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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Repeating a year

by John Jeffrey

Mar 18, 2014

Just looking for guidance from Montessori teachers out there. My son, who is approaching his sixth birthday, has just finished Kindergarten 3. He is dyslexic and, as a result, is behind with his reading and writing. The class teacher wants him to repeat Kindergarten 3. Most of what I read online warns against this course of action, especially for d...See More

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John Jeffrey Thanks Maureen for taking the time to respond. My son displayed a number of traits common to dyslexic children so we had him assessed by an educational psychologist. While assessing children of this age for dyslexia is an inexact science, the psychologist was convinced he was dyslexia. Another opportunity arose soon afterwards to have him further a...See MoreThanks Maureen for taking the time to respond. My son displayed a number of traits common to dyslexic children so we had him assessed by an educational psychologist. While assessing children of this age for dyslexia is an inexact science, the psychologist was convinced he was dyslexia. Another opportunity arose soon afterwards to have him further assessed with the same result. And yes he attends a Montessori school and the teacher has recommended he repeat Kindergarten 3. On 3/19/14, maureen wrote: > On 3/19/14, Teacher and parent of a dyslexic son wrote: >> On 3/18/14, John Jeffrey wrote: >> >>> Just looking for guidance from Montessori teachers out >>> there. My son, who is approaching his sixth birthday, has >>> just finished Kindergarten 3. He is dyslexic and, as a >>> result, is behind with his reading and writing. The class >>> teacher wants him to repeat Kindergarten 3. Most of what I >>> read online warns against this course of action, especially >>> for dyslexic children. What should I do? >> > John: Of course, you would be the best judge on what to do with > your own child. Trust your gut instinct. I am curious though. How > do you know for sure your son is dyslexic? I ask because I have > had several children over the years who were developmentally just > not ready for reading and writing. I only had two students who > were later identified later as being dyslexic, both girls. One > girl I only had for her K year, and she was very social and > didn't do much in the way of academics. I had had her brother so > I knew this was the opposite of him, but I didn't find that too > unusual. The other girl I had had since she was 2 1/2 until > almost age 7. Both the mother and I shared concerns from the > beginning of things that seemed off. She had her tested through > the public schools and they wrote her off saying nothing was > wrong. She finally had her tested privately after K and that is > when they confirmed the girl was severely dyslexic. She was very > motivated to want to read and she just had no recall of her > sounds, letters and numbers no matter how many times she > repeated, tried different approaches sensorially, etc. In public > school in first on, she and the other girl both got intensive > help through the special education department. Both learned to > read after years of that work. In both cases, the fathers were > also dyslexic. The mothers were unaware of their spouse's > challenges they hid it so well. It wasn't until their daughters > were diagnosed that they found out about their husbands. > > > My own daughter was in my classroom from age 3 through her K > year. She turned 6 at the beginning of the school year. She > reversed everything in her writing back then. She is a leftie so > of course, she mirrored everything. Her first grade teacher in > traditional school suggested we have her tested because her > reading skills were not on par with most of her classmates. I > knew she had some basic decoding skills and I put it off. As the > teacher in the other post noted reading aloud to her made all the > difference in the world. I started reading chapter books to her > at age four and I continued reading novels to her every day > through 5th grade. Her listening ability for books way beyond her > own skill level was amazing and I am convinced that those years > of reading to her was the key. She did not start reading until > right before her 9th birthday going into 3rd grade. Something > clicked in her brain and her reading took off. In first grade she > used to mirror all her numbers up to 100. By the end of the > school year, I noticed that she was only reversing her 9's. I > mentioned to her that I noticed that she was writing her numbers > differently. She said, "Mom, I figured out that when I write them > the wrong way, that is the way they are supposed to look". Brains > are a fascinating study and we know so little on how they are > working in our little ones. > > I wasn't sure if you son was already in Montessori since some > Montessori schools call the third year Kindergarten. If I felt > that my child could benefit from another year of Montessori, I > would not hesitate keeping him there. If he is attending > traditional school for K, you might find a Montessori that will > take a child without previous Montessori experience for that "in > between" year. I had several children over the years where we > would use that extra year to see if the child was just a late > bloomer. Some children can seemingly change overnight in areas > that seemed way behind for the age. I had a couple boys and a > girl that the parents requested that the child stay with me until > age 7, and then they went to first grade. As far as I can > remember all those children made the transition fine. As a > Montessori teacher, I NEVER thought of having a child stay with > me for that fourth year as "repeating". That is the beauty of the > multiage classroom.

Mar 20, 2014

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maureen On 3/20/14, John Jeffrey wrote: > > Thanks Maureen for taking the time to respond. > > My son displayed > a number of traits common to dyslexic children so we had him > assessed by > an educational psychologist. While assessing children > of this age for dyslexia is an inexact > science, the psychologist > was convince...See MoreOn 3/20/14, John Jeffrey wrote: > > Thanks Maureen for taking the time to respond. > > My son displayed > a number of traits common to dyslexic children so we had him > assessed by > an educational psychologist. While assessing children > of this age for dyslexia is an inexact > science, the psychologist > was convinced he was dyslexia. Another opportunity arose soon > afterwards to have him further assessed with the same result. > > And > yes he attends a Montessori school and the teacher has recommended > he repeat > Kindergarten 3. > John: that is great that he was identified this early as that can only help him. I was thinking that there was some kind of special training a Montessori teacher could get to help specifically with dyslexics. I attended a couple workshops many, many years ago and I recall learning about that. There is a training center somewhere in Texas that helps teachers with all sorts of learning challenges. If he stays with his current teacher, she might be able to find out more specifics on that training. Just attending the workshops was helpful to me. I am sorry but I can't remember the name but I was thinking it had the name of a woman in the title of the training center.

With the little girl I had for four years that was later diagnosed with dyslexia, one of the traits we noticed about her early on was some lapses in her coordination, too. She tended to trip easily was one thing I remember. When she was tested by the public school system special ed team, they told the mother that there wasn't anything wrong with the child and it was only "because her shoes didn't fit". ?????!!!!! The girl was also later diagnosed with Tourette's. I am glad that you found a private professional. As you can see although we who know the child better then anyone else, too many times the professionals in the school systems too often don't listen to us (teacher and parent) and make their own diagnosis when they see the child for a few hours at the most. It sounds like you have an important decision to make for the fall.

My question would be for the teacher would be something along the line as to what she could do specifically to work with you or any specialists on addressing his unique needs? Is she saying he is immature for his age as to why he should stay another year, or because of the dyslexia he should stay out of public school for another year? I would think another year even in an enriched school environment would also mean some direct instruction for his specific needs.

You sound like a loving and caring parent and your son is fortunate to have chosen you to be his dad!

Mar 20, 2014

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Montessori training

by Sara NY/K

Feb 28, 2014

What are recommendations for being trained as a Montessori teacher? I am currently teaching in the public school system but am very discouraged at the lack of interest in what is developmentally appropriate for children and the different ways that learning can happen. I see a lot of different training locations/schools but want to make sure that th...See More

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maureen On 2/28/14, Sara NY/K wrote: > What are recommendations for being trained as a Montessori > teacher? I am currently teaching in the public school > system but am very discouraged at the lack of interest in > what is developmentally appropriate for children and the > different ways that learning can happen. I see a lot of > differe...See MoreOn 2/28/14, Sara NY/K wrote: > What are recommendations for being trained as a Montessori > teacher? I am currently teaching in the public school > system but am very discouraged at the lack of interest in > what is developmentally appropriate for children and the > different ways that learning can happen. I see a lot of > different training locations/schools but want to make sure > that the training I receive is authentic Montessori. > Thanks, Sara.

Sara: I would suggest visiting various Montessori schools. When you find one that you feel good about, ask where the teachers got their training. You might want to ask at every school you visit though to see if there is overlap. I have worked with teachers from various training centers and actually, I found that it was more the person taking the training then it was where they got their training. I have seen some amazing Montessori teachers who were naturals and would have been authentic no matter where their training came from.

I would also suggest reading as much of Montessori's books as possible, and get a good feeling about what this approach means to you. Taking the training can be a transformation of you personally and it is your own unique journey that you will be taking. If you are in the right frame of mind, I think you can see right away what training would meet your needs. I worked in Montessori for 6 years before I got my training. I used some of it, continued a lot of what I had already absorbed and I returned for more specific training when I saw the need over the years. I also picked up ideas from observing at numerous schools and working with different teachers. I was in the "biz" for over 25 years before I retired. It was a second career for me and I fell in love with it immediately. It became an obsession and I never felt like I stopped learning and sharing my experiences with others.

Many Montessori teachers work for a year at a Montessori school as an assistant before taking the training. Many schools pay for the training if the candidate is what they want to invest in. Working as an assistant is a wonderful introduction to the approach and it helps you a lot during your eventual training. The "mentor" I worked with as an assistant was not having a good year, and I learned more about what I would never do when I had my own classroom, then what I would do. So, although it would be ideal to have an excellent mentor, one can make lemonade out of lemons with the right attitude.

All teachers believe "their" training is the best and there are pros and cons for each one. Some areas and many schools only hire teachers trained at specific training centers. That is why it would be good for you to see what the schools in your area prefer.

Best wishes for a wonderful career change. You will never regret it!

Mar 1, 2014

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Montessori Teachers

by Katie

Feb 28, 2014

For those in the San Diego County area, I just wanted to let you know about an amazing Montessori charter school. I know they are hiring for the 2014-2015 school year. Bella Mente is hiring Montessori teachers at all levels because they are expanding next year. If you haven't heard of them, take a look!

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First online montessori training in the world

by Murielle LEFEBVRE

Feb 23, 2014

Hello, We created the first online Montessori for infants and toddlers in the world ! It's all in French but will be in English next year ! We have the 3 to 6 online program too and are preparing the 6 to 12 one ! Bienvenue ! wwww.montessori.fr

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