Montessori Method ？

Montessori is NOT any better than a non-Montessori classroom setting. I was an Assistant Teacher at a Montessori school and most of the kids did not learn (in my opinion) b/c of the very high teacher/student ratio. There were 24 kids in our class and two teachers - crazy. The room was filled with crazy kids that were impossible to control. No academic learning can happen in a room with so many kids. However, that holds true with a non-Montessori classroom as well. However, with Montessori - they do not go over their ABC's, colors, numbers and shapes every day like a regular preschool does. With Montessori, the kids can work with whatever Montessori materials they want - so if they want to do practical life the entire time, they can. It might be weeks before they work with letters, numbers, colors or shapes. In a regular preschool setting, they go over their colors, shapes, letters and numbers every day. I am not a fan of Montessori after working at a Montessori school. Make sure wherever you send your child that there is a low teacher to student ratio.

From what I understand, the Montessori method was first invented for kids that had learning disabilities and such. Turned out that it worked in a lot of different venues and kids therefore became popular in mainstream.

Needless to say, I have had two friends that have not been happy with Montessori simply because it takes a lot of creativity out of every day life for the kids and in turn they did not get any excelled benefits as far as accademics or behavior. Now I do have one friend that just loved it but again did not find any additional benefit academically necessarily, yet did believe it was beneficial behaviorly.

I ended up not choosing the Montessori route simply because my children are seriously creative and well behaved. I felt they didn't need the intense rules and structure that Montessori had to offer. I think it is a very personal decision.

If you are going to go the Montessori route, you can start right away, there are a ton of books and centers out there that can give you direction.

Good luck and enjoy!

my kids were in a daycare taht was Montessori - and while I wished I didn't ahve to work I think that the Montessori method worked really well for both of my kids. My kdis are very different in thier learning styles, and good at different things. But it enables kids to learn in teh style taht suits them best since it uses the different learning styles. I'm sure you can find explanations of the basic ideas online or at your library. 2 is about the age they begin Montessori - so if you can use some of the methods with your child I think it can only be a good thing.

have fun and enjoy this precious time in your child's life!

Can I ask a question? How does one know if it is a 'true' Montessori school? Is there a certifying body? I will say, I know two women who went to Mont. preschools. One is a Princeton alumna, the other was accepted to Ivy schools, but went somewhere else on a full scholarship.

My 4yr old is in a Montessori pre-school, went last year too. While I was a little leery of the method (my son def responds well to structure) I've been pleased. I wouldn't say it's tons better than traditional, but he probably has more fun and I don't think it's any worse. RE: letters, numbers, etc, in my son's class at least, they do have a "letter of the week", etc and actually have separate "learning groups" where the kids who are going to kindergarten next year have writing/letter "journals" where they match words and practice writing. Basically they are specifically challenged more. My older son went to the same preschool 3 yrs ago, before they switched to Montessori, and he def did not have that. I have heard however from my elementary teacher friends that they can tell the Montessori kids because they have a harder time transitioning to the traditional schooling methods. Again, not that it is bad, just that since they have to switch learning styles it can be a little difficult at first to make the adjustment.
As far as teaching it at home though? With all the stuff our preschool has to do training-wise for the teachers to switch to Montessori I would say it sounds like a real pain in the rear to learn how to teach it! LOL :)

I used to teach Montessori in college. I would highly recommend it. It can be a bit more expensive than other preschools though.
The earlier you start the better. You just want to make sure you go to a school that is serious about following Montessori methods. I worked at one school that called itself Montessori but didn't really practice the principals and charged outrageous prices.
You might also look into Reggio Emilia method as well. Very similar. Waldorf is also very good but I think it takes a certain type of person to follow it.

Good luck!

My DD is 3 and in her first year of preschool (through our school district). We have been considering a Montessori school for next year that is also close to our house and today I had a chance to talk with her current preschool teacher about it (we have visited the school already). She herself taught briefly in a Montessori school some years ago and she felt it wasn't a good fit for her and her teaching style. She prefers more play-based learning and was a little concerned that Montessori, being more academic and regimented, would squash our DD's spirit and creativity a little too much at this time (DD is very enthusiastic about school and does very well socially and behaviorally there). Keep in mind too that not every school that calls itself "Montessori" is teaching with true Montessori methods. Montessori is not necessarily better than traditional preschool - it may just depend on the child.