Traditional Preschool or Montessori

[Syrreal]

We are already starting to look at the preschool sitiation (we are wanting to send DS to a private school and need to get on a waiting list early) and the school that we really want to send him to has the option of a traditional preschool and a montessori one. I have looked online and done a little bit of research but would like to hear opinons from real parents. (I'm also posting this on the Community board to get as many responses as I can)

What made you decide what kind of preschool to send your kid to?
Did you look at both types?
What did you see as an advantage/disadvantage to the one you chose?

Anything else that you might want to add about your experience with either.

 

[themilesfamily]

We do Montessori and I HIGHLY recommend it!!!! I think every school is different and you need to look at the individual schools, of course, but given the choice between an excellent traditional preschool and an excellent Montessori, I'd do the Montessori.

The jist of Montessori is that the classroom is filled with materials and learning opportunities -- and the kids seek out the activities that they are interested in doing. The teacher is there to observe and encourage. Every day my DD -- age 3 -- comes home with new information -- I can tell she's doing a lot of different activities. One day she came home and told me about new shapes she'd discovered -- spheres, pyramids, cones, cubes -- another day she sat down and started writing the alphabet -- two weeks later she was writing whole words and the teacher tells me she's on the verge of reading. Some days she says that she just stays in the "practical living" area and "scoops and pours" all day with her favorite pal.

I love the freedom she has to pursue the things she's interested in. I love the materials they have in the classroom. I also love that this school provides some additional learning opportunities -- they offer piano lessons and Chinese lesssons. (My DD is taking Chinese and it is unbelievable how she's picking up on it.)

I just wish there was a Montessori that went higher than preschool in our area. Some towns have Montessoris that go all the way up to high school. Some towns have public schools that are going Montessori. I would seriously consider moving to stay in a Montessori program -- that's how much I love it!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Would have done Montessori if it was closer and more affordable, but the nearest one was, I felt, too much of a commute for a 3.9 year-old, and also very expensive (which really bothered me, because I had read a biography of Maria Montessori, and that was NOT her vision.)

We ended up picking a closer, traditional preschool. What finally decided us on the we chose was:
DS's, and our, initial warm-and-fuzzy reaction to the teachers
a very open-feeling classroom and building
their philosophy of going outside each day if at all possible
and their encouragement of parental involvement

What I liked about it, as opposed to Montessori:
DS got some "classroom" experience - circle time, story time, etc. - so he was prepared for a schedule in kindergarten

What my friend (far away, their local school IS a Montessori) likes:
it encourages independance
her kids have been early readers


Kudos on doing your research ahead of time, and good luck with your decision!

 

[redwingfan3991]

I highly reccomend the Montessori preschool.
I have done both with my son. I couldnt afford to send him for age 3 to Montessori, and oh, how I wish I could have. He is in the "3-5" right now at the montessori school, and is doing so well. They dont force the kids into a mold, and allow the children to learn at their own pace. The teachers encourage the children to do different things in the class, and the "hands on" makes the learning so much for fun. He has "specials" classes, and they are studing the differnt countries, so I cant wait to take him to Epcot and show him the countries there and bring it home for him.His language class is sign language,and its amazing what this kids are capable of retaining. He is 4.5 and he is already learning basic additon. I am putting him in for his kdg class there, and we will see about grades 1 - 3 ( money ) . As the other poster said , I am so happy with this program, I would LOVE to put him thru high school if it was available

 

[TiggerandBelleFanMom]

Another Montessori family here, and we also LOVE it! My daughter has really grown and thrived in this environment. I think this methodology fosters independence and self-direction. And yes, my dd learned to read by 4, and now at 5 can read extremely well (e.g., she can read Harry Potter independently, which is written on approximately an 8-9 year old level). But I should add as I say this that, importantly, the point of Montessori is definitely NOT to "get ahead," and kids are not driven to achieve. It is a very self-paced style of learning.

The Montessori philosophy is "The environment itself will teach the child." The directresses set up a "prepared environment," with different materials. They give kids lessons on how to use different materials. Kids then have enormous freedom to do the work that they want to do at different times of day. Even snack is on your own schedule (or you can skip it altogether).

My dd is 5, and at her particular Montessori, once you turn 5, you are responsible for your "three things": one reading work, one math work, and one handwriting work every day. (She also has time to do other works.)

Here are some things some people might consider downsides to Montessori vs. traditional, and my thoughts:

1) Multi-age classrooms, e.g., 3-5s together, 6-8s together.
I worried about this, but it turns out to be GREAT. The 3-year-olds look up to the bigger kids and look forward to the day they will be able to do the things the bigger kids do. The older kids mentor and help the younger ones. Kids do work according to their individual ability levels, and are not marched lock-step with the other kids their age.

2) Student-teacher ratio.
I *really* worried about this before dd started. My dd's school allows up to a 1:12 teacher:student ratio. You will see much lower ratios at some traditional pre-schools, and of course as parents we want our kids to have plenty of attention...but the Montessori method allows it to work with a higher ratio. My dd's class has about 20 kids and 2 directresses at this point, but I think it has been as high as 24 kids with 2 directresses.

3) Some of the traditional play elements are sometimes not in Montessori classrooms, e.g., my daughter's classroom does not have a dress-up/imaginative play area. (It has Practical Living, but at least at my dd's school, it is not anywhere near the same.)
I do wish her Montessori had this, actually, but she does PLENTY of this after school, so I'm okay with it. (Not all Montessoris are the same, btw, so yours may have this. Some are more hard-core than others.)

By the way, our Montessori goes through MIDDLE SCHOOL. I have not yet decided if dd will go there all the way up to 8th grade, but we've loved her 3 years so far and we will definitely keep her there for next year (Lower Elementary).

Previous poster, I'm envious of the Chinese and piano lessons! At my dd's Montessori, they get Spanish a couple times a week, and she can do greetings, months, days of the week, body parts, etc. I do wish there was an option for more foreign language.

 

[katybugsmom]

You must choose carefully-there are good and bad of both. I am a 4K Full Day Kindergarten teacher in a public school system in SC. I think either can be a very positive experience with the right school and teachers. It's too far away for my children to attend a Montessori school, but in that same district they actually have some Montessori classes within their public schools and it's free!!! I'm not sure what the registration process is, but my niece was able to attend two years and she is in the 2nd grade reading on a 4th grade level!!!!! Spend a good deal of time talking to principals or headmasters, teachers, and other parents as well as visiting multiple times! Most schools will be happy to give parents a tour on short notice and this allows you to see a school the way it truly is!!!! Good luck! I hope you find the school that is truly right for you and your child!

 

[Minnie_me]

I agree with katybugsmom, about choosing carefully. There's a Montessori school here that brags about how true to Montessori it truly is. One of my pre-K students went there from 18 months to 3.5 years old before coming to my program.

The reason they moved him was that the Montessori teachers told the parents he was SLOW. Their reasoning was that if he hadn't started reading at this age (3.5!), he would need remedial help.

They also told me many sad things about teacher-student interaction, claiming that it was very "MONTESSORI". The child enters the classroom, shakes hands with the teacher and goes straight to his/her "job". There is no "GOOD MORNING! How are you today?!" The child is not to speak to any adult unless spoken to first.

I also know of a wonderful Montessori program in the area, so there is a mix. You just need to know what to look for.

 

[Deb8821]

Another Montessori parent here. We love it. Mine are in 5th & 2nd grade now. They have been at Montessori since 3 years old. I love it. They participate and take direction in their own leaning experience, yet their teacher guides them. Mine did not read "early", they are average to a bit above overall, but they have developed a stong sense of wanting to learn and to me that is very important.

They really enjoy school and want to learn and explore the world around them and to me that is the best gift of a Montessori eduction. They are independent workers and respectful of others around them. They will continue at Montessori unitl 8th grade.