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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Post-Montessori

by Alison

Oct 18, 2010

Since Montessori schools exist at the elementary level, how does a child react when he enters a high school that does not follow those same methods?

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my response I can only speak for my own children. They attended Montessori schools from the age of two through the 8th grade. Their transition into a traditional high school was, to be honest, a little rough at first, but they quickly adjusted. Both kids guide themselves through school and are both honor roll students. They made many friends, joined clubs and ...See More

Oct 19, 2010

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Alison Thank you for sharing your experience.

If you don't mind me asking, why do you think the transition was rough at first?

The way you describe them "guiding themselves" through high school, do you think their Montessori background allowed them to feel in charge of their days like this? Do you think they would be more apt to followi...See More

Oct 22, 2010

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maureen On 10/18/10, Alison wrote: > Since Montessori schools exist at the elementary level, how > does a child react when he enters a high school that does > not follow those same methods?

Our local Montessori schools only go through K or age 9 in one. I have had parents at my school that attended Montessori through grade 6. The Cincinna...See More

Oct 23, 2010

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my response (again) long , sorry The transition was a little rough due to having to learn a different system all-together. Aspects found in the Montessori classroom were not encouraged in the traditional classrooms. As Maureen stated, it was most definitely a type of 'culture shock"

My children were used to having input into their studies and lessons, they were encouraged...See MoreThe transition was a little rough due to having to learn a different system all-together. Aspects found in the Montessori classroom were not encouraged in the traditional classrooms. As Maureen stated, it was most definitely a type of 'culture shock"

My children were used to having input into their studies and lessons, they were encouraged to ask questions and seek answers on their own, they were expected to take the lesson further if they found it of particular interest and expand on what they wanted to learn. The children really ran the classroom; they voted on policy, enforced procedures and expectations with each other and were very much autonomous in their goals.

They were not used to sitting for long periods of time, listening to lectures. As my son stated, "They don't let you work, they just want you to listen and take the work home". They were also not used to having to sit in rows, having movement limited, and switching classrooms every 45 minutes. My daughter initially had a hard time limiting her papers and projects to what the teachers requested...she always wanted to expand or take the projects in another direction, and was marked down for not following the outlines exactly. She still says that they do not allow for individualism: she does it their way, but she does not like it.

I do believe their background within Montessori fostered their skills in guiding themselves through the public schools. In fact, while they found the transition to be a little hard, they found the work to be easier than what they had experienced in Montessori.

They also learned to stand up for their beliefs and argue their opinions with facts behind them - and this was actively taught - that in order to change a rule, a policy or decision, they had to research and fact find and bring to the table an entire supporting discussion. Their Montessori teachers encouraged them to discuss and debate, while their traditional teachers see it as 'arguing' and 'being disrespectful'. I do recall one incident (in the Montessori program) where quite a few kids were upset with one of the procedures put in place by the administration. The principal was informed and put out a letter to the kids stating that if they could come to a consensus in what they wanted changed, how they would change it so that it would work for kids and staff alike, and how they would enforce it, that the staff and administration would listen to arguments and they could work towards an agreement that would make all happy. The kids got together during recesses and after school and crafted their argument, gathered supporting facts and created their own panel of peers to present the information. They won, too! There were over 60 kids involved in the entire process, and the teachers would point out some inconsistencies when asked to review some parts. (I'm sure the admin had some advance notice as to what was being discussed and worked on, but they followed through with the promise to hear the arguments). So, yes, I do believe that the past experiences really did and do enable my children to 'guide themselves'.

Out of curiosity, I was wondering what your experiences were and what was the basis for your initial question.

On 10/22/10, Alison wrote: > Thank you for sharing your experience. > > If you don't mind me asking, why do you think the transition was > rough at first? > > The way you describe them "guiding themselves" through high > school, do you think their Montessori background allowed them to > feel in charge of their days like this? Do you think they would > be more apt to following everyone else rather than self-guiding > if they had been in public school the whole time? > > > On 10/19/10, my response wrote: >> I can only speak for my own children. They attended Montessori >> schools from the age of two through the 8th grade. Their >> transition into a traditional high school was, to be honest, a >> little rough at first, but they quickly adjusted. Both kids >> guide themselves through school and are both honor roll >> students. They made many friends, joined clubs and are active >> in band, drama, chorus and sports. >> >> Some places have Montessori through high school, though rare. >> I wish my area did, as my own children would have continued. >> >> On 10/18/10, Alison wrote: >>> Since Montessori schools exist at the elementary level, how >>> does a child react when he enters a high school that does >>> not follow those same methods?

Oct 25, 2010

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