https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 01:17:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621482 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 14:51:50 +0000 daniellemybelle 2621482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Our preschool is licensed only as a preschool so they don't officially offer kindergarten, but because of where LO's birthday falls, she could go for the 3 year cycle and many kids do (either because of birthdays or redshirting). In her class, there are 3s/almost 3s (LO is an almost 3), 4s and 5s. As you know, they do work at their own pace so regardless of age, if the child is ready for kindergarten level work they will present it to them.</p> <p>Right now, I am leaning toward taking the year when she will turn 5 two months into the school year and doing a traditional PreK. I think it will make for an easier transition to Kindergarten. But we'll see! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621459 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 14:20:03 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2621459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: ours goes through K; it is its own class. Unless I end up being the one teaching it next year, we'll send our son. He is a late Sept birthday though. Its case by case what I suggest to the parents of outgoing K kids. The pros are that it really IS a vital year because all the foundational skills kick in and kids really take off with the more complicated Montessori materials. It's also nice as a bit of flexibility - kids can do a 2nd year of Kinder (which I love) or head to 1st. The cons are the expense and, socially, some kids have a difficult time jumping into a new school for their 1st grade year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621455 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 14:14:26 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2621455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We chose Montessori because it was the best infant program we toured. We stayed because I loved the core principles of "follow the child" and independence. When he was an infant/toddler his skills were out of this world! My son is in primary now and Im not sure how much he's benefited because he had a teachers aide who was pretty toxic for him. He's in a new room now and seems to be thriving, so I'm excited to see what his year brings. </p> <p>I actually loved his experience so much, I left my public school teaching job to teach primary at his center. I don't love everything about it (IMO, the training program is a bit elitist and I feel like some academic aspects are lacking) but I find doing 90-95% Montessori is a sweet spot. I've done play-based in the past and think I prefer the Montessori approach slightly more - the "sensitive periods" are a real selling point for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621394 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 13:15:55 +0000 hilsy85 2621394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: @KayKay: I actually don't even know if our city has public pre-k...but regardless, I don't think we plan to do it, and I think most people only leave our Montessori school for pre-k if they go do it at a private school since that's when they start. Would be easier if it were less pressure to stay for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621264 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 10:23:00 +0000 KayKay 2621264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: @hilsy85: oh yeah, sorry that wasn't clear. We don't have public pre-K here either. DD1 is basically pre-K this year, just doing it at this Montessori school. My point was that I think most kids must NOT do K at this Montessori bc it seems like the pre-K kids are the oldest ones in the classes, even though there technically "should" be some kids in the class who are currently 5/6 (kinder age). It seems like the only 5-6y ones who stay are the ones who are redshirting K, not truly planning on skipping right to public/private school 1st grade. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621258 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 10:15:30 +0000 winniebee 2621258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: @KayKay: our town doesn't have public pre-k so while some kids go on to kindergarten at 5, all of the 4 year olds stick around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621231 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:45:37 +0000 catlady 2621231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We ended up in Montessori because it was one of the two daycares closest to our home that she was accepted into, and I liked the feel of it better than the other one. When she was an infant and early toddler, the program was more "Montessori-inspired" but the school became true Montessori since we've been there and I can see a difference now at all age levels. She's in the preschool room now (ages 2.9 to 6, although there are way more younger ones). I really love how calm and welcoming the room is for the kids and also the emphasis on independence and practical life skills. We don't do too much at home, but I've noticed that if I ask her to "put away her work", she will actually do that, as opposed to asking her to "clean up her toys." So I may start to incorporate more Montessori-style things at home (like trays with activities, instead of just trying to leave toys out like we do now).</p> <p>@hilsy85: I have heard this too, but for whatever reason, our program is really skewed towards younger kids (about half the class left this Sept for pre-K and K). I don't think ours actually does "K" even though they can technically stay until age 6. We will probably take our LO out after 2 years, and at that point either she will end up in pre-K, or we may move and she would go to a new preschool for a year. I feel like she'd be bored at that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621198 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:08:56 +0000 hilsy85 2621198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: oh they definitely can't force you of course, but they really believe that the K year is important (and for their own retention rates, they want to keep kids there). I do know there have been plenty of parents who have sent their kids elsewhere for pre-k or K, but I have also spoken to a lot who stayed for K and really loved it. So we will just have to see. </p> <p>@KayKay: @KayKay: yeah i do think there is some attrition of kids who leave after a year or two, but there is still a sizeable K population--I think DS has 6 Kinder kids in his class. And I believe the cost for us would be comperable if we did private, but obviously less if we did public!! That savings woul dbe huge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621197 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:05:21 +0000 KayKay 2621197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: ours does offer K, and we are considering it as an option for DD1, mostly because our public K here is really over-enrolled (25-30 kids/class). so i think we will keep it as a back-up option, but still considering private K-2 and public K-2. i think it will work out that we'll at least know if we were accepted to private K-2 before having to put a deposit at the montessori school. </p> <p>my biggest concerns with staying in the montessori for K would be a) financial -- even the private K-2 would save us $8k a year! and b) there don't seem to be a ton of kids that stay for their K year. already, DD1 is the oldest in her specific classroom (she turned 4 in april...), although there are 2 other kids that are around her age, most of the rest of the class is 3-4. i'm not sure if another year as the definite oldest would be good for her to gain leadership (she'll have 2 younger siblings at home already!)...or if she'd do better in a normal K class with kids her age or (mostly) a bit older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621192 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:01:41 +0000 winniebee 2621192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: that sounds pretty strict! I've never heard of that before. I don't think they can force you to send your kid to K there!? But maybe just connect with other parents to see what they say. Our school is a pretty flexible school - definitely a "softer" montessori approach. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621189 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 08:59:56 +0000 hilsy85 2621189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: it sounds like your place is very flexible...I don't know if ours is! When you accept a spot there, you give them a depost that is nominally for the K year...so I worry that if we left before K, they would a) not be helpful inthe application process, and b) we wouldn't be able to send DD there in a few years. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621188 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 08:56:49 +0000 winniebee 2621188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: so, this year, Ty is doing the "jr. kindergarten" - at his school they have seedling (18-36m), preschool (3-4yo, but for kids that don't go every day), pre-primary (3-4yo, every day) and then jr/sr. kindergarten (4-5yo, every day). You can do 2 years in jr./sr. k. Ty is 4.4 and jr./sr. k seems perfect for him. But, we're just doing one year of it as he is eligible for public K next year - I know some kids are doing 2 years, but not very many. And, at $14K a year, it's hard for me to justify another year if public K is a good option for us (which it is). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621187 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 08:50:19 +0000 hilsy85 2621187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For those of you whose Montessori program goes through K, do you plan on keeping them there? I keep hearing about how K is the capstone year, and they really strongly encourage kids to stay, but I am torn about getting him into his ongoing school sooner, if we go the private school route. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621135 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 07:34:40 +0000 KayKay 2621135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: DD1 did play-based daycare for 2y, Montessori for one, play-based preschool for one year, and is now back in Montessori for pre-K year...before going to regular K. She has transitioned just fine between all of it! I'm not at all worried about going to traditional K. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621033 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 21:10:22 +0000 daniellemybelle 2621033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: Yes about going outside your comfort zone! LO wants to do EVERYTHING by herself now (part of that is just being 3 but school has fueled it) and so many times I am standing there cringing but always impressed by how she figures it out! </p> <p>@winniebee: She can fold towels better than I can!</p> <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: How did your LO transition to a regular PreK? I think for the year before Kindergarten, when LO will turn 5 just a month into the school year, we may do a private traditional PreK to ease into a traditional school setting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621024 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 20:52:40 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2621024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first LO did Montessori from age 2 to 3 but now is in a "regular" pre k because we moved and the local Montessori is $$. But we loved Montessori for its emphasis on active learning, pushing kids toward independence, and the clean/not noisy/natural/uncluttered environment which I felt was more soothing for a kid who is transitioning from home to school. When I go back to work I hope to be able to afford Montessori again for LO2 next fall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621018 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 20:43:22 +0000 winniebee 2621018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: yes my older has become so much more orderly and helpful since starting Montessori! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621016 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 20:41:57 +0000 winniebee 2621016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: our Montessori also has a literacy focus. Today the three works my son brought home was a tracing letter work, and two works cutting and grouping and pasting "living" (aka catepillar) and "non living" (lamp) objects </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2621014 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 20:40:34 +0000 winniebee 2621014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: I love that. Each person is respected in the classroom. That is such a big Montessori philosophy. Peaceful and respectful. I love that the classroom is calm and peaceful and respectful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2620941 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 19:07:55 +0000 matador84 2620941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn't sure if at first if it would be right for him (I had 3 schools on my list that I wanted to tour for pre-k programs), and the montessori was the first one we happened to go to. I was so happy and pleased with what I saw when I was touring, I asked if they had any spots immediately. </p> <p>For us, it was a quiet learning environment. I love that children were challenged in work and it was structured, but there was total control by the child on what element they wanted to work on (sensorial, math, culture, practical life). I absolutely love the practical life element and how children of ages 3-5 are in the same class. This has helped my LO develop a sense of leadership I am sure I wouldn't have seen in his previous school. He was just telling me the other day how he couldn't do new work because he hadn't been introduced to it--and it was the cutest thing ever. He got introduced to the work just the other day and couldn't wait to tell me all about it.</p> <p>Our montessori is also a nice blend of true Montessori and still getting children ready for public school kinder should they choose to go. The teacher still pulls students to a table and works with them on writing, letters, reading, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2620913 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:18:05 +0000 hilsy85 2620913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are doing a Montessori school, but mainly because it is the school that he was accepted into, and it had the best reputation. I did not seek out Montessori at all, and I actually have some concerns about it...but so far he seems to like it, and I do like that he is able to choose his own pace and that each child seems very respected in the class room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2620909 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:11:10 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2620909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do montessori school but we try to incorporate the practical life elements into our day. I really love the way they naturally build independence and allow kids ownership. We did some montessori style activities when my son was a toddler, but nothing formal. </p> <p>I mostly think that Montessori had a really great handle on the fact that kids are capable of much more than we give them credit for, so I push myself outside of my comfort zone to give them a little more independence than I typically would, and I am almost always amazed at what they can do! Their pacing guides for what skills kids can work on are also pretty spot on when it comes to fine motor and other developmental milestones, so I like using it as a resource there as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2620903 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 17:35:35 +0000 daniellemybelle 2620903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO just started a Montessori preschool 2 days per week. I always wanted to send her to a Montessori preschool because the research shows that kids that go to Montessori preschools are ahead (slightly) academically, while other preschools don't really have much impact.</p> <p>We haven't done anything Montessori at home. LO will be 3 next month and this is her first experience with it.</p> <p>Since we just started, we'll see how we feel about it. I do like that the environment is very peaceful and orderly which I think is good for kids. I've seen her be more willing to pick up her toys and put things away before she starts something else, which is a big thing with Montessori, and she is becoming much more independent with things like going potty, eating, cleaning up after herself, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2620768 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:50:22 +0000 yellowbird 2620768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son goes to a Spanish immersion Montessori. We picked it because we had the best vibe and the best recommendations. It has been great though. He has learned so much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2620750 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:22:31 +0000 KayKay 2620750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a Montessori for DD1 from 2.5-3.5y, then stopped because we moved and had to take what we could get for a year, and now both DD1 and DD2 are in a Montessori full-day program. I also try to incorporate some Montessori ideas at home (ones I like and that are relatively easy to do! ha)</p> <p>For the littles, I like that it really encourages independence and practical life skills. For the older preschoolers, I like that they work at their own pace and have a 3hr block of basically uninterrupted time. I also like that the classrooms aren't a menagerie of loud bright colors/art/etc. The classes we have been in are all natural materials, have plants and animals and real pictures of people/places.</p> <p>There are definitely things I *don't* like about Montessori (as with all curriculums that we've experienced...) but overall, we've been happy in those programs.</p> <p>For the record, DD1 has done plenty of both Montessori and play-based and has thrived in each. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2620730 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:53:08 +0000 winniebee 2620730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The Montessori school is 4 minutes from our house. That's why we switched. LOL. But, I do love it. Ours is a softer Montessori approach and the classes are divided by age, which I like (18-36m, 3-4y, 4-5y). DS1 started at age 3.5 DS2 started at age 21m. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/montessori-1#post-2620724 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:46:42 +0000 Bao 2620724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have always been so interested in the concept of Montessori, I know some of you send your LO's to Montessori schools and implement it at home. </p> <p>What made you decide to do it? Did you do it from birth, or start it when your LO was older? How do you think it has helped your LO? </p>