Question about Montessori

[vbarry]

There is an 8 week Montessori session starting next week in our local Montessori school. I am thinking of taking my daughter to this with the possibility of enrolling her in the fall.

My daughter is a very, very, VERY active 3 year old (turning 4 in July). I visited the school last year and it was a very quiet atmosphere. I am afraid that she will end up not liking this since it is not like the private preschool at our church where kids are running around, playing etc. On the other hand, I hope this environment will help calm her a bit and help her learn in a new way.

Should I be worried about this?

 

[tmarquez]

I think you may have just visited during one of the quieter times. My DD(5) has been in Montessori since she was 2 1/2 (she'll be starting public kindergarten this year). I

've been by there at all different times and believe me...sometimes it's totally chaotic. Othertimes it's so quiet and the kids are concentrating so much on their "work" that you wouldn't even believe they were the same group of kids.

The quiet times are generally when they are "working", at "gathering", or during rest time. The rest of the time they are running around outside or doing computer work or some group activity inside.

DD is also what you'd call "very active" too. At our school they have a one way glass wall where the office is and parents can go in there and watch their kid without being seen. I was shocked at how fast she would go from her normal crazy self to total concentration in no time at all.

She really isn't into staying still for 5 seconds at home...I wish I knew how they do it!

 

[disneyfanx3]

My girls have been in montessori since they were 3 and will continue until 5th grade that is how far their school goes- I think it would be a good idea to have her try it out - I love the montessori program and I agree sometimes the classes are very active and sometimes they are very quiet. I know montessori is not for every child - I have had some friends whose kids did not do well - you have to be a motivated independent worker to do well in montessori (in my opinion)

 

[gabriellyn]

My older DS was in it before he started public school Kindergarten and my youngest DS is in it now and has been since he was 8 weeks old. Both of them LOVE it - my older DS STILL misses it! When he left he was doing 2nd grade level math!!! I would definitely classify both of my DS's as active - I just took youngest in for his 18 mos check up and he was literally climbing all over everything! The other parents were in shock. I honestly didn't know DS could climb that well! He absolutely loves his school and cannot wait to go there every morning. I think he likes school better than being home because on the weekends he is always trying to go "bye" and attempting to open the door.

Try it and see if DD will like it!

 

[nonzerosum]

we LOVE Montessori! Our daughter is quiet, independent and motivated, so it is a great fit for us. Like a pp said, it's not for every family, but it sure is great for us. As I'm sure you know, Montessori is not a protected name; anyone can call themselves Montessori. regardless of training and philosophy. I could open up a parking garage and call it Flo's Montessori Parking. If you haven't already done so, it might be an idea to read up on Montessori (prinicples, philosophy, materials) so that you know if you're getting the real deal. The internet has loads of info. As for activity levels, I agree with all pps that it varies on what the task is. I would encourage you to give it a try. There are many highly active kids in my daughter's class and they are very able to sit quietly and concentrate when the time calls. Good luck!!! On a happy side note, many of the parents of the children in my DDs class are Disney enthusiasts!!!

 

[emma'smom]

My dd5 is just finishing up her third year of Montessori (and she'll stay until it ends in 6th grade) and my dd3 starts in the PreK in the Fall. We love it and let me just say that my girls are not the calm, quiet types! However, the teacher did a nice job of phasing them in and teaching them the expectations for work time and my dd5 did learn to follow these rules and focus on her work during work time. She is still Miss Social Butterfly at the snack table, at lunch, during recess, and during the more "free" times. I also like the fact that they teach the children to solve their own problems using the peace table. We have a peace table at home and it works wonders!

A shorter session sounds like a great way to find out if it is a good fit for your child.

 

[agentpleakley]

My children are in a Montessori school and will be through 8th grade.

DS(11) in the 9-12 class. Montessori was a blessing to us for him. He did not start out Montessori, rather he started in a traditional based school. He is very shy and has always been a bully target. Within 3 months of starting at the Montessori school, I had a different child. Happy, bright, outgoing.


DD(5) 2nd year in kindergarten class. She is the opposite of her brother. Rambunctious, LOUD, stubborn, you name it. I really feared that she would not do well in the Montessori style classroom. She has. It took her a while longer to get in the groove, but I think this is just her personality showing up. We do have to work with our DD because she has a habit of running her mouth all day long, and we will get notes from the teacher occasionally.

The students have weekly contracts in which they have to do their work. On a daily basis, they work independently most of the time and then the teacher pulls them out for one on one lessons.