I really like the preschool where my 2-year-old attends. It's a private center in a church. The teachers are great, and each class has a curriculum it follows focused on a different theme each week.

But I have been hearing a lot of good things about Montessori schools lately. Does anyone know much about these schools or have a child who attends one? I'd like to learn more.

Sorry Stacy, I have no clue, but I'd be interested in learning. There's Montessori school about a block from my house that is expanding into a bigger building -- that seems like a good sign to me.

When we looked at the Montessori school on NW 39th back in 1997, the cost was over $600 monthly. That was more than 10 years ago!

I have friends and have met others who used the Montessori schools. Most loved them. We; however, chose a different private pre-school/elem school because we were uncomfortable there the time we visited. It felt odd to be told by a teacher (and I am a teacher myself) that kids need the freedom to explore whenever and wherever they wish. There was NO talk about structure or discipline, which I believe all children need (the amount, of course, depends upon the child). We were also uncomfortable with the "look' of the classrooms; most of the kids we saw were adorable... blond with blue eyes. Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but it still felt VERY odd (and we're blond w/ blue eyes!).

A woman I know kept her daughter at the Montessori School across town (near Glen Springs Elem); she SWEARS by that school. She loved it and hated having to leave it when her daughter became too old. It appears, thru the rumor mill, that that particular Montessori school is different than the one on NW 39th Street AND it's a very good school (although I can't attest to that personally). It may be worth checking it out, although I hear the one on the SW side of town is less costly (again, a rumor.

The method is characterized by an emphasis on self-directed activity on the part of the child and clinical observation on the part of the teacher (often called a "director", "directress", or "guide"). It stresses the importance of adapting the child's learning environment to his or her developmental level, and of the role of physical activity in absorbing academic concepts and practical skills. It is also characterized by the use of autodidactic (self-correcting) equipment to introduce various concepts.
I have a friend whose daughter attended until the time to go to Kindergarten. Her daughter is doing very well in 2nd grade now and the transition was smooth. I have heard that the transition can be tough, into a traditional school, as the environment and the teaching methods are much less structured. However, my son goes to Brentwood and they are less structured than a traditional school and more so than a Montessori school. His teacher told me that children are not ready for structure as early as the schools try to implement it. Her thought was that schools do this for the convenience to them. Montessori has very small class size (so does Brentwood) this way they can allow the kids to "discover" w/o it getting too out of control. We were on the waiting list for Montessori. They did not have the days available that we wanted, so we went w/ Brentwood.

We searched long and hard for where we wanted to place our first born lol, it was such a big decision. We decided on a Montessori, loving the style and teachers/location. We visited it many times to 'check in' and see how things were going, watching the differences in teachers etc.

We were very impressed and felt our son would do well.

He starts this fall so I will let you know.

(his cousins have been going to a montessori style school in another state for years and love it)

Just depends on the child and parent I spose. Def. do a google search to learn more about the style of teaching etc.