re:Montessori Pre-School Advice

My daughter went to a Montessori toddler program when she was almost 3 (and most of the others were younger 2's). After a while she started to dislike it intensely because it wasn't a social enough environment. Each child is meant to carry out learning tasks at his little table and there's not an awful lot of interaction. I gather that it's a bit better when they're older and work on some projects in pairs or teams. Only you can second guess whether this might be an environment for your "cautious" daughter to thrive in or whether she needs more knocking of heads with other pre-schoolers in a more mainstream school. Our friends' daughter who remained in the program could read at 4, but, as the mother said, didn't know how to play with other kids. I think your daughter could qualify for a gifted program later on regardless of what pre-school you choose, so long as you keep encouraging her curiosity and love of learning. A WAHM/SAHM has more impact on a little one than a pre-school, all in all. (And I don't know how vital it is for future academic success and overall happiness that a child be part of a gifted program. It sounds like she's sure to do well regardless with you in her court.)

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My son went to a Montessori toddler program. I decided not to enroll him into the preschool. In my opinion, there are good things and some not so good things about Montessori.
I liked their I guess "mission statement", it is to teach the child to love to learn at an early age.
The principal behind most of their learning toys/ tools are teaching the child reading and math "left to right top to bottom". For instance, if you ever seen an abacus, that is a Montessori tool in teaching counting, math, left to right top to bottom just like reading.
Also the child learn at his/her own pace. They treat each kid the same. It didn't seem to me that they recognize/promote advanced kids which I guess is nice for average and below average kids but what about the above average kids? No chance to shine? I only mention that part bc you said that you have a goal for your child to be in the gifted program by kindergarten. Now, don't quote me on this but, I don't believe they even start gifted programs until 2nd or 3rd grade at most schools.
Some of the things I personally didn't care for are that its 5 days a week and there are 3-5 (sometimes even 6yr olds) in the same class. I also thought that the cost was ridiculous.
As I said I turned out sending my child to a regular preschool but have incorporated some Montessori principles in our home. You can buy stuff online. Some people even home school Montessori style.
Finally, another thing I did't care for was that I couldn't help but to feel like the whole thing was a huge sales pitch bc they start off saying how their main focus is preschool but then they get you hooked all the way up until 8th grade ?!?!
Hope this helps, its just my opinion.

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Hi S.!
I had my children tested for the gifted program and had it done privately rather than in the public school. It costs about $300 and you are almost assured success. I looked in the yellow pages for a school certified psychologist. As for Montessori, I think it started out as a wonderful idea, but has turned into somewhat of a cult in this country. The parents I met there certainly do not represent the mainstream which is ok except that some of them are pretty militant about it, ie. judgemental. I would consider it for preschool and kindergarden if I had it to do over again.
N

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we did a montessori program in China for one year with my son. He liked it and is able to read and do basic math and is not in kindergarten yet. I will say however that wanting your child to go into a gifted program is only possible if they have the IQ to get into one. Academic knowledge and IQ are to very different things. You can cram all the knowledge into your child at an early age and they will learn because that is what they do naturally, that does not mean that they are gifted. I don't want you to spend an obscene amount of money on a montessori program only to find out your child is above average IQ but not in the gift range because the program is not designed to increase a child's IQ. It is designed to help your child learn at her own pace encouraging developement of her strengths. I would go with a nice academic based preschool that does not cost an arm and a leg like a montessori one does and you will have the same results. We only did the montessori in China because it was the only English speaking environment for my child to learn in and make new friends.

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