Tell me about Montessori???

[ezymay]

Hi!
A new montessori day care centre has just opened near us and in 6 months time we will need to put DD into care 3 days a week. I don't know much about Montessori care just that's not traditional?? Can anyone help me out??

Ta!

[Marlene]

I just googled Montessori...there is heaps of info on the 0-3 years program

[ezymay]

Duh Ez Thanks maz I should have just googled!!! Too reliant on BB for my info!!

[christy]

HAhahahaha.... I understand that reliance.

DD1 was in Montessori, but she started at 3 years so it was the next age group. I actually love the Montessori way of doing things, but I do think you may need to check out the centre you are going to in order to decide. Different "teachers" or carers may handle the care differently.

One of my best friends works in a Montessori in Brissy with the toddlers and her room was much different to the room where my DD was.

So where as I love the Montessori methods... I do understand that it all has to do with the interpretation of the methods in practice

[Ryatha]

I'm a senior school teacher so I know about older students but I believe it is a bit different when they are younger... but

I believe at this age, the main difference with montessori is that children choose their own activities and pace of learning compared to the 'traditional' teacher/caregiver led activities. Really good for motivated learners but can be a bit hard on the shy kids...Its just a way of kids being 'in charge' of their learning rather than being told what to do.

I know what I have written is a bit vauge, I have baby brain quite badly at the moment, but I hope it helps

[setof3]

I have currently been looking at the Montessori and Bonny Babes Childcare centres and can't make up my mind. Please help!!!

My dilemma is: the Montessori centres have a good philosophy and teaching method but the Mudgeeraba centre looked so boring in the rooms with hardly any equipment and no colour on the walls. On the other hand, the Bonny Babes centres have beautiful rooms and lots of equipment but don't have the freestyle teaching methods as Montessori does?

Does anyone have any advice for me, or experience with either centres?: doh:

[heliana]

Hi setof3.
sorry, don't have experience with either, but, I just wanted to say, don't worry so much about what they are, go and spend some time at both and go with your gut feeling.
Ask lots of questions about what they would do in this situation, what their routine is, and look at other things too, like what food they offer etc.
I have heard many good things about Montessori but also some people who didnt like it. I think it depends more on the centre than the policies iykwim?
I'm fighting my daughter off the computer at the moment because she wants to watch the piggy running accross the screen (medibank add) so good luck with finding a good place.

[Rommy'sMummy]

My son goes to a Montessori childrens center. We love it. I love the individual approach to children and the opportunity for self expression and self directed learning. I also love the adherence to routine and social graces and manners that Monti teaches.

They have programs from playgroup to pre-school and are totally Montessori. What I mean by that is that ALL the staff are fully trained Montessori teachers - Degree or Diploma level. They have a couple of "assistants" who are training but not qualified and so they help in the class but are not allowed to teach or direct the children.

There are quite a few "Montessori childcare centres" opening up around here which look like they are trying to pretend to be Montessori while basically being a childcare centre with some wooden toys!

I would ask about the qualifications of the teachers/carers and how they apply the philosophy of Maria Montessori. They should be able to demonstrate the application of her philosophy and how it rates to each stage of a childs development. Other wise it might just be a childcare centre charging more as the Montessori name is on the title. Not that childcare centres are wrong but if you are paying for Montessori you want to be getting it.

Our centre charges $64 for 9.00-3.30 pre-school and transition classes (that is where the parent is not there) and $16 for playgroup and infant group which is 9.30-11.00.

I hope you find somewhere you feel comfortable with - somewhere you can ask the staff for advice or assistance with parenting, that is something I really value about our centre.

Good luck!