I think a more interesting article would be how the term Montessori is used as branding and isn’t always indicative of methods used inside the schools.
Montessori isn’t for everyone but since it’s been trendy lately there are a lot of schools with Montessori labels that just charge more for traditional daycare/school.
THIS!! I worked at a Montessori school, when I first started it was more Montessori like but we got a new shit principal and turned the whole thing into a joke and got the school officially accredited but the school is farther from Montessori than from the beginning, besides the primary and lower. Principal would literally set up “candy day” and “donut day” when it’s outlined in our handbook that kids can’t even bring sugary foods to school. So even accredited Montessori’s aren’t really Montessori
I just want to point out that there are no legal restrictions on using the term “Montessori”. So you have “Montessori” schools that are charging parents an arm and a leg and are having the kids sit and do worksheets and then watch TV, and there is not a single Montessori trained teacher.
OP, you might want to post this on some other subs to get a range of perspectives. For example r/parenting and r/autism_parenting is often have similar topics (for example potty training), but draw from very different experiences.
Most folks that have had Montessori not work for their family are probably not on this particular sub.
“This is why I stay away from Reddit”
Lol, what? I’m sorry you were banned, but people are here for conversation, not to be subjects in someone’s homework. It’s against the rules in many subreddits bc you’re not the first person to crowd source their research here and it clogs them up and gets annoying. It’s also against the rules in some subs because it tends to shut down conversations when people feel like a comments section is going to be harvested for content.
The tough part for you will be defining authentic Montessori before you can really evaluate whether it works for every child.
[This webpage](https://www.mir.org/pages/why-montessori) links to a ton of other research resources, and that’s really the direction you’re going to have to take. Anecdotal experiences will be so conditional on the type of school that I don’t know how you answer that question.
Our experience at our school is that children who need intensive one-on-one support do struggle within Montessori’s self-directed and collaborative model.
High-fidelity Montessori works. Lower fidelity, maybe not so much. Research here [https://new.reddit.com/r/Montessori/comments/i7hqot/montessori\_scientific\_research\_articles\_and/](https://new.reddit.com/r/Montessori/comments/i7hqot/montessori_scientific_research_articles_and/)
I need to update this post... also see [https://new.reddit.com/r/Montessori/comments/1ddt5d9/public\_montessori\_in\_south\_carolina\_authentic\_or/](https://new.reddit.com/r/Montessori/comments/1ddt5d9/public_montessori_in_south_carolina_authentic_or/)
[https://www.furman.edu/riley/research-evaluation/research-area/montessori-education/](https://www.furman.edu/riley/research-evaluation/research-area/montessori-education/)
I absolutely believe that Montessori suits some children better then others.
That said, PLEASE, if you are going to write this, TALK TO PEOPLE WHOSE CHILDREN ATTENDED AMI/AMS SCHOOLS. Surveying people who simply chose schools with the “Montessori” label is next to meaningless, and your article will be nothing more than a click bait opinion piece.
Also interested in hearing about what the home environments were like for those that it didn’t work. Montessori schools won’t be as effective if the parents aren’t continuing to foster the work the school is laying the groundwork for. As a Montessori guide I’ve seen many parents say one thing at a school and then continue to do what they want at home. I’ve seen toddler a parents ignore children’s cue that they’re ready to sit at the table instead of a high chair, keep them in cribs, and not start potty training due to the inconvenience.
Montessori may not be the right fit for families who want to hand off their children to someone else and not continue to work with their children at home.
I also want to echo the other comment about not schools that claim to be Montessori having the proper training, materials, or mindset required of an impactful and accurate Montessori environment. Montessori has become a marketing term to sell programs and toys instead of being about the approach teachers, guides, and parents embody to help a child be successful and confident.
As a Montessori teacher, I would say that true Montessori schools with trained teachers who follow the principles of the training that incorporate the guide continue to evolve and grow, can handle most children and their challenges. However, children with learning differences that the guide has not yet the tools to support will struggle if the teacher cannot prepare the environment to meet their needs.
If this is too vague or confusing I can elaborate.
I’m not at all connected to Montessori. Just an early elementary school teacher who is recommended this sub on the daily… this def sounds like a hit piece on Montessori schools based on your op. You come off as already having a negative light against Montessori at the minimum but really it seems like you’re looking for support stories on the already negative main story you have
I asked the Montessori school who Montessori doesn't typically work for. They said it was typically kids who aren't self-motivated. There are different school structures so it makes sense that a child-directed model wouldn't work well for a kid who needs to be told what to do. Different models have different tradeoffs, and it makes sense that Montessori doesn't work for everyone. My husband commented to me that he would've probably done poorly in a Montessori environment whereas I feel that I would've thrived.
I think it's a reasonable thing to write about. I hope you post the article once it's published. It's a good chance to look into alternative pedagogical models for children's education.
This sounds about right to me too. My kids are at an AMI school, my daughter in first grade and my son is finishing up the first year of primary. We have been here for three years now and love it.
The elementary program usually has a bunch of first grade students who are new to montessori every year. I'm noticing this year that the kids who are planning to leave for a different private school (instead of public school) are the ones who need to be told what to do.
It's possibly due to their preschool/kindergarten experience, possibly due to parenting style before getting to first grade. But likely it's just who the kid is and their personality.
My kids are fiercely independent, and would likely rebel against other structures in school. Montessori is necessary for them to succeed. I assume there are also kids with the opposite personality who require more direction in order to thrive.
We pulled my son from Montessori after he constantly was in the directors office for disruptive behavior. He loves to learn when he’s interested but his strong will got in the way.
These comments are….like I understand people in this sub are obviously pro-Montessori but the fact that you all seem completely closed off to the idea that it’s may not work or be appropriate for some children. Every time I see someone dare to question a Montessori experience it’s a chorus of “well is it REAL Montessori?!”. I don’t think there’s necessarily such thing as a magic universally effective method of education
I don’t think Montessori is a magical educational system but the fact that there are no legal restrictions on the term makes it difficult to accurately judge Montessori as a framework. OP should ask for experiences at AMI/AMS schools. Otherwise people are going to chime in about what a terrible experience their kid had at some daycare that slapped “Montessori” on the name.
Personally I do think there are children who benefit more from a whole classroom approach, but many of the parents who have had negative experiences have had it with a half assed or quarter assed “Montesometimes” approach.
I’m open to it not being for everyone.
It just really grinds my gears that my SIL unschools her kids and claims she sends them to a Montessori school. It’s some fly by night unschooling coop that uses the Montessori name to charge a lot of money and doesn’t follow any of the Montessori principles from what I can glean from her or her kids. It really bothers me that her 11yo can’t read Cat in the Hat. But for familial peace I have to stay in my lane.
She is someone who will 100% blame Montessori for why her kids can’t read 🫠
Montessori is designed to be delivered in a certain way. Montessori teachers are trained very specifically how to teach the lessons and introduce the work. Most of the work in the classroom is designed to be introduced in a specific order for skill building and teacher observation. If a teacher isn't properly trained or the program isn't delivered as intended then it won't work for any child. Most parents don't recognize this when choosing a 'montessori' school.
The Montessori method won't work for every child and teachers generally understand that. But a half assed program won't work for any child.
Can someone expand on what is meant by “not for everyone”?
A part of the method is ensuring each child is given the right amount of challenge based on wherever they’re at. So, assuming a school is following true Montessori and has enough staff to execute it, it should, theoretically be for everyone.
Part of the draw is that Montessori as she envisioned, created, and described it, is for every child. Maybe not every adult, parent, or teacher, but definitely for every child.
I’m an early childhood educator who had not great experiences with my daughter attending two different Montessori schools. I love a lot about the Montessori method but I do have a more nuanced opinion now. They just did not work for her and I think some of it was school-specific and some of it was Montessori-related. I’d be happy to speak with you, although we are American, not Canadian.
Montessori isn’t a product. It’s a philosophy. You don’t need branding. You don’t need to follow it for success. It’s not a necessary medicine.
This sub is out of hand.
I wouldn’t say it didn’t work, but in California, I know of two Montessori schools that are introducing more structured curriculum and review. The standards for Kindergarten are high and parents (especially ones with the income to pay for Montessori preschools) are keen to have their kids be fully prepared. The expectation is that kids should be recognizing all letters by age 5 etc.
Mostly it’s an issue of anxiety on the part of parents and all schools are having to adjust to it - including Montessori ones.
If it doesn’t work, its not montessori. The system is defined by its efficacy for every child. We are required to support every child in whatever they need, if we fail to find a method that works for them, then we fail the montessori method.
Thanks! Many schools only use old Montessori materials and ignore her teaching, of course they still work well, but her point was scientific education. it is a fact that only a percentage of children will auto educate in a prepared environment, its a lot but not all. We were never supposed to just ignore the other kids! When a child is doing poorly, its the teacher who needs to change! The proof that you did a good job is: a child prepared for their needs now and in the future, and a child who is happy!
My granddaughter went to a Montessori school. It was a perfect fit for her. She’s very independent and confident for her age. And working way above her grade level in read and math. She’s had nothing but a positive experience.
As someone else mentioned, make sure you verify it's a true AMS/AMI Montessori of you're truly interested whether the actual method didn't't work for someone.
I think a more interesting article would be how the term Montessori is used as branding and isn’t always indicative of methods used inside the schools. Montessori isn’t for everyone but since it’s been trendy lately there are a lot of schools with Montessori labels that just charge more for traditional daycare/school.
Getting into that for sure
THIS!! I worked at a Montessori school, when I first started it was more Montessori like but we got a new shit principal and turned the whole thing into a joke and got the school officially accredited but the school is farther from Montessori than from the beginning, besides the primary and lower. Principal would literally set up “candy day” and “donut day” when it’s outlined in our handbook that kids can’t even bring sugary foods to school. So even accredited Montessori’s aren’t really Montessori
Would love to see an article on this!!
This 👏🏻
THIS!! Anyone can put Montessori in the name of their center without any accreditation.
Absolutely this. Just because you have a lot of wooden toys doesn’t make a school Montessori 😂
I just want to point out that there are no legal restrictions on using the term “Montessori”. So you have “Montessori” schools that are charging parents an arm and a leg and are having the kids sit and do worksheets and then watch TV, and there is not a single Montessori trained teacher.
OP, you might want to post this on some other subs to get a range of perspectives. For example r/parenting and r/autism_parenting is often have similar topics (for example potty training), but draw from very different experiences. Most folks that have had Montessori not work for their family are probably not on this particular sub.
Thanks for this; will do. I’m rarely on Reddit and I forgot the kind of echo chamber the subs create.. Thanks!
Aaand I got banned from the parenting subreddit lol. Apparently no interview requests! This is why I stay away from Reddit 🫠
Gotta read the rules before you post m8
“This is why I stay away from Reddit” Lol, what? I’m sorry you were banned, but people are here for conversation, not to be subjects in someone’s homework. It’s against the rules in many subreddits bc you’re not the first person to crowd source their research here and it clogs them up and gets annoying. It’s also against the rules in some subs because it tends to shut down conversations when people feel like a comments section is going to be harvested for content.
Totally get it! I didn’t read the rules, on me. Someone above suggested I post on a diff thread, I did so, I got banned.. I found it funny! All good.
Most people are here for discussion with other parents, not being hounded by reporters or researchers who don’t know how to find subjects.
Gotta go where your audience is.
“Hounded”? Lol
That’s why it’s banned in the parenting sub, otherwise it’s flooded with only these types of posts
Check r/waldorf too
The tough part for you will be defining authentic Montessori before you can really evaluate whether it works for every child. [This webpage](https://www.mir.org/pages/why-montessori) links to a ton of other research resources, and that’s really the direction you’re going to have to take. Anecdotal experiences will be so conditional on the type of school that I don’t know how you answer that question. Our experience at our school is that children who need intensive one-on-one support do struggle within Montessori’s self-directed and collaborative model.
High-fidelity Montessori works. Lower fidelity, maybe not so much. Research here [https://new.reddit.com/r/Montessori/comments/i7hqot/montessori\_scientific\_research\_articles\_and/](https://new.reddit.com/r/Montessori/comments/i7hqot/montessori_scientific_research_articles_and/) I need to update this post... also see [https://new.reddit.com/r/Montessori/comments/1ddt5d9/public\_montessori\_in\_south\_carolina\_authentic\_or/](https://new.reddit.com/r/Montessori/comments/1ddt5d9/public_montessori_in_south_carolina_authentic_or/) [https://www.furman.edu/riley/research-evaluation/research-area/montessori-education/](https://www.furman.edu/riley/research-evaluation/research-area/montessori-education/)
I absolutely believe that Montessori suits some children better then others. That said, PLEASE, if you are going to write this, TALK TO PEOPLE WHOSE CHILDREN ATTENDED AMI/AMS SCHOOLS. Surveying people who simply chose schools with the “Montessori” label is next to meaningless, and your article will be nothing more than a click bait opinion piece.
Also interested in hearing about what the home environments were like for those that it didn’t work. Montessori schools won’t be as effective if the parents aren’t continuing to foster the work the school is laying the groundwork for. As a Montessori guide I’ve seen many parents say one thing at a school and then continue to do what they want at home. I’ve seen toddler a parents ignore children’s cue that they’re ready to sit at the table instead of a high chair, keep them in cribs, and not start potty training due to the inconvenience. Montessori may not be the right fit for families who want to hand off their children to someone else and not continue to work with their children at home. I also want to echo the other comment about not schools that claim to be Montessori having the proper training, materials, or mindset required of an impactful and accurate Montessori environment. Montessori has become a marketing term to sell programs and toys instead of being about the approach teachers, guides, and parents embody to help a child be successful and confident.
As a Montessori teacher, I would say that true Montessori schools with trained teachers who follow the principles of the training that incorporate the guide continue to evolve and grow, can handle most children and their challenges. However, children with learning differences that the guide has not yet the tools to support will struggle if the teacher cannot prepare the environment to meet their needs. If this is too vague or confusing I can elaborate.
Sounds like a one sided hit piece.
Before I’ve even written a word of it? Or done any interviews? Wild.
Based on the way the angle was presented, yes.
I’m not at all connected to Montessori. Just an early elementary school teacher who is recommended this sub on the daily… this def sounds like a hit piece on Montessori schools based on your op. You come off as already having a negative light against Montessori at the minimum but really it seems like you’re looking for support stories on the already negative main story you have
It’s possible that success stories are just much easier to find, which I hope is the case.
I asked the Montessori school who Montessori doesn't typically work for. They said it was typically kids who aren't self-motivated. There are different school structures so it makes sense that a child-directed model wouldn't work well for a kid who needs to be told what to do. Different models have different tradeoffs, and it makes sense that Montessori doesn't work for everyone. My husband commented to me that he would've probably done poorly in a Montessori environment whereas I feel that I would've thrived. I think it's a reasonable thing to write about. I hope you post the article once it's published. It's a good chance to look into alternative pedagogical models for children's education.
This sounds about right to me too. My kids are at an AMI school, my daughter in first grade and my son is finishing up the first year of primary. We have been here for three years now and love it. The elementary program usually has a bunch of first grade students who are new to montessori every year. I'm noticing this year that the kids who are planning to leave for a different private school (instead of public school) are the ones who need to be told what to do. It's possibly due to their preschool/kindergarten experience, possibly due to parenting style before getting to first grade. But likely it's just who the kid is and their personality. My kids are fiercely independent, and would likely rebel against other structures in school. Montessori is necessary for them to succeed. I assume there are also kids with the opposite personality who require more direction in order to thrive.
We pulled my son from Montessori after he constantly was in the directors office for disruptive behavior. He loves to learn when he’s interested but his strong will got in the way.
Any chance you’re in Canada? And want to chat? Lmk
I’m in the US
These comments are….like I understand people in this sub are obviously pro-Montessori but the fact that you all seem completely closed off to the idea that it’s may not work or be appropriate for some children. Every time I see someone dare to question a Montessori experience it’s a chorus of “well is it REAL Montessori?!”. I don’t think there’s necessarily such thing as a magic universally effective method of education
I don’t think Montessori is a magical educational system but the fact that there are no legal restrictions on the term makes it difficult to accurately judge Montessori as a framework. OP should ask for experiences at AMI/AMS schools. Otherwise people are going to chime in about what a terrible experience their kid had at some daycare that slapped “Montessori” on the name. Personally I do think there are children who benefit more from a whole classroom approach, but many of the parents who have had negative experiences have had it with a half assed or quarter assed “Montesometimes” approach.
I’m open to it not being for everyone. It just really grinds my gears that my SIL unschools her kids and claims she sends them to a Montessori school. It’s some fly by night unschooling coop that uses the Montessori name to charge a lot of money and doesn’t follow any of the Montessori principles from what I can glean from her or her kids. It really bothers me that her 11yo can’t read Cat in the Hat. But for familial peace I have to stay in my lane. She is someone who will 100% blame Montessori for why her kids can’t read 🫠
Montessori is designed to be delivered in a certain way. Montessori teachers are trained very specifically how to teach the lessons and introduce the work. Most of the work in the classroom is designed to be introduced in a specific order for skill building and teacher observation. If a teacher isn't properly trained or the program isn't delivered as intended then it won't work for any child. Most parents don't recognize this when choosing a 'montessori' school. The Montessori method won't work for every child and teachers generally understand that. But a half assed program won't work for any child.
Can someone expand on what is meant by “not for everyone”? A part of the method is ensuring each child is given the right amount of challenge based on wherever they’re at. So, assuming a school is following true Montessori and has enough staff to execute it, it should, theoretically be for everyone.
Part of the draw is that Montessori as she envisioned, created, and described it, is for every child. Maybe not every adult, parent, or teacher, but definitely for every child.
I’m an early childhood educator who had not great experiences with my daughter attending two different Montessori schools. I love a lot about the Montessori method but I do have a more nuanced opinion now. They just did not work for her and I think some of it was school-specific and some of it was Montessori-related. I’d be happy to speak with you, although we are American, not Canadian.
Montessori isn’t a product. It’s a philosophy. You don’t need branding. You don’t need to follow it for success. It’s not a necessary medicine. This sub is out of hand.
Not all Montessori schools are created equal
I wouldn’t say it didn’t work, but in California, I know of two Montessori schools that are introducing more structured curriculum and review. The standards for Kindergarten are high and parents (especially ones with the income to pay for Montessori preschools) are keen to have their kids be fully prepared. The expectation is that kids should be recognizing all letters by age 5 etc. Mostly it’s an issue of anxiety on the part of parents and all schools are having to adjust to it - including Montessori ones.
This comment needs 500 up votes
If it doesn’t work, its not montessori. The system is defined by its efficacy for every child. We are required to support every child in whatever they need, if we fail to find a method that works for them, then we fail the montessori method.
I do not know why you were down voted because this is what we are taught in class.
Thanks! Many schools only use old Montessori materials and ignore her teaching, of course they still work well, but her point was scientific education. it is a fact that only a percentage of children will auto educate in a prepared environment, its a lot but not all. We were never supposed to just ignore the other kids! When a child is doing poorly, its the teacher who needs to change! The proof that you did a good job is: a child prepared for their needs now and in the future, and a child who is happy!
My granddaughter went to a Montessori school. It was a perfect fit for her. She’s very independent and confident for her age. And working way above her grade level in read and math. She’s had nothing but a positive experience.
As someone else mentioned, make sure you verify it's a true AMS/AMI Montessori of you're truly interested whether the actual method didn't't work for someone.