Montessori and My Children

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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Montessori and My Children

by MM

Mar 25, 2012

Hello Friends, I own a small Montessori preschool and I have three daughters. They've enjoyed being with me over time, but the older two are currently in the lower years of a traditional Catholic school. Our area has no option of higher Montessori education. There are really no other options other than public or Catholic. There are more issues than I can count, worst of all bullying. I, also, cannot stand the worksheets and the large amount of time spent sitting in a desk. Have any of you kept your older children in the primary class with you and "homeschooled" them? I know I personally could handle educating them this way, but is it appropriate for them socially? We're considering an expansion, I wonder if I should brave the frontier and start a lower/upper el simply for my girls!! Please share your experience with me. Many thanks.

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maureen Oh, I hear you, MM! I was in your place many years ago when my eldest was in the early grades of parochial school. How many times I wanted to pull her out and homeschool her but my dh was not for that. Now she is an adult and I am totally convinced that we did not do what was right for her by keeping her in traditional school. She disliked school f...See MoreOh, I hear you, MM! I was in your place many years ago when my eldest was in the early grades of parochial school. How many times I wanted to pull her out and homeschool her but my dh was not for that. Now she is an adult and I am totally convinced that we did not do what was right for her by keeping her in traditional school. She disliked school from first grade through high school. It was so hard to watch that spark and bubbly personality turn to resignation. We didn't have to deal with the bullying until years later. We did take her out of the parochial school after third grade and it was much better for her after that. At that time, we also had little choice. There was a Montessori elementary an hour away but we lacked the time and money to do so.

Now that my grandchildren have been through my school, the eldest we held back a year before putting her into public school full day K. She was six. It was a disaster and we ended up pulling her out and she was "homeschooled" at my small Montessori in the spring months. We were at a loss as to what to do as there was no way that I was going to watch her dislike school for 12 years like her mother. We lucked out as the town we live in now has a nice little charter school that follows the Progressive model and she got into that for first grade. It is not Montessori and I know what she is missing from not attending an authentic Montessori elementary. There are two in our city that go through 3rd. I felt it was more important that she stay in the same school environment that she is happy with for the 6 to 8 years. She is very happy there and is learning. Her brother will join her this August. I realize how fortunate that we are that we have this option. I remember so well the helplessness you are feeling by not having the choices.

There are a LOT of Montessori homeschooling groups on yahoo groups where you could get your support and advice on actually homeschooling your children during the elementary years. I don't know if your area is big on homeschooling but ours has at least three or four homeschooling organizations where they have sports, meet for field trips and other organized activities that allow the homeschooled child to be with other children.

I know the lady in town who had a one room preschool added an elementary with almost all K and first grade ages, but she started with just one third grader. So, I know it can be done. She also doesn't charge enough tuition to cover the costs, but she wants a good program. Her preschool is supporting the elementary.

It depends a lot on your circumstances. I was shocked at my first dd's experience in parochial school. I thought with it being a smaller school, she would have transitioned easier into it. Instead, she stepped up to the doorway the first day, quickly looked over the environment, turned around and said "I don't want to go there". It didn't get better. Instead of finding a warm, welcoming environment, it turned out to have a lot of behavior problems, little to no enrichment and a staff with a very low morale. After we took our children out, they finally changed the principal and the school finally became the gem it should have been all along.

One thing I do believe strongly in though, is that should you choose to homeschool, you HAVE to have your spouse on the same page. It won't be easy. I would not be concerned about your girls not feeling like they fit in at your school. My children always thoroughly loved coming during the spring breaks or other breaks and summer when they didn't have their school. I loved having them there, too, as did the students.

You have a big decision to make. Hopefully you can learn from my personal experience. maureen

Mar 25, 2012

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MM Thank you for your response, Maureen. I really think my husband trusts what I have to say about our daughters' education, so I think he would be on board if I go this route. My girls absolutely LOVE spending time in the classroom on breaks and during summer camp, but I'm looking down the road when they're in 5th or 6th grade and still going to scho...See MoreThank you for your response, Maureen. I really think my husband trusts what I have to say about our daughters' education, so I think he would be on board if I go this route. My girls absolutely LOVE spending time in the classroom on breaks and during summer camp, but I'm looking down the road when they're in 5th or 6th grade and still going to school with 3 year olds. Is that healthy? I would really like to start the Montessori lower or upper el, but again, that will take them only so far because I have absolutely no interest in going up through middle/high school. I guess it will just take some more reflection...and prayer! Thanks again for taking the time to share your experiences.

On 3/25/12, maureen wrote: > Oh, I hear you, MM! I was in your place many years ago when my > eldest was in the early grades of parochial school. How many > times I wanted to pull her out and homeschool her but my dh > was not for that. Now she is an adult and I am totally > convinced that we did not do what was right for her by keeping > her in traditional school. She disliked school from first > grade through high school. It was so hard to watch that spark > and bubbly personality turn to resignation. We didn't have to > deal with the bullying until years later. We did take her out > of the parochial school after third grade and it was much > better for her after that. At that time, we also had little > choice. There was a Montessori elementary an hour away but we > lacked the time and money to do so. > > Now that my grandchildren have been through my school, the > eldest we held back a year before putting her into public > school full day K. She was six. It was a disaster and we ended > up pulling her out and she was "homeschooled" at my small > Montessori in the spring months. We were at a loss as to what > to do as there was no way that I was going to watch her > dislike school for 12 years like her mother. We lucked out as > the town we live in now has a nice little charter school that > follows the Progressive model and she got into that for first > grade. It is not Montessori and I know what she is missing > from not attending an authentic Montessori elementary. There > are two in our city that go through 3rd. I felt it was more > important that she stay in the same school environment that > she is happy with for the 6 to 8 years. She is very happy > there and is learning. Her brother will join her this August. > I realize how fortunate that we are that we have this option. > I remember so well the helplessness you are feeling by not > having the choices. > > There are a LOT of Montessori homeschooling groups on yahoo > groups where you could get your support and advice on actually > homeschooling your children during the elementary years. I > don't know if your area is big on homeschooling but ours has > at least three or four homeschooling organizations where they > have sports, meet for field trips and other organized > activities that allow the homeschooled child to be with other > children. > > I know the lady in town who had a one room preschool added an > elementary with almost all K and first grade ages, but she > started with just one third grader. So, I know it can be done. > She also doesn't charge enough tuition to cover the costs, but > she wants a good program. Her preschool is supporting the > elementary. > > It depends a lot on your circumstances. I was shocked at my > first dd's experience in parochial school. I thought with it > being a smaller school, she would have transitioned easier > into it. Instead, she stepped up to the doorway the first day, > quickly looked over the environment, turned around and said "I > don't want to go there". It didn't get better. Instead of > finding a warm, welcoming environment, it turned out to have a > lot of behavior problems, little to no enrichment and a staff > with a very low morale. After we took our children out, they > finally changed the principal and the school finally became > the gem it should have been all along. > > One thing I do believe strongly in though, is that should you > choose to homeschool, you HAVE to have your spouse on the same > page. It won't be easy. I would not be concerned about your > girls not feeling like they fit in at your school. My children > always thoroughly loved coming during the spring breaks or > other breaks and summer when they didn't have their school. I > loved having them there, too, as did the students. > > You have a big decision to make. Hopefully you can learn from > my personal experience. maureen

Mar 28, 2012

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