Montessori

[Guest guest]

My husband and I are considering a Montessori school for our daughter starting

next year which would be first grade. She is now considered 'mild Aspergers'

after 4 years of services and preschool. I find that some things are a little

worse since she started Kindergarten and of course the school wants me to fight

for everything. I've been fighting for everything for years ans I'm sick of it.

Then when i " win " it turns out they're not doing what they're supposed to be

doing or they do it 'half-a$$ed. "

Learning about Montessori schooling and talking to a non-local acquaintance who

teaches at such a school, it seems like a good fit. Her 'issues' wouldn't really

be issues anymore in a teaching environment like they have!

Does anyone here have first or secondhand experiences they could share?

I wish I could homeschool but I am quite ill which is one of the reasons I can't

fight the machine anymore...

Thanks,

Jen

Upstate NY

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen:Both of my children attend a Montessori school. My 8 yo has Asperger's and my 5 yo has ASD. We are in the process of removing our Aspie from Montessori to another school with a more structured environment. I believe in the Montessori teaching environment, but not every Montessori school can handle non-typical children such as ours. The Montessori method is designed to allow children to self-learn and self-govern. Not all Asperger's children are able to self-govern, so it is up to the Montessori guides to know when they need to create structure and boundaries. And not all guides are capable of this kind of flexibility.You will find that the Montessori environment seems much less structured and rigid than a traditional school. This can

be very good for a special-needs child because it allows for individual growth. Children within a classroom are not compared to each other because they are each learning at his/her own pace. I think it's great that you are going to jump into the Montessori world. I would advise you to stay very involved in what's going on in the classroom, because not all Montessori guides know how to deal with non-typical children. We are moving our 8 yo out of Montessori because his guides are experienced enough to lay down rules and expectations for him, so he ends up flailing around the classroom not knowing what to do with himself. On the other hand, our 5 yo went from being totally nonverbal two years ago to reading at first-grade level now. He will be staying in the Montessori environment as long as it works for him.I wish you lots of luck with the new school experience!PattiFrom: <jenuhferr@...> Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 10:29:40 AMSubject: ( ) Montessori

My husband and I are considering a Montessori school for our daughter starting next year which would be first grade. She is now considered 'mild Aspergers' after 4 years of services and preschool. I find that some things are a little worse since she started Kindergarten and of course the school wants me to fight for everything. I've been fighting for everything for years ans I'm sick of it. Then when i "win" it turns out they're not doing what they're supposed to be doing or they do it 'half-a$$ed."

Learning about Montessori schooling and talking to a non-local acquaintance who teaches at such a school, it seems like a good fit. Her 'issues' wouldn't really be issues anymore in a teaching environment like they have!

Does anyone here have first or secondhand experiences they could share?

I wish I could homeschool but I am quite ill which is one of the reasons I can't fight the machine anymore...

Thanks,

Jen

Upstate NY