What's Your Tips on Observing a Montessori Class?

Just observe the children. Are they engaged in their work? Do they interact at all? How do they interact with the teachers?

I looked at 6 Montessori schools before picking the one my son currently attends. I chose this one because the overall feel and flow of the classroom. Children were engaged, happy, and had some interaction with each other. I was lucky enough to observe one child act inappropriately (nothing bad, just speaking out of turn), so I got to watch how the teacher handled that.

It seems like many of your answers are fairly against Montessori, and its true that there is variation, which is why its so important that you observe the class. But, if you like what you see in the classroom (and I went twice before putting my son in) then it is probably a good school.

The school my son goes to is a bit of a fusion of Montessori and traditional. The teachers are all fully Montessori trained and accredited, but they add in direct teaching of some subjects (music, Spanish, etc.), and his teacher does guide him on what types of work to do. The children still have some choice, but they can't just do whatever they want. I really like it, because my son can work on what HE needs to work on ... not what the class in general needs.

Also, someone said Montessori doesn't allow play. I certainly would avoid any school that didn't allow play because play is developmentally necessary at this age. But, having said that, every Montessori school I have ever observed has had daily built-in play time.

There's no special commitment you need to make to go to a Montessori school. The only thing my school asks is that, at home, I try to let my child do things by himself to the extent that he can (e.g. dress himself).

Good luck with your decision!

Wow, I can't believe some of the responses here. We have been with a wonderful Montessori school for 12 years now, and I have nothing but great things to say about it.

Make sure the school is properly accredited, ask when the last visit from a rep from the AMA was and see if they will show you the review. If they are AMI accredited, you need to understand the difference. The American method differs from the European method in that we are more teacher-led. The European classrooms are more child-led.

If there is chaos, the teacher is not doing her job, nor is the school properly vetted by the AMI, I guarantee it. You should witness a quiet classroom with gentle music playing in the background, where the children are actively engaged in their work and have the freedom to move around as needed. You should see older children helping younger children, children cleaning up (or learning to) their own messes. During snack time, the children should be preparing and serving it to the classroom with appropriate manners. If a child approaches you, quietly redirect them back to their work, do NOT try to help them.

Montessori realizes the need for play, which is why most will extend half-hour long recess periods through 6th or 8th grade. What happens in the classroom is structured play where the children learn to complete tasks that mimic household chores and the like, in order to develop their fine and gross motor skills. These activities (Practical Life) teach skills they will need in order for them to read and do math (for instance, everything is set up left to right, or counting is required to complete a puzzle).

Visit them all, and then visit the ones you like a second time. Talk to the PTA leader, look at their website and see what extra curricular activities are offered. The usual stuff. But anyone who tells you Montessori is a free-for-all or the children aren't disciplined or it's a catch-all for special needs kids (regardless of the fact that Maria designed it to cater to those very children) has never been to a real Montessori school.

Feel free to message me here if you have any more questions.

I hate the whole idea. I worked in a facility that used the method and it was nothing but utter chaos. The kids would have swung from the rafters if there had been any. It was like being in a classroom with kids raised by wolves. They had no self control, they would just start running around during carpet time instead of doing the activities, they would bounce on their cots for an hour and keep everyone awake, the ones that were in school that came to school from the center would have notes nearly every day that it took the kid hours to calm down enough to sit and do his/her work, they were always the kids that did not finish their work and had to be grounded all the time.

I do not like the whole system. Kids needs playtime, they learn so much when they play, but they also need structure so they can fit in the rest of the world.

Have to agree with Gamma G. It was not my cup of tea. I do not like the utter chaos that is involved with this "teaching" system.
Now to be fair, we only had my son involved in one school (for 3 months) that used this system, so it could have been this one school that was not the best at implementing this method.
Learning can be so much fun without having to be a free for all, do whatever you want, total chaos approach.
Just my two cents,
R.

In my experience, there is a wide range of Montessori programs. Both my daughters attend(ed) a Montessori preschool and K program and it was great. There was a structure to the day and definite rules. The different activities (jobs as they call them) are interesting and age appropriate. The teacher are very patient and nurturing; both girls really liked going there and they got lots of physical exercise, problem solving opportunities, and arts and crafts. My oldest is in first grade now at a traditional school (the 1st grade-8th grade is not Montessori) and is doing great there too. No problems with math or reading or classroom skills. Some parents worried that they wouldn't push them to read early enough but I had no interest in making my 3 or 4 year old learn to read... and they learned to read just fine in K. and they explored the solar system, planted a garden, conducted surveys and made graphs... very fun and child lead learning...

I had a friend in CT whose son attended a Montessori program and it was a nightmare. So, i think it depends more on the school and the people who work there. How kind, nurturing, educated, professional, etc are they. How do they handle problems? communicate with parents? how strict are they with following the montessori ideas? for example, i know a montessori school that will not push the children on the swings b/c they are suppose to let the children "do on their own." When I asked about that at my daughters' school, they just smiled and said they push them whenever they want/need a push. Also, the grass should be natural at a Montessori school but the grass kept dying so they put in turf and everyone was happy....

hope that helped a little. go into it with an open mind, ask a lot of questions and see what you think :)

I read the answers you got and had to laugh. What are TIPS on OBSERVING, since that is the question that you asked: DO write out any questions you have before you go. No matter how good you think you know your questions, you're probably going to forget at least half of them when you get there. Sit back quietly, do not draw attention to yourself in any way. If there's something you don't understand or have a question about, ask about it or write it down to ask when out of the classroom. I would suggest that you pull up some information on the history, theory, methods, etc of Montessori BEFORE you go observe, so that you can compare what you're reading to what you're seeing, and so you can be armed with better questions. I've found that I have to know a little about something before I can ask intelligent questions, lol. I understand the theories involved with Montessori, but you can request some numbers from them. I observed a Montessori last week and just said "We do understand what you're doing and the reasoning and theories behind it. But my husband is a planner and a numbers man----can you SHOW me how this compares to traditional classes, is there any data that you can show me that would give me a clear idea on how a montessori child would integrate socially, with discipline, and with grades if they moved on to a tradtional school? (Because it's often just through kindergarten; I've never personally seen a Montessori school for children past elementary school). We don't want just the sales pitch but also some facts on a paper that we can look at.
Take what you read, what you hear from each facility, and what you see from each facility INDIVIDUALLY. In Texas, I was checking out some Montessori schools to educate myself and make some decisions for my first child, and oddly enough a good number of schools that labeled themselves Montessori were not actually certified as Montessori. Also, even from reading these posts here, the answers range from complete chaos to no play at all. The right school will be in the middle. I saw a couple schools in TX that I was very impressed with---the children were happy, actively engaged, looked like they were really having fun in their activities. I was intrigued with how they were teaching and wanted to stay and play too. There was A LOT of play and experimenting in those schools. However, they were just way too much money for us at that time. I've also seen some that I thought were lacking. Last week I checked one out and the teachers were very calm, seemed pretty soothing, you could tell they were nurturing and liked children. But a lot of the children looked a little bored and though they had some things in front of them, they weren't engaged and almost looked pouty. They had an AMAZING play area though---wow! It could be a very engaged and lively class just having a bad day, since I know that I am a good mom, and very active and involved with my guys during lessons and playing, but we have bad days too! I'd hate to be judged on some of the days we've had, lol. I could see some good things, but I wasn't impressed enough to enroll my children in that particular facility. I think a blend of traditional and Montessori methods is what works best for me, and my family, but that really is up to each family individually, and takes some shopping and looking at an individual facility.

When you observe, you are just that, an observer. Do not interact with the kids, and do not take your child. s/he will not be able to join in since s/he hasn't had the lessons.

There is no play in Montessori, so you will have to think about whether you can provide that at home, and if the culture in general appeals to you.

definitely both parents need to attned any info classes. Montessori is very different, and you want your questions answered.

I don't know first hand, but i've heard in my area that it is a catch all for all teh special needs austim kids. They think it will be a better fit than structured traditional school, haven't heard that that is workign so well.

I've also heard there is NO parental involvement allowed, this might be different for each school since it seems there is no standard in the us for montessori, the training for the teachers varies vastly and how it is excuted can vary a ton too.
hope you get some first hand knowledge.

Remember to ask if the teachers are certified Montessori instructors and if the school is certified as a Montessori school. The name is not trademarked, so any school at all can call itself a Montessori school... but the ones that aren't accredited ARE NOT Montessori. I suspect that's what Gamma, Regina and VM experienced.

My girls were in an accredited Montessori school last year. The school was well run, the teachers supportive and nurturing. I volunteered in the school many times (they loved parent involvement) and never saw a child bouncing or swinging from the rafters. Instead, the kids were self directed and independent. They learned far above grade level. There wasn't any sort of committment required of parents that would be any different from a traditional school. And you don't necessarily need to have both parents excited about the Montessori method, but if one parent is against it... I don't see how you could pick that school.