starting montessori primary

[ginger19]

Ds will be starting montessri primary.I would love to hear from parents who opted for Montessori at primary age...Has it been a positive experience for your child?
If you opted to take them out,why did you do this?

I notice that the class sizes seem to get smaller and smaller as the kids get older. Why is this?

Hi ginger, I can't answer your questions but am looking at a Montessori school for DD1 for next year.

Shameless Bump

I would have loved to have sent my kids to a Monty Primary - my 2 eldest went to Monty Nursery and they were fab - youngest went to a normal nursery (that thought they were Monty) and the differences are huge.

Bump... !

That's interesting conorsrockers. Can you share what you found positive about Montessori? I don't know anyone who has sent their children to one, I'm hoping to meet with the school soon.

Social skills, empathy, emotional intelligence far above that of my DS3. Played 'with' rather than 'alongside' much earlier. Much better at sharing, imaginative play and thinking 'outside the box'. Less prone to bursting into tears over silly things (as small children do).
However, when they went to prep (no Monty primaries near us) it took DS1 & 2 a while to learn to sit still and get straight on to the task in hand - whereas DS3 is much more 'on the ball', however, does not have as strong 'social' skills as mentioned above. This could be coincidence - however I have talked to other mums who have experienced the same thing.
I read a book before I sent the kids which was really interesting although I can't remember the name :( - there was a study measuring pools of 'normally educated' children against the Montessori 'learn through play' method and it showed at 12 that they were neck and neck academically but that the Montessori kids were far above socially (for one of the tests they got them to stand in a queue and planted a 'pusher inner') - it was very insightful - I shall try to find it!!
IME I would say that once you have decided to go with it, it is important to stick with it though, as it is a very different way of learning -
I would also ensure that they using the teachings, not just the tools. Getting the kids to transfer rice from one pot to the other with a pair of tweezers does not entitle them to label themselves 'Montessori' IMHO - there is much more to it!

That book sounds interesting - if anybody knows what it is I'd love to read it :)