Hello,
My 8 yr old son has ADD, a reading disability, and an anxiety disorder. Just when our life was almost “calm” my husband gets a new job and we have to move (at the end of the school year). It’s not a far move, Orlando to Tampa, but any change for my anxious son is too much change.
While looking at new homes and schools, a friend of my said there was a Montessori school in the area that went up to 6th grade. She thought maybe the multi –age classroom would be good for my son. He is a bit immature and he would be in a class with 1st – 3rd graders. Another friend said no – it isn’t structured enough for an ADD child and he would have a terrible time. My son likes to plan things out, know the schedule for the day/week/month/year, and he is big into rules. He has no problem following the rules, but gets very upset with other people/children don’t. When I called the school they told me “it’s a structured environment with lots of choices.” I like the idea that there are only 26 students with 1 teacher and 2 aides. But it is very expensive. I have no Montessori experience at all and didn’t even realize they went past pre-school. This school is a “true Montessori school” accredited by the Montessori council (or something like that).
Does anybody have any experience (good or bad) with Montessori schools, for elementary age children? I don’t have ADD so it’s hard for me to look at an environment and know if it’s a good place for him. They don’t have a typical ESE department but acted like they would work with his reading because he obviously wasn’t taught how to read the way he needed to be taught.
Thanks,
Kelly
Probably worth looking at
A couple of good studies in the ’70s indicated that ADHD kids that were in classrooms where there were defined activity stations but they got to move from station to station when they wanted to were virtually indistinguishable from non-diagnosed peers. The Montessouri approach seems to provide just such an environment. I believe a lot of the difficulty with these kids is the constant redirection from one task to the next, which they feel is arbitrary and annoying. Being able to settle in a focus on what they want to do without interruption is probably a really positive thing for most of these kids. Of course, nothing works for everyone, so you will have to see how it goes with your child. But compared to a traditional elementary school classroom, I think Montessouri is a good bet.
Re: Montessori school
Kelly would it be possible to observe the classroom for a day or so? We have parents doing that all the time when they are trying to make a choice on schools. Good luck and don’t be afraid to ask questions!
Gina
Re: Montessori school
Kelly,
This isn’t an answer to your question but a woman who used to post a lot on these boards under the user name Socks has two gifted LD/ADHD kids who attend a small private school there for above average IQ and LD kids. It sounded wonderful and might be another option. I don’t know if you can hunt it down looking for old posts lbut that might be an option too. I know she uses the McKay scholarship to pay for it so you might find it that way. Don’t know if you could use McKay with changing districts but something to consider—for either school.
Beth in FL
Re: Montessori school
If you want to ask Socks questions about the McKay scholarships and how her sons are doing in their school (they are doing very well by the way). She does visit www.schwablearning.org/message_boards/index.asp? and also she is at the Chatroom at www.net_haven.net on advocacy nights.
Because of the “attacks” and “irrelevant” discussions here by you know who, we have all moved to other more helpful boards.
Ohhh, ooohhh, I can help you with this one!
I taught Montessori preschool and kindergarten for over 10 years. My elementary MOntessori experience is limited to occasional subbing, but I can give you some broad thoughts
It IS different and I imagine your first response would be “how are they going to get him to DO anything but walk around?” And, for a child who has never done Montessori, there will be an adjustment period. You will have to suck it up and think positive. He cant automatically go from being told specifically what to do to making choices without some bumps in the road
The reading approach is phonics-very similar to Phongraphix and Sound REading which you have likely read about on the forums. It will be good for him. The movement will be good for him-no sitting at desks for long periods of time.Somework is done on the carpet and he can sprawl, roll, etc Multi ages with multi levels is great. If hes ahead in math, he can woke ahead and if hes behind in reading, he can work down. No one really knows because eeryone has their own agenda
When I subbed, every kids knew they had to do X amount of things that day. A math activity, a social studies activity, etc. WHEN they did them was their choice. You had the entire spread of personalities. Kids who immediately did their requirements;kids who waited until the last minute(they spent recess working if a certain % wasnt done at noon so there were some defining rules)kids who did 1/2 in the am, 1/2 in the pm
You need to observe and I would observe more than once WITHOUT your ds. You need to get past the hustle and bustle and focus in one one child and watch his experience and academic exposure. Otherwise your eyes will be drawn to movement and you’ll miss the learning
We had a lot of ‘busy’ kids in the 80s. The ADHD dx wasnt as common then, but Montessori was seem as a good place for these guys because of the movement and the ability to move on to something different when they finished the first task. Sitting and waiting for everyone to finish is just asking for daydreaming or bouncing, depending on your child. Montessori avoids this
The negatives? Teachers vary. Some teachers take the selfdirected description a little TOO far. There have to be IMO some expectations.
Talk to the instructor(directress is proper terminology as she is directing the child to learn independently-dont think director means they run the school ;)) Ask about a typical day-ask to see their record keeping system(VERY important when you have 25 kids doing different things)
Ask about social studies and science. Ask how these kids test when they go into the school system eventually. GEt some books from teh library and read up-realize most will be aimed on preschool but read between the lines
The school I taught PS/K at and subbed in the elementary had EVERY kid test in 85% or above in every subject(one exception-child with Downs-nuff said) That was impressive to me!