Any thoughts on one pedagogy vs. the other at the preschool level ?
Understand that a lot depends your child’s personality AND on the quality of the school/teachers (i.e. a mediocre preschool no matter what the pedagogy will be less desirable). Also understand that different schools use the term Montessori differently - some are true Montessori preschools (e.g. REDS) while others are “inspired” (WSMS?) and some others like Washington Market implement elements of it in the curriculum.
We have applied to both Montessori and play-based schools for September and understand the differences between both approaches. However given we haven’t actually visited any of the schools in-person because of Covid we are trying to learn more through parents‘ experiences (videos on the school websites all look great).
Thanks for sharing any perspectives !
After 1 year, we took DC out of a play based school and put her into a Montessori. In the first year, we liked it and then realized that she learned nothing there in one year; all her math, language and ABC came from us the parents (and we stopped that enrichment about halfway into the play based school - so basically it seemed she learned nothing 'academic' for the second half of the year). With Montessori we were hearing her sing songs about math and planets within weeks; the real acceleration came with extended day where it seems there was greater focus on more math/writing activities. My kid loves it too, she does not seem to be missing out on any play. We kind of think the play based school held her back.
Montessori 100%. They can play on the weekends. Seriously. You don't need to spend tens of thousands of dollars simply to play. If that's what you want, keep them out of school and just have a nanny take them out to play and explore for most of the day. Check out the Twin Park Montessori schools. GL! And, yes, would do "true" Montessori -- much better when followed that way. The mixed element, Montessori-lite options do not seem to yield nearly the same benefits.
I agree. I am all for kids being allowed to play but to PAY for a play based preschool is... you might as well skip preschool altogether and just have a nanny set up play dates.
OP: Really appreciate the input from everyone. DH and I really like many aspects of the Montessori approach which is why the original question.
However, given we haven’t been able to visit a school in-person and see kids in a Montessori setting “live”, we‘ve been trying to do some research online. Some of the negative aspects of this approach that we read were: (1) classrooms can be very quiet (joyless even?) (2) children tend to “work” a lot independently and there isn’t as much social interaction as one might see in a play-based preschool (3) the manipulatives can only be used in the “right” way and this doesn’t encourage creativity (4) there is no dramatic/imaginative play which is important for children at this age (5) the “true” Montessori approach was created many decades ago and hasn’t evolved with new research in early childhood education (ECE).
Any thoughts on the above? Not trying to make this a debate about one approach being better than the other since I know there are many different approaches to ECE that are all very good. Also, NYC has so many well reputed play-based preschools that send kids to amazing public/private schools. I assume that parents who send their children to those schools must find a lot of value in how much their children are learning through “play”.
Nothing wrong with play, but I'm surely not paying 30-40Gs for it. It sounds to me like you're parroting things you've read online about Montessori. Anyone who knows Montessori knows the classrooms are anything but joyless and anti-social. Montessori children tend to be super polite, respectful of each other and of their materials, etc. They know how to wait, take turns, resolve conflict, follow directions, and show each other grace. The classrooms are very quiet, but a bunch of screaming kids should not be confused with productivity or solid learning. The idea behind "work" is that children like to be useful (haven't you ever seen your toddler try to help mommy?). Giving them things to do that are useful caters to their natural instincts, builds independence, and helps them reach important milestones. You can certainly find a true Montessori program that has after school programming in the dramatic arts. I'm not sure what early learning things Montessori doesn't keep up with, but you should know that true montessori programs are pretty staunchly against screen time and technology (everything is natural). Most kids get plenty of iPhone/ipad time at home, so shouldn't be a problem. As for it being around a long time, I don't even know what to say about that. So have carrots. If you want your kid to have fun, send them to a play-based program. If you want your kid to be smart, send them to Montessori.
OP: Thanks for the detailed info. Super helpful. Didn’t mean to “parrot” things I’ve read online. As I mentioned earlier, we haven’t been to a school during this process so based what I read online, those were some concerns some people had raised about Montessori. I understand that in many cases those issues are not a function of Montessori itself but rather the quality of the teachers in the classroom/casa.
Montessori rooms are organized, which is not the same thing as joyless. The whole point is to let kids work with what they enjoy doing.. its focused around joy of the kid and not the teacher -- the opposite of joyless! Kids are curious, why not let them be curious without being concerned by their curiosity? I don't see how a Montessori classroom stifles creativity any more than a structured classroom with a traditional teacher... I can see how it stifles it less to be honest.
Montessori rooms encourage interaction, just not in the way you are used to seeing it. The mixed ages allow little kids to look up to big ones, and vice versa. There are group activities. And kids still do a ton of play dates, park time etc.
Interesting point on dramatic/imaginative play. But my kid seems to get enough of that anyway, and does it on play dates and with us. They are doing dress up, and whatever they want to. We walked down 3rd avenue the other day pretending we were pirates. I'm not sure she was doing it at her play based school in a much bigger way -- those classes still are looking to teach kids something versus letting them play Frozen with each other.
I think all these programs have marketing pitches for themselves and against others. So many come out against Montessori. But I think the results speak for themselves... and to repeat, my Montessori kid is a bundle of joy who likes drawing cats, eating cupcakes, doing dress up and watching TV... she is not a soul less kid sent off to do "work camp"... she likes going to school because it is fun.
Montessori. No question.
Are any of the usual feeder preschools play based or montessori?
OP: Based on what I've read on this forum and other websites, a majority of the "usual feeder" preschools are play-based/reggio. In terms of Montessori schools, I've seen the names REDS and Westside Montessori be mentioned in the same bracket as those other ones. I am sure there are others. There are also Montessori schools like Caedmon and MMS that go beyond just preschool.
FWIW we are going through this process for the first time so I am sure other parents whose kids have actually attended those preschools and/or now attend the TT/2T/3T privates can better answer this question.
Beginnings is Reggio
It's preschool. Doesn't really matter. Pick the one closest to home.
IDA I think it totally matters. That said, pick based on philosophy, not "feeder". Pick where you think you and your family fit best. Pick the place that feels like "home" to you. At this age, that's where everyone will do best -- dc and you. The rest will take care of itself. TT schools take kids from all over and you can start creating your luck on that even now. But in terms of school choice, make that decision solely on where dc will thrive the most.
For PS I would choose a balanced program with small class size that is close to home. Good exmission if you are thinking private ongoing. Don't think the education model makes a huge difference at this age but sounds like you may be looking at extreme examples? Many PS have both elements in their programs (=balanced).
I don't think it matters in the long run -- pick one which seems welll-run, and has good loving teachers and where the kids seem to enjoy themselves. IME, what I have found is that parents who send their kids to Montessori schools rave on and on about the method, and how their kids are ahead in math and science and work independently for long periods of time, which is all well and good, but out in elementary school and beyond, I see no discernable difference between those kids and those who attended play based preschools. Maybe there would be a difference if the kids continued in Montessori beyond preschool but very few do. I'm coming from the perspective of now having kids in elementary school and heading into middle school.
This may be true, but the hurdle is higher for kids coming from play based programs in terms of K admissions. And it's kind of unfair if you think about it- having dc in Reggio programs and then asking them to go into the private school process as if they had come from a Montessori school is not really fair play to the dc. So if you have a child who can thrive in a play based program but still show all the skills inculcated by Montessori, go for it. I have not seen that, though.
Huh? Almost all connected schools in NYC are Reggio. We’re actually a completely Montessori home sending our kid to a Reggio preschool. Works for us!
@Anonymous IDA that connected schools are Reggio, unless by Reggio you mean any school that values play, in which case you're talking about all schools. There's no educational setting for preschoolers that's going to tell you play isn't important.
I think it depends what you want -is it a tt school,? If so it seems that kids are expected to know certain things for admission ( numbers, letters, writing etc) so unless you're going to supplement the summer before interviews I'd send dc where they will actually learn. We really like reds but my issue was more the very short days, and couldn't do extended day I think until the 2nd year. But I think it's an amazing program and the teachers are very serious.
DC was at Montessori for two years (from when he was 1-2.5y) and play based/regio Emilia “feeder” from 3-5.5. It really worked for him. i found that in play based school his personality truly came out but I’m not sure if it was school or age driven. Montessori taught him a LOT of independence (taking of the coat, finding his cubby, changing shoes, serving himself water and snack etc). I wouldn’t change a thing. If you are planning to go down the private ongoing route, you need a feeder school. DC is now at TT and doing very well.
Which Montessori in the city will take 1yo?
@Anonymous Twin Parks is the only one I know of - they are real true Montessori in that they take babies and start the Montessori method as young as a few months old. Disagree you need a feeder school to get into a TT -- you need a well qualified, standout kid and a connected psd, but you can get that without it being a feeder school per se.
@Anonymous thanks. how did you decide to send DC at such a young age? Do you think the 1:1 attention of a sahm/nanny would be more beneficial to dc at this stage or does the program providevsomething that can’t be replicated at home?
Anyone with experience at West Side Montessori?
Great program, its own beautiful building, including rooftop play space, but does not go that late in the day, doesn’t take infants, and is comparatively expensive. Riverside Montessori around the corner also has a substantively fantastic program, has lovely spaces but not its own building, goes until 6 pm, has indoor gym space but all outside activities are done by walking around the neighborhood, playing and exploring in riverside park, walking to the water to watch the boats, etc.