Question on Montessori Schools... Worth the Money???

i think montessori is wonderful, but you really do need to be careful that you're getting actual montessori, not 'montessori-flavored.'
but there is no way i would pay that kind of money. if you homeschool you can do everything montessori does without the price tag.
khairete
S.

I agree with the posters who say you have to consider your financial situation carefully. Also as another mom said.... be wary of "montessori-based" curriculums, they are NOT the same thing.

That being said, my daughter attends a Montessori school and we love it. I can't speak for NJ, but the cost in Chicago for private accredited Montessori will range from $8,000 - $12,000. Although some do have financial aid or 'sliding' scale tuition, so you should check with your school office. It is a financial committment for a good number of years (most start at 3yrs old and go until your child goes to high school.

The basis of a Montessori school is self-motivation regarding inquisitiveness, self-care and helping each other. These are things that Public Schools (who generally 'podium teach' - ie: teach the same thing to a large group of students and aim for the 'middle' as far as level of teaching).

Beware, though!!!!! Only send your child to a Montessori school if you want them to be a free-thinker who is able to make good decisions on their own!!!! I responded to another question about Montessori and had a mom private message me that she HATED when her son when to Montesorri school because it made him "hard to manage" at home - he no longer just did whatever she told him to do, instead he wanted to take care of himself and ask questions!!!!!!! The nerve of that child being a free-thinker!!!!!

Montessori schools are structured so that each child has a 'work plan' and then can make decisions about how they accomplish their 'work' for the week. Montessori schools teach kids how to prioritize and make decisions for themselves. Kids who attend Montessori schools are usually extrememly high achievers in all areas. My daughter is in the 4th grade and she is well above the kids her age from the neighborhood in math - mostly because she has developed critical thinking skills as well as the ability to apply reason and logic to situations. But that's not all Montessori schools, so check out where the graduates of the school you are looking at go to High School.

I will tell you that some of the curiculum is called "Life-Based Learning" - the public schools in Chicago use "everyday math" which is basically the same concept. So, you learn fractions by discussions situations they actually encounter on a daily basis rather than "train A leaves the station at 1:30 going 60 mph....." that we could never relate to as kids!!!!!! Anyway kids sometimes don't bring home homework that parents can readily identify as "homework" because it's not a list of mulitplication tables to memorize. The kids learned fractions in 1st grade by helping to make breakfast "if each child gets 2 eggs and we have 5 eating breakfast, how many eggs do we need?" that sort of thing rather than "memorize this worksheet of information - it will be on a test".

Good luck with your decision. My daughter attended public school and then transferred into a Montessori school so she wasn't there for the early childhood program. I personally wouldn't want her anywhere else because I see the impact that the Montessori teaching method has on her every day behavior, outlook and self-esteem.

Some kids do very well in Montessori schools. Personally, I think that kids who attend Montessori miss a big chunk of math. All the kids I know who went to Montessori schools had trouble with math when they came back to the public schools. Their English and reading skills were fine, it's always the math.
About $7000 for tuition... If you can't afford it - don't send him. Check out the other preschools in your area. Check with the public school system - most have a preschool that is a hidden gem. The high school students who are in Early Childhood classes help out during the day. Not only will he get a fabulous experience, you might find an awesome babysitter!
YMMV
LBC

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Montessori is not for every child. Children that are shy seem to do the best in that type of situation. Children that are outgoing and active do not do as well. If paying tuition for a Montessori school will put a financial strain on your family, do not send your son there. Although Early Education is very important, it can be achieved without breaking the bank. Just because something is expensive does not mean that it is the best. That stress and change in lifestyle will not only effect you, but it will effect your son as well.

Boys mature differently than girls. Your son may not have been ready last year. Try the same preschool this year. It will help if he goes back to a familiar environment, even if he didn't do well last year. He will see some of the same kids & teachers & the building will be the same. All of these things will help him be more relaxed and comfortable with school. Depending on when his birthday falls, I would say 2 days for a three year old is more than enough. Three days would be nice (Mon,Wed,Fri) if he was having trouble with separation anxiety. Good luck and try not to stress out, everything will work out in the end. :)

My suggestion is to do your research on the Monessori method. Many schools bill themselves as Montessori, but don't really follow the method. May I suggest you get in touch with NACCRRA. They are a national organization with local units that help parents find a variety of child care solutions that meet their budgets and desires. A reall lifesaver and depending on how your particular office is set up, you could also have access to a guide that will help you through the process and do a lot of the preliminary research (location, cost, hours, days available) for you so your time is spent screening and visiting those that already meet your needs.
Best of luck. (oh, just google NACCRRA and you can do an online search of agencies near you)

You've already received some great answers such as make sure it's a true Montessori school. I agree that if you can't afford the $7000 a year tuition, look elsewhere. All that matters is your child gets some preschool and there should be far cheaper options.

My daughter attends Montessori school, but that's because my husband and I work full time and need the day care option. The cost of full time Montessori was comparable to other full time day care/preschool options in our area. Therefore, we were able to make a decision based upon what type of school we wanted to send her to rather than the cost. We chose Montessori because we liked to approach to learning and thought our daughter would thrive with it. We were right. She is doing so well. I love that she gets to progess at her own pace and will attend classes with older and younger kids. However, if she wasn't thriving, we'd move her out.

I think spending $7,000 on preschool is a sin. Save it for a private middle or high school.

I will spend $1,800 on preschool this year.

My son is pretty gregacious and outgoing and he is thriving at a Montessori preschool. It all depends on the child and the teachers. But like the others said, if you can't afford it then don't do it. I agree to give the church school another try.

On a side note: $7000 a year is really not unreasonable, Montessori or not. Just depends on where you live and how many days a week of school you do. Our school is $8k for m w f, $10k for 5x a week.

Hi Jen,

Montessori is a great program if it's a true Montessori school. You got some great answers and Breanna's answer to you is very close to what I would have written. My son has gone since he was 3 now he is 5 1/2 and he is doing so well and he's so advanced (including math where he is already doing fractions/multiplication etc.). He loves his school, his friends and learning. We plan on keeping him there until 6th grade (our school has an elementary school too). I think that if the 7K is tough on your budget maybe its not the best thing for you to do right now. Best of luck.

Hi Jen,
If your son is three he may not have been quite ready to start nursery school or he was placed in a class that was not appropriate for his development level. What were some of the difficulties he had in that setting? Just changing schools or changing teachers (or having your son be one year older) might have a different effect on his (your) school experience. Look around for another nursery program if you are not satisfied with the one at your church (it is perfectly ok). I would not spend $7000 a year for a nursery school for a child unless you had lots of disposable income--and I definitely would not go into debt to do it.

It seems to me that you have answered your own question - you "are in no position to spend that kind of money". There must be other, less expensive, options for nursery schools in your area. Paying more does not guarantee that your son will want to participate in class. Look for a good fit with the people and the type of activities they do.