What is you experience with Montessori pre school?

Question

Most people I talk to, who have kids in Montessori preschool are exstatic about the results. However, real live teachers told me, that kids coming from Montessori schools to normal schools are behind and have adjustment problems. I would like to do the best for my kids (4years old), but I don't get the right vibes.

Answer 1

As an elementary teacher, the kids that I have seen coming from Montessori are behind the other students when they come to K.  They do seem to catch up, but it is a difficult transition for them.

Answer 2

It COMPLETELY depends on the school. Most of the Montessori preschools where I live are not authentic, imho. Learn what Montessori is, visit the school and see how well the school matches up. Most of the Montessoris where I live are nothing more than daycares with the Montessori name, because anybody can use the Montessori name. Good Montessori schools have kids who are AHEAD of other kids. As for the adjustment problems, I could see why there would be an adjustment period: Montessori is supposed to have a lot of freedom, with children being able to move around as they need to, and it doesn't match up with public schools and their belief in having kids sit in a desk most of the day. An adjustment period is normal.

Answer 3

The best for your kids at that age is for YOU to spend time with them, teaching them things like numbers, letters, colors, etc.

I always had a suspicion that Montessori parents rave about the results because no one would EVER say, "I paid $9,000 (or whatever it costs) for my kid's preschool and WOW did I get ripped off!"

Answer 4

The first answer nailed an important point...it depends on whether it is a Montessori school.  Where I would start, rather than reading all of Maria Montessori's books and trying to figure out exactly what it means to be a Montessori school, watch this video instead:

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

It's a very good introduction and will give you a sense of what to look for in a school.

I've never heard anyone say that people coming from a Montessori school are "behind."  I can't imagine why.  The curriculum is farther ahead than what they learn in most other schools.  In fact, I had a tutoring job one Summer.  Worked with about 8 children.  Most of them I knew from before and were there not because they were having trouble keeping up in school, but because school was having trouble keeping up with them.  They went from adding 4 digit numbers and learning about the countries of the world by exploring maps and being told stories of other cultures to adding 1 digit numbers and sitting in a desk in history class.  This leads to your question about adjustment problems...

When I left Montessori and went into a "regular" school in 6th grade, I had problems with it.  I didn't act out, but it was really hard to be going over the same grammar I had done for 5 years or learning about square roots that I learned about in 1st/2nd grade.  I was bored to tears.  Don't get me wrong...I had wonderful teachers.  It was a very good school I went to.  I made great friends.  But it was difficult for me to accept that I had to wait for others to catch up to where I was....I wanted more than what they were giving me.  

So I guess Montessori's blessing can have a curse.  In a Montessori classroom, you're getting your child excited about learning.  And it's not even learning....it's discovering the learning on their own as opposed to being taught the information.  When they move to a place where the learning is not at their pace and where the teacher becomes the focal point, it is sometimes difficult to adjust.  But I find more fault in the setting they're going to rather than the Montessori classroom.  I believe a teacher should be able to challenge all the students in the class to move to the next level -- not just aim for the middle students and hope you make it with the rest.

Answer 5

My children attend a preschool-kindergarten with Montessori

influence.  It's called a Day School.  They have adapted many different teaching methods over their 28 years in business and are producing kids eager to learn and pretty well adapted to a classroom.  I agree that you should check out several schools, most offer tours, and see who makes sense for you child.  Just remember that learning doesn't end at school-READ TO YOUR KIDS PEOPLE!!