Comment from Christine on 3/27/2006
As a yaiyai who foots the bill for my grandson who attends Montessori school, I consider it money well spent. The early years are so important for brain growth. Children need to be in a developmental program early on. After all, the younger they are the more their brain's are growing. Not only is Montessori great for brain development, meaning that Montessori education caters to sensitive periods of learning (development) for optimum brain growth that last all their entire life, it also gives chidlren an opportunity to learn so much more. For example, children learn to respect themselves and each other. They learn to care for their environment (classroom, etc). Montessori education provides a curriculum for peace.

Maria Montessori was nominated for the nobel peace prize three times. One of those nominations resulted from her development of a curriculum for the "science of peace'. If children learn peace at an early age they will crave it as adults. The cultural studies play a major role in these studies.

In addition to all its benefits one of the most important is that children are truly joyful learners and Montessori education enhances their joy in learning. Helps them learn how to make appropriate choices and helps them analyze and think for themselves. Older Montessori students are known for making safe, constructive decision even when their peers are doing and suggesting something else.

There is so much more to know, Montessori is a way of life. I applaud all parents who provide this type of education for their children.

My school's web site is FloridaMontessori.com also Montessori.org has limitless information about Montessori education. I has been a pleasure. Christine

Comment from Phillip Kerman on 11/5/2004
Hey, saw your excellent presentation at MAX. Anyway, my 3.75 yo daughter has been at a Montessori for just over a year. It's so funny because if I ask her what she did at school (we call it school) she says "I worked on work". First, I'm sure each school is different. Anyway, I think it lacks some social aspects and more noticeably, it lacks the playtime I think she needs. We usually go to the park after school and she's only there three full days a week. To think the teachers really think math is so important is a bit scary (as I believe communication and socialization is way more important). Anyway, it's temporary and it's a much better option than many other things. It just depends on the teacher, the school, and the other kids. She likes it a lot so I'm okay with it. (Price is high but actually very competitive... my nephew's daycare in Seattle area is more expensive than fulltime tuition at Washington State).

Comment from Mark on 10/20/2004
My son attended a Montessori preschool for two years. Overall, I have mixed feelings. There is no doubt that he and his peers learned a lot of skills, and he was well on his way to doing basic reading and math. There is also no doubt that the structure of Montessori education does not fit the personalities of all children.

As you know, the "works" in Montessori education are all highly individualized, marking a commitment to tailoring education to the needs of the particular child. However, because works are designed for the individual, children like my son who thrive on socializing, for whom learning is fundamentally a social activity, the Montessori system doesn't work. I observed on several occasions my son during worktime, going from child to child at their individual rugs, asking to do a "work" with them. The result: being rejected over and over. So my son, who used to launch himself into new social situations all the time, became tentative and withdrawn, clearly avoiding (potential) rejection in other situations beyond the classroom - the playground, etc.

This year, we've enrolled him in a non-Montessori preschool where they practice a pedagogical model that Montessori teachers would call pure chaos . . . a social/group/cooperative learning approach that always situates the learning needs of the individual within the context of the larger social context. He's thriving.