I went to observe a pre-school class today and it was all very orderly and intense. Do they also have kids will be kids fun time? They say yes but I am a little concerned. Talk to me about it please!
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I went to Montessori from the age of 3 until 9. I loved it! Having said that, I don't think it's ideal for every child (my brother, for example, hated it and my parents switched him out of it).
"Orderly and intense" doesn't sound overly Montessori-esque though. The central principle is that children are supposed to have freedom to choose their activities as well as independence within the classroom. As a child, I didn't even realize I was learning...I just thought I was choosing fun/interesting activities in which to participate. If you don't feel like this school was adhering to those principles they may not be practicing authentic Montessori.
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i think they have fun, but it's a different kind of fun. every time i've been in a montessori room, things are definitely quiet and orderly, but the kids are fully engaged in what they are doing and definitely enjoy their self-chosen work. it might not be loud and filled with chatter, but there's definitely a quiet buzz of enjoyment!
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@hergreenapples: what type of child is best suited for it? Why was your brother not enjoying it? You are right in that they are not truly authentic. They also mix in early childhood education, but they are mostly Montessori. I observed kids during their independent learning time so they were able to pick what they wanted from the shelves to work with. Then they were required
to place the item back before selecting another. So that was the orderly part. And it was all very quiet. I spoke to a friend who had 2 kids there and she used the word "intense" as well to describe the atmosphere. -
@Mrs. Cowgirl: ok thanks. It is so different from the play based pre-school DD is at now. I think she could benefit from a more orderly environment but I just hope she can adjust.
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@Andrea: Hmm, well, yes, removing activities from the shelves, completing them and then replacing them when done is definitely a Montessori premise, but in my experience it was never orderly to the point of "intense" and we were always free to work with one or two other classmates if we wanted to...so not all that quiet!
In terms of what sort of child it's best suited to, my experience is entirely personal and anecdotal. I'm guessing a Montessori educator might tell you that it can be tailored to any and all children. In my family's experience it worked well for me (teachers described me as a "textbook Montessori child") because I was innately curious, independent and self-motivated. My brother was an incredibly smart kid, but required more structure in order to learn productively.
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@hergreenapples: thanks for the helpful info!
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I really think that every child, given the chance to acclimate, can benefit from the Montessori Method. It's not just about taking trays from the shelf and completing activities, it's about the process of learning and self discovery.
The method grew out of Dr. Montessori's work with low income children living in tenements, which is why there is such a big focus on "work" instead of "play."
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The rooms being orderly is really important to the whole method of each work having it's place and the child knowing where to find it. My kids have a ton of fun. They also go to the playground where they run off their energy and they have their friends they "work" with. DD takes a lot of pride in helping to keep the room neat by sweeping and wiping. They leave cracker bits for the birds outside..There are lots of smiles, but there is also a lot of focus. That may be where the "intense" observation comes from.
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@andrea where are you in your search? After observing a classroom, DD had to work with some teachers and then participate in the whole class during the morning. She had a blast (she'll start in the fall) and talks about going back to school constantly! So maybe, you can take your LO in for a morning to see how he or she responds to it....
I don't know if I would say intense with what I saw, but certainly many small children who were concentrating very very hard.
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I feel like our Montessori school is very joyful. It's quiet because the kids are concentrating on their "works". Our daughter loves it there so much that she said she wants her birthday party to be there.
Hopefully what you saw was just quiet concentration. I have yet to hear any stern words in the classroom.
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