Why You Chose Montessori Schools

My son is in a public montessori program and we love it!! He is almost 4 years old and is learning to read. They let the children progress at their own pace. I am very involved with the school and talk to his teacher every day. My nephews also attend the same school and the reason I decided to have my child attend was based on conversations with them. I also love that they teach a lot about manners. I can't say enough about what a great program it is.

I can't wait to hear responses to this one-- I am also looking at Montessori for my kids. What I like about it is how kids can be challenged at whatever level they are at. I also like the group work approach- learning how to work with others is such an important skill.

My son is 4 and has been attending a montessori for over a year now. Not only has he started reading, but he is adding and subtracting, he is also learning German and Spanish. I love Montessori b/c they work with each child at their individual level, so if the child needs help or excels at something, they get the attention/help or challenge they need. My son starts kindergarten in August and I am keeping him in a Montessori. He will be attending a montessori that starts at K and goes all the way through 5th grade. The montessori schools I am referencing are in the Cave Creek/North Scottsdale area. If you want more info, let me know.

:) Jenn

N.,
Public schools are not the best education to offer any child. All mine went through Christian schools and were all honor students including 4 in the NHS. Look around the smaller schools offer the best one on one attention and turn out the best students. Montessori schools are great if your child is self motived but I am not sure what age they go up to. You want the best for your children just like all of us do. I wish you the best. Feel free to contact me about where my kids went and go.
C. B

I am not familiar with Montessori kindergarten programs, but like all programs,the early childhood classrooms vary tremendously in quality and many miss the point of Montessori. Be sure to find out all about the school's philosophy. It is not the right model for all children. Some children flourish more in a setting that promotes social interactions and cooperation with skilled facilitation from an adult, allowing children to initiate play and follow their interests. Montessori emphasizes among other things independence and self-control. These are obviously good things, too, but often at the expense of creativity. For example, children must "work" (not play)with toys only as they are intended and not in a different way--i.e. the graduating pink blocks are only for stacking up in graduating order, not for building a city. I would definitely take a tour and look into the "rules" before enrolling and keep in mind that Montessori rooms are very attractive to adults! For preschool, I prefer developmentally appropriate, play-based programs in a center accredited by NAEYC. For kindergarten, I would look for a nice balance of structure and child direction.

I did not have montessori schools to choose from so I home schooled my son instead. My sister, who is a teacher, put her daughter in the montessori school in her area and I am so impressed with the education and how my niece is excelling in school and life. I love montessori because it is geared towards the childs natural bent. We all learn differently, visual, audio, kinesthetic, etc. The majority of school systems (not all) are geared for those who learn auditorily (teacher talking) and sitting still. If you are kinesthetic as my son was you do not take in as much. There is a great tape/c.d. out there by Cynthia Tobias called "No Two Alike" that really helps understand childrens different learning styles. Hope that helps. M.

Hi N. -
My son has been in a Montessori school for over a year and we love it...so does he. We like that they are kind to children but also that they emphasize the arts and music. My little boy goes there three days per week and is excelling at language and counting, among other things. He just turned three, and my husband and I are impressed by the skills he's learned so early. I highly recommend Montessori. If you want more info let me know.
Good luck! - L.

Hi N., we chose Montesorri for our daughter Katie because Montessorri teaches to the individual child's ability. They don't hold you back and they do not push you to go forward. They will keep you on track. They also teach grace and courtesy, which in this day in age is wonderful! My daughter has had the same teacher for the past 4 years, and we lover her! (normally lower elementary is grades 1 - 3 combined) but we were in a situation where she could have her for K as well. My daughter reads at least at a 6th grade level or higher and is in the 3rd grade! She loves to read. She loves Monetesorri and my 5 year old son goes to the public school and is in K. He has some special needs, and I didn't feel Montesorri would be good for him, as it is a very self-directed methodology of teaching. Good luck! My bottom line advice is to choose the right school for your child.

My husband and I chose Desert Montessori in Santa Fe for our boy, also in K, because of the focused, individualized learning that allows him to work at his own pace. We also appreciate the peaceful, positive learning environment in his classroom, the way his teachers speak to him, and the small class size. He also loves the outdoor spaces and has lots of fun there. His classroom is a place of learning with great tools and works and no toys. (I'm glad that he isn't allowed to play Legos there.) Montessori isn't necessarily a fit for all kids, but thankfully for us, our son is doing really well.

Originally we put my daughter in Montessori because that is what my Mother-in-law wanted (I couldn't afford Montessori & she was willing to pay for it). I'm very pleased with what a Montessori education is doing for her. Be forewarned that a lot of "Montessori" schools are not true Montessori. A lot of them do Montessori half-ass (as my mother would say). Grace, Courtesy, Respect & Independence are VERY important. Being independent helps their self-respect. I just absolutely love it. Plus the independence thing is VERY helpful in general, but especially when you have other little ones. My 4 year old can do her own dishes! - not like I make her do everything, but if she can do it at school . . .

We tried a 'typical' preschool setting and my ds hated it. He would just sit and cry because 'the kids didn't make sense to him'. We went to see a Montessori school & he loved it. The way it is organized, the type of kids that attend it, the methods, the work, etc. all were what he was craving. We didn't choose Montessori...he did. He is still in it at 5 years old. We have looked at schools that go through elementary grades as well. I think there are definitely kids who thrive in Montessori & those who don't. If you find a true Montessori school it is amazing the growth that you can see. There are lots of schools that say they are Montessori, but don't follow it fully. The warning from our directress... don't leave kids in Montessori past elementary because they don't learn the 'real' world and will struggle when told they have to do something right now, just because!! Good luck in your choice.

My husband is in education (finishing his doctorate in Educational Leadership next year) and we went back and forth about school for our daughter. He did NOT want her in a public school and really wanted to try Montessori as he had studied about it and was really impressed with the methods. I had to be convinced and finally agreed to try it. She is 4 and in preschool. She began in August and I am blown away at the progress she is making. She is already figuring out what letters words start with by sounding them out (a precursor to reading); knows different continents and flags for various countries; shapes beyond the typical ones; and beginning some math; etc.. The school is very "child responsible for actions" and very structed. She loves it and doesn't understand why she can't go on weekends. The school also offers violin, piano, and chess lessons. We plan on trying music lessons next year. I HIGHLY recommend the school and plan on keeping her in it for as long as possible. My youngest will attend as well when her time comes. Hope this information was helpful to you. Good Luck with your decision.

G.

Hi N.,
My son is 5 and has been going to montessori for over a year now. He started out in pre-K and is now in Kindergarten and has learned so much. His teacher is great in targeting their needs in specific areas he is having trouble in so we can work more closely in getting him where he needs to be. They do pay more one on one attention in the classroom as well as I like the fact that there is one main teacher in the classroom and one assistant so they are not trying to handle 26 kids by themselves. I chose montessori at first because when my son was 4 I wanted him to go to a place that would watch my son but teach him at the same time instead of taking him to a daycare who just sits there and watches the kids run wild. It was a good choice to put him in montessori and he has truly benefited from it.

Where to begin. My daughter has been a montessori since she was 7 months old. I truely believe that its the best way to educate them at a young age. They go at their own pace and learn independence and more than that they learn practical experience. She is now 3 and I have her in a dual language montessori and I love it. She is not only learning a new language but she continues to learn at her own pace with children older than her that help her along the way. There is a great book called "how to raise an amazing kid". It outlines the montessori curriculum and gives tips on how to incorporate montessori at home. If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me back.
J.

My step-daughter goes to public school cause it is not my choice. My brother went to a montessori school growing up and he loved it. I wished I had been able to go. They give much better one on one attention to the children and work with them on thier personal needs and levels not trying to make 30 kids be at the same level. The enviroment seemed to be more laid back and the kids really enjoyed going to school and learned so much more then the public school. I have already made the desicion that when I have my children they will go to a montessori school and not public school. The benefits are great!