to the way a true Montessori school should be run principal among them being interrupting the block of work time]  On the flip side, there is a high quality school in MV.  I have also studied many of the Montessori approached to learning btw. ages 3-6 and have found that my kids respond beautifully to these methods.

Answer 2

The main difference is that a child can learn independently at his/her own pace.  

For more details, visit http://www.montessori-book.com/

Answer 3

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.

Other people talk about Montessori children being able to do whatever they want. This is a misunderstanding of the word "choice" Montessori children do have the choice as to which they do first, reading or math. They do have the choice as to which material they will use to complete the lesson, but playing all day, only working in one area, hurting children, themselves or the environment are NEVER choices. Either are eating candy all day, or and so on (All things people have posed in the past about Montessori schools.)

In the past few years there have been more and more studies published comparing Montessori Education and traditional education. Contrary to what some people state, 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.

The most comprehensive longitude research on Montessori Education in comparison to traditional education was published last year by a psychology professor at the University of Virginia, Dr. Angeline Lillard.. Her recent article was so well researched and documented, that it is the only educational article ever to be published in a scientific magazine. http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?article...

Her findings and other studies’ report that Montessori students have:

     *more interest in learning,

     *more self disciplined

    * have a greater understanding of truth and fairness

     *more creativity, especially in their writing

     *are more independence

     *a better understanding of concepts from grammar and story structure to mathematical operations, algebra and geometry

     *have a deep understanding of and how geography, history, social studies, and science are all related.

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

Answer 4

Montessori schools base thier education on the "when the child is ready" approach - meaning there is little your child will learn until they are ready to learn.  They basically get to do what they want.

It's not structured like normal pre-school.  Me personally, I think normal preschool is much more beneficial for my kids.

Answer 5

Thanks to a mis-informed answer, it will be easier to answer your question :)  Let me answer, in part, based upon what the first responder said.  I do, however, want to answer your question first.

You may want to watch this video first, as it is a great introduction to the Montessori philosophy of early childhood education.  What I am about to type will add more depth to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM1Gu9KXV...

Martha McDermott is a wonderful teacher.  Anyone that has met her has the highest respect for her.  She was giving a talk about the Montessori environment when I heard her give a fantastic analogy.  She had 2 pots with soil in it.  

"I am going to plant a seed in both of these pots," she said.  "From this pot, I am going to dig up the seed every day.  I'm going to make sure it is growing at the rate it is supposed to.  If it's not, I am going to rush out and buy chemicals for it.  I will try different chemicals every day and record which ones have better results every day.  I am going to start digging it up more frequently to make sure it is growing and keep track of everything."

"With the second pot, I am going to leave it by the window so it can have sun.  I'm also going to make sure I water it every day.  I will just do those two simple things."

She asked us which one we felt was growing to grow first and be healthier.  We all agreed that the 2nd one would grow first and be healthier.  The question of why took a few turns to get to.

"You're digging the other one up."

"You're changing the chemicals every day--that can't be good for it."

We finally got around to the point she was making - environment.

The 2nd seed will grow because we are letting nature do its course and we provided the seed with the exact environment it needs to grow and develop.  Montessori is based on this concept of the environment.  The Montessori environment was designed to provide the child with what he or she needs to explore and learn naturally.

Maria Montessori was the first female medical doctor in Italy.  As a result of this, her approach is based upon scientific observation of children.  

I was reading "Discovery of the Child" by Maria Montessori.  I'm a dork, I know.  

Think about the years when you had the most learning happen to your children.  It was probably between the ages of 0-6.  Why is this?  It's the time when they are naturally exploring their environment, trying to master the environment, and willing to try things to make mistakes and try different ways of adapting to those mistakes.  A child learning to walk might try to stand up, but realizes he cannot.  His next step is to crawl over to a shelf and pull himself up.  

This is done naturally.  This is done with movement.  This is done without the parent lecturing the child on the steps of how to learn to walk.  It's done without the child sitting at a desk listening to lecturers talk about how to walk.

As your child gets older (preschool...kindergarten), they naturally develop a sense of questioning.  They are always exploring new things.  Parents often get frustrated with "Why" questions all the time.  Welcome them.  They are a fantastic opportunity for you to learn as well.  One of the best computer technicians I have ever met used to read his college level computer books to his 4 year old.  He said he did so because the 4 year old would always question what things meant.  He said if he can explain it to a 4 year old, he knows he understands it perfectly.

Think about when you take your children to an interactive science museum.  Your child moves from activity to activity.  They try everything out.  They ask questions.  They read about what they're doing.  We come home, after spending $30 (we got them ice cream too) ... oh ... $150 (we had to use 1/2 tank of gas to drive around that day).  We say, "Wow!  I am so amazed at how much they learned at the museum."  We do that on a Sunday, then send them on Monday to a preschool or kindergarten class where they are sitting in large groups most of the day and are required to learn the same things at the same time (ever hear of "letter of the week?").  

The learning in the science museum sparked an interest in you, as a parent, that happened years ago when they were first learning to walk, speak, or read.  Yet, somehow, we gladly send our children to schools where they are not as free to explore their environment during teaching time.  We see this in every aspect of observations with children.  They want to explore, learn, and discover new things.  The environment and management of the classroom should be designed for such a purpose.

The child also wants to care for himself and the environment.  It's amazing the skills we stop children from learning because we put out play food preperation rather than real food preparation materials.  Many schools do not teach children to wash the table, the dishes, sweep up, zip up their coat, or even fold laundry.  They might have play things similar to it, but when provided with the opportunity to really set something up, children jump at the chance and are eager to learn.

"If teaching is to be effective with young children, it must assist them to advance on the way to independence."  --Maria Montessori ("The Discovery of the Child")

___________________________

Let me point out what the first responder said, since I think (s)he makes a lot of incorrect statements, and I feel it is fair to clear it up.

"Montessori schools base thier education on the "when the child is ready" approach -"

The problem with this statement is that it assumes the child is not ready to learn, which is a false statement.  Every child is willing to learn.  In fact, every child is eager to learn.  The real issue is that many schools squash that eagerness well.  I am NOT saying Montessori is the only way to engage that interest, but a well run Montessori school will do that.

The contrast is that many schools adopt a teaching philosophy of teaching "whether the child is ready or not" AND teaching "even if the child has already mastered this."  This is why most "advanced" students in a "normal" school get bored.  It is also the reason children who are labeled as "being behind" get bored as well.  Why should a child who is reading be bored by practicing the letter sound "c?"  Why should a child who has yet to fully understand 0-9 be asked to understand10-20?  Montessori schools are set up so children are constantly learning ~ not only learning when the teacher introduces something they do not know.

"meaning there is little your child will learn until they are ready to learn."

Again, why do you think your child is not ready to learn?  

"They basically get to do what they want."

No they don't.  

"It's not structured like normal pre-school. "

Correct.  It's structured quite differently from a normal preschool.  Like any good Montessori guide will tell you, structure is the most important part of a Montessori classroom.  See my comments above.

"Me personally, I think normal preschool is much more beneficial for my kids."

How can that be a well informed decision if the person doesn't even know what Montessori is?  I'm not saying the match would be ideal for his/her child.  I am just curious how a statement like that has any credibility based off the fact that they know nothing about the method.

Matt