tell me about montessori...

[allycat06]

Not something I have to think about for a while yet but I'm curious, how does it differ from the mainstream kinder/pre school? I know it's less structured and the kids are encouraged to choose their own activities right? What else?
How much does it cost, particularly in Melbourne?

[Swoop]

I'm subscribing because I've been curious about this too. We saw the school bus drive past when my MIL was here and she said 'they teach kids to spell words however they want to spell them'!

[skeetaboat]

In montessori, the play is seen as the most important part of child development, the child's 'work'. They try to cater to individual differences in personality and interest. I don't think they're overly focused on academic stuff. Most of the pre-schools are about $1500 per term, but it's more sessions per week than kindy (from memory 9-3 I think? or maybe its half days, I never found out for sure. Also I think it's generally five days a week). Sorry for the vague answers, tired today. There's a montesorri australia or montessory victoria website if you google it.

[skeetaboat]

haha.. can you tell I went to 'montesorry' pre school from my bad.. no sorry - unique - spelling? lol hahahaha

[Indadhanu]

Hmmm, well disclaimer first. I'm not a trained Montessori teacher, but I've been working in a Montessori Children's House (Infancy and Cycle 1) as an assistant, so I might be able to help.

First of all, Montessori is based on a strong philosophy of respect, grace and courtesy. That is expected from the teachers, assistants, parents and students/children. That also extends to respect to the Montessori materials, and respect for their environment. We also refer to all children's activities as 'work', rather than play, as a sign of respect to their activities.

There is a huge emphasis on daily life and practical skills, and an understanding that children are learning skills they will use for the rest of their life. So at Montessori school they are given the opportunity to practice skills such as dressing (from the 'dressing frames') and cleaning (they are given children-sized brooms, window washing materials, they wash their own dishes and wipe their own tables afterlunch).

There is NOT less structure. Yes, children are given free-choice (within limits ) of activities. But a Montessori classroom is a wonderfully calm, quiet, and often self-regulated environment. There ARE rules, such as only one person per activity (most activities). Interuptions are minimal.

The room is purposfully set up to spark children's interests and materials are purpose built (check out Nienhuis), and engaging. I've often seen children sit and work at the pink tower for over half an hour, it's amazing. Children are allowed to learn, teachers are only there to assist and aid in discovery. The materials are constructed to teach concepts, and can seem very abstract at first!!!! Feel free to ask what each activity is.

They have a three-hour work cycle as they believe this is the optimum time frame for children to learn. It is highly academic focused, but as I said it can seem very abstract.

Anyway, I could go on. I urge you to observe a classroom during the work cycle, and you'll see. Also, look at the Montessori Australia website. When you ring any Children's Houses, ask if their teachers are AMI trained. This is the internationally recognised Montessori teacher training.

I'll come back if I think of some more.

[Indadhanu]

And skeetaboat, not sure what happened to your spelling, since Montessori teach letters, spelling, reading and phoenics from 3 years of age!
Maybe you went to a Steiner pre-school?

[Loula]

Just some info for you

Many of Montessori's ideas are so basic to the ways we think about early childhood today that we take them for granted. 1907 was when the first school was opened using child size furniture and tools and the idea of children working independently were considered readical!

There are many Montessori schools and materials and there is a wide range of diversity through the programs. some hold firmly to the Montessori principles and some would never meet her own standards!

Montessori believes that children learn language and other significant life skills without conscious effort from the environments where they spend time. she believed that environments need to be inviting, and ordely!

it is believe that children learn best through sensory experiences and believe that it is best to do this with the toold their size to fit their small hands.

Montessori stresses the importance for children to be able to reach materials when they need them this is in order for children to be responsible for their own learning. Classrooms are arranged with low open shelving meaning they can contiue without adult assistance. stoppingt interuptions to their individual learning.

Its all about giving children independance and responsibility. Montessori believe that children need to care for themselves and their surroundings and adults spend too much time 'serving children' children need to do themselves to learn how to do it!

I would make an appointment at a local Montessori and check it out!

[Loula]

I remeber letters and numbers being included, they were made out of samdpaper so that the children could 'feel' the shapes!

[allycat06]

Interesting...i remember some kids I went to primary school with who went to Montessori for kindy and they were all exceptionally bright. Where my parents are from (Indian and Sri Lanka) Montessori is the norm, all children go there for kinder/pre school, here is seems to me more of an alternative thing.

[skeetaboat]

And skeetaboat, not sure what happened to your spelling, since Montessori teach letters, spelling, reading and phoenics from 3 years of age!
Maybe you went to a Steiner pre-school?

No, it was definitely Montessori. I was just making a (bad) joke in reference to Balmaingal's MiL's comment after I read back and saw my terrible spelling (twice!). I wish there were more Montessori pre-schools and schools around. We even considered moving to be closer to one.

Thanks for sharing. Are all cycle 1's 3 hours per day and 4 or 5 days a week? Or are they sometimes 6 hours per day? I had trouble figuring that out when I inquired and never followed up on it.

[Indadhanu]

They are definitely 3 hour working sessions, but some have it twice a day ands the chidren can go for one session (morning or afternoon) or stay the whole day and have two sessions. They recommend 5 days a week but some are more flexible than others.

[krysalyss]

DS has been going to a Montessori kindy here for about a month. He is almost 3 and goes twice a week. It is comparable in price to day care and we get the CCB. He loves it and we love it. He talks about his 'work' and is very comfortable being there. I spent the first day there and have to say the best way for me to describe it is that the teachers are very 'respectful' of the kids. There are rules of course but the teachers actually speak to them with logic and kindness. We are really impressed so far. As far as literacy etc they do reading, songs, trace letters with their fingers etc. I think like always though you have to be happy with the teacher they have as there will still be good ones and not so good.

[Ginger]

Wow there's a Montessori kinder just near us and i was considering putting ds there next year but then decided i would just put him in the mainstream. This thread has got me re-thinking about it though. I might have to go and check it out. I love the idea of the work', sounds perfect for my ds.

[ashlukris]

There is some great info in this thread, I am also considering a Montessori preschool for my DD.
We are currently in New Zealand, and moving to Rockingham, Perth next month.
I have had a quick look at the fees and have found the Rockingham center to be much more expensive than it is here in NZ..
Is this the case with all centers, or are they individually run?
Also, can anyone please give me an indication of how much you pay for a year of Montessori??
Thanks in advance!

[krysalyss]

Our school is just a preschool/daycare Montessori school so kids from 2-5years. It is similar in price to other care options in the area and we get the childcare rebate and benefit. We get 100% of those so are out of pocket in total about $15 a day but their total cost if you didn't get a benefit would be about $60 a day - similar to daycare. Don't know about primary school costs though.

[allycat06]

The ones I'm researching for my DS are between $600-1000 a term for pre school. That's for 2 and 1/2 hours a day, 5 days a week. We're in Melbourne and it seems they are all individually run hence the variance in fees. Although I've noticed some of the public primary schools have a 'montessori stream' not really sure how that works but I'd assume you pay the same fees as the other students?

[meow]

There ARE rules, such as only one person per activity (most activities).

Montessori teach letters, spelling, reading and phoenics from 3 years of age!

These are the two biggest gripes I have with Montessori and why I wouldn't send my child to one. I don't like the "one child to an activity" thing- where are the social skills in that? And I also don't like the empathsis on phoenics, tracing letters etc from such a young age. I don't think the research has found those to be these best ways for children to learn to read and write.

Personally Montessori is way too structured. I love the idea of respect and like all early childhood philosphies I'm sure it has many good points.

[DisGirl]

My DS1 has been going to the local Montessori since he turned three and it's amazing! He had never been in any kind of organised care before, but I felt really comfortable with the directoress of the school and really agree with the Montessori philosophy. DS1 is LOVING it. He has become more confident, more independent and seems to be learning so much.

It's been mentioned here that there isn't much emphasis on group activity, but at DS's school they have group activity time scheduled in to every day. I've also noticed that the older kids have kind of taken DS under their wings and helped to make him feel comfortable and at ease.

As for the teaching of letters and phonics, DS is enjoying that a lot. He's always had an interest in letters and numbers and now he's started sounding out words, which is really empowering for him