Montessori School?

[Aquila]

My son is 6 years old and is in kindergarten. The school we are sending him to is a charter school that is quite frankly run down and it seems like the academics are lacking. I've heard enough parents complain that their children were behind when moved to a public school. So I was a bit concerned. We are strongly considering sending him elswhere for 1st grade.

I've looked into a decent public school in our area. However, an opportunity also exists with a public school that is based on the Montessori method of education.

I wanted to know if any of you have experience with the Montessori method of education and what you thought of it.

Thanks!

[bbyrd009]

My experience has been that if you start a kid Montessori, like you are contemplating, that the experience can be great, but if you are trying to adapt a public-school kid who has become adjusted to relatively "no output," there may prolly be adjustment problems. "Learn at your own pace" works great if you are interested in taking steps, but this is quickly taught out of kids in public school.

Montessori is still the same curriculum, and I would encourage you to interview some Montessori-taught teenagers, and some home-schooled teenagers, to get a better sense of which model you feel comfortable investing in. Of course, reality has to intrude in a big way with home-schooling, but the best combo I've witnessed seems to be Montessori for the basics, then home-schooling when the more...controversial? curriculum begins to assert itself. You might also be surprised at your virtual "home school" options these days; people are willing to group up here, and barter for services. Best of luck.

[AreYouReady?]

School is a learning experience of what the child and parents put into it. Parents are going to have to stay on top of any school they send their child to.

Both my children went to public school. The school personal got tired of seeing me there, but I let it roll off my back like a duck. Heh. They hated to see me coming because it usually meant some kind of issue I disagreed with. LOL. Both my children graduated, high school and community college. One had learning disability but we persevered with him and he graduated high school. He then went on to a career after earning his two year associate degree. The other graduated with honors and is graduating this spring from the University with honors majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology and is going on to graduate school. We invested a lot of time in our children, teaching them right from wrong and when to disregard some nonessential things in education that they are taught in school. We did not let them give up because of barriers, bullies or rotten teachers.

The important thing is to observe what they love to do and encourage their career options early ... in middle school... and help them to develop their propensity of their interests.