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montessori vs. traditional
angelosnyc August 13, 2008
any thoughts on montessori programs? i just signed my 3 year old up to attend a montessori preschool in the fall. excited to experience the program, but at the same time, nervous that it might be too much too fast!
PTV2004 August 14, 2008
My son attended a montessori school for two years, starting at age 2.5 years. My nieces also attended a montessori school all the way through kindergarten. I think the teaching techniques and curricula really work and children learn quickly and build a solid foundation for learning in the future, especially with reading. One thing is that there is considerable variation across montessori schools and some schools are more structured or academic than others (although all are probably more academic than a traditional program in terms of teaching reading and math). So ultimately you will have to see how well the school is run and how well your child does. Good luck.42356
tjlove August 14, 2008
One of the things I like about the Montessori method is that children learn at their own pace so they don't get overwhelmed with learning and they can't really fall behind. I understand your concern, but you'll find out quickly if your child isn't adjusting. I have a feeling he or she is going to love it.42357
momto1son August 14, 2008
I found the montessori school in my town by default basically because all the other preschools presented low level education and too much play. This school presents fantastic learning materials--not really much in the way of commercial toys to play and learn with.
I think this is really why my child thrives with this type of program. Self-control and manners have also created a wonderful learning environment. Once you try this program it's likely that your child will be very busy and satisfied. The children are very nice to each other too.42358
PKKsMom August 16, 2008
My daughter attends Montesori preschool three times a week as well as a more traditional preschool program two days a week. I love the montesori progam because she is able to learn at her own pace through exploration. A true montessori program lets children learn through exploration , the teacher just provides various activities for the children to explore and adds to those experiances based on the interests of the child.The best thing about montisori is that she can't wait to go. For me that is the true sign of a great program.42359
karcip September 3, 2008
Both of my two older boys went to Montessori. I will be sending my daughter to one when she is of age. I would not consider anything else. The Montessori idea is a nurturing atmosphere that lets the childe grow at their own pace. Most times that pace is far faster than we as parents would like. The nice thing is that learning is playing and Montessori allows for that. Most teachers are also very nuturing and considerated of the child and what they can handle. Good luck, my children loved montessori, I loved what they learned and how they were taught to respect others.42360
Zesstra September 3, 2008
My son has been attending a pre-school program at a Montessori school for a month now. He LOVES it. He has a teacher and 2 teacher's aides in the class of 18 students. He has "work", which are the day's lesson, and then stations that help support that day's lesson. They have playground time, 3 times per day, to help work out the energy that all pre-schoolers have. He is thriving socially (due to the inherit structure of the Montessori teaching style) and is thriving academically (80% of kids come out of the program reading, the other 10% are almost there).
Every school is different and I visited 3 different ones, with 3 distinct styles (all Montessori, different setups) until I discovered this one.
42361
momofjys September 4, 2008
I put my older son to montessori school since he was 18 months and he's 3 yrs old now and he loves the school so much. The program really works well on him and he's in the pre-k program right now. The program really allow the kids to explore everything, it's like Dora the explorer kind of program. It's fun and the good thing about it is that academically my son is really ahead than any other kids his age and we nor the teacher drill him at all.42362
Malinois September 7, 2008
My 3yr old daughter has been going to a very traditional Montessori school since she was 18mos. It is very structured and organized. With that said, the children have freedom within that structure as long as they are learning the specific task. My wife and I prefer the more traditional Montessori methods over a mixed Montessori/Child Developement environment. The Montessori method seems more natural and encourages the childs curiosity and personality. Our school has high expectations academically and socially. The children learn to read, write and count while learning how to handle other people and issues in the environment. Politeness is very important at our school, some parents don't agree with it but we love it. I recomend observing several schools and talking to parents currently at the school. Specifically, visit first thing in the morning to see the transition from play time to class room. then watch after lunch going into nap time. Then watch the afternoon class when the kids start to get tired or cranky. These will give you good examples of the worse times and how the teachers get the kids focused and how to deal with those situations. A good Montessori school will have very polite, enrgetic children in all classes. Be aware that in some areas people don't have a clear understanding of Montessori and it can cause some social stigma. I hope you find what you're looking for.42363
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