Montessori Education
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Topic: Montessori Education
Posted By: Brenna
Subject: Montessori Education
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 8:52pm
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I went to see a local Montessori today with the idea of enrolling Brenna once she's 2 and I loved it!!!
They do morning or afteroon sessions and the teachers were so lovely! Has anyone had any experience with Montessori? What did you think? -------------  My beautiful 2 girls...nearly 4 and 13 months
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Replies:
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 8:56pm
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ask Lisha she just enrolled her daughter there...I'm a preschool teacher and while its not my thing if its what you are into the teachers are very good and well trained. if she loved it she will probably do well:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 9:41pm
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Maya went for two years and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, she has absolutely thrived in the Montessori environment, and has started school more than ready with basic literacy and numeracy, plus I think the idea of making them finish a task they started encourages perseverance. I don't regret sending her there for a single second.
One thing I was disappointed about tho is that they don't teach phonics anymore, which is a key Montessori philosphy, apparently the schools don't like them to as reading in schools is based on word recognition rather than phonetics (as you would well know Anna!). I've got the gremlins enrolled too, they can start when they're 2 but I'll probably hold them back till 2 1/2 as it is a very structured environment and I personally think 2 is a wee bit young for that kind of structure. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 11:00am
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Montessori sounds lovely. If I had to put Seb in care (and could afford it) it's probably what I'd go for. -------------  
 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 11:06am
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I was amazed that for us Montessori actually worked out cheaper than having her in daycare, I expected it to be hellishly expensive. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 12:08pm
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really? interesting. Not that we could afford either! If I needed to put Seb in care it would be because I was studying, and Mike is at weltec at the moment (and for the next 2 years) -------------
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 2:03pm
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We've looked into it for Caitlin and the ones in our area are the same as Day care for 2yrs+, $180.
We're in 2 minds over it now as the daycare she's at is really good and has a lot of what I like about Montessori with a good amount of free play which was what was lacking in some of the M centres we visited. I've had feedback from some New Entrant teachers that some M students lack in imaginitive play skills and need a level of structure that is not always available at school and therefore has an effect on their learning as they readjust. From chats I've had with Emma about Maya's M school - I think I'll wait and see where Caitlin is when she is 2.5-3yrs and then make a decision ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 4:20pm
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that is what i meant about if it is what you are looking for. M is very structured which for some children is really great...for those who need more free play it is not....but i have found the teachers to be fab and very well trained.. (as with most specialist stuff)...
it is generally true that they dont have as much of the free play and imaginative skills..simply because they dont get to practise them so much. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: katie1
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 5:20pm
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I am probably going to go that way with Ollie - still thinking though about whether I want him to have more free play and 'run around' time as he is a pretty active wee man!
Like Emma, I love the way the children have focused tasks and learn to perserve and complete things. From my teaching exp I have found that the children usually come in to school with excellent literacy and numeracy skills but generally by the end of the first year the others have caught up anyway. It is interesting reading everyones ideas. Good topic Anna! |
Posted By: Brenna
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 7:04pm
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I went to visit 2 and there was such a difference!! At teh first one, it was samll inside and the children weren't allowed outside until at least 10am "as that is when they learn best" but at the other one (which I liked better) was in a big old house and the doors to outside were always open so children could choose what they wanted to do and when. Brenna spent the whole time outside digging in the garden with a little boy called Preston. He was having a great time telling her all about the bunny rabbit at the centre. I'd never thought about the lack of imaginative play but this one seemed to allow children to choose what they wanted to do. (All the boys were outside hammering nails into a tree stump)
Eeek, so many decisions!  ------------- My beautiful 2 girls...nearly 4 and 13 months
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 7:19pm
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that 2nd one sounds great:) good luck ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 7:32pm
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I really want to put Michaela in montessori - I've had lots of family send thier kids and it has been brilliant. Unfortunately our local montessori only takes 3-6year olds so we have to wait another year -------------  
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 8:25pm
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Maya's Montessori kept them in til 10am, mostly coz the kids all arrive between 8-9am so they set up a number of indoor activities to help settle them, but after morning tea there was plenty of indoor/outdoor flow and they could choose to be in or out. The centre directors hubby also spent a lot of time with the kids doing carpentry and stuff.
And they did do some imaginative play, stuff like puppet shows etc. I think it all depends on teh individual centre and how strictly they adhere to the Montessori philosophy. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 8:26pm
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Things like this are definitely one of the drawbacks of living in a small town - I would love for Hannah to go somewhere like that, but all we have is two daycares. The second one sounds great Anna ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 26 March 2008 at 8:45pm
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Hannah would love Montessori Aimee, she reminds me a lot of Maya. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: nicolaann
Date Posted: 27 March 2008 at 6:44pm
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I am looking at putting Alex into Montessori. I have been and had a look, and he really liked it. They start them from 2 1/2 here, which I think is plenty early enough. I don't think he will go until he is 3. The only thing I wasn't keen on was that once they are 3 they have to go 5 mornings a week. Thats seems like a lot! Alex doesn't go to creche, so he is not used to it. Although I thought it was quite cheap... $80 for 5 mornings! And they now do the 20 free hours, so it wont cost us at all. ------------- Nicky, Mum to Alex (5) & Sophie (3) http://lilypie.com"> 
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