Montessori Moms a question

[thejackpot]

I went to visit two Montessori schools in my area and when I checked the online reviews they both received 3 to 31/2 out of 5 stars. The complaint was that they had limited access to the child's teacher- there were 2 observation sessions and 2 parent teacher conferences. No daily reports and work was sent home on the weekends.

Is this norm in the Montessori spectrum or no? I liked both schools but the review has me questioning if I am looking for the right things- ds is in a traditional preschool right now.

[quesrah]

We're starting in a Montessori school later this summer and that's about what we've been told to expect.

[victoria1212]

We start Montessori in a month and just got a big info packet. They do request that you don't try and talk to the teachers at drop-off and pick-up because it is generally on the hectic side (and for the new kids it can draw out the adjustment period).

However, it did give us email addresses and we can schedule times to chat with the teachers.

[thejackpot]

Thanks ladies~

[froggy76]

DD is an infant, so maybe it will be different when she's older, but I talk to her teacher a ton. From what I see, there is a good amount of interaction between the parents and teachers and it's sort of like one big family. Her school is small, though (25 kids) and only goes up through kindergarten.

[Deleted]

Our children have been attending Montessori for the past year. What you wrote is fairly accurate in terms of how many official parent-teacher conferences and lack of daily status reports, but we have always felt that we had 100% access to the teachers any time we wanted it. Drop off and pick up can by hectic, but if a teacher wants to chat with me she will usually let me know and we will set up a time to talk on the phone or she will make sure another teacher can step in while we chat.

We do get weekly updates telling us what works the children have been spending their time on and what next week's overall theme is (i.e. "Next week we will be focusing on the differences in arachnids and insects on our nature walk"), so I feel pretty in touch with what they are doing in their classes.

I'm sure these things vary from school to school, but I feel pretty in the loop even without all of the official communications.

[fortmyersbride]

DS just finished his first year of Montessori. We also had 2 official parent teacher conferences during the year. They did not send home daily reports or discuss the children in front of them at pick up/drop off. However the teachers make themselves very available by email, are happy to answer any questions this way or by phone after school. And we can arrange for additional conferences if we wish.

[spankswife]

I think for 2+ yr olds, weekly updates are fine. Daily seems to be more of an infant thing to me. Also, the schools we visited like to display the children's artwork, so it probably gets sent home less frequently, by lesson or season etc.

[ktkl09]

Lurker, not a mom, but a Montessori teacher. We are willing to talk to any of the parents, but a daily report is not the norm. Don't be afraid to send an email, call, or ask for a conference.

[thejackpot]

Thanks all. I put in our paperwork. I am really excited about the teaching/learning philosophy.

[theoriginalbean]

We're just finishing our first year in montessori, and that has been my experience, too. The teachers are super accessible in terms of setting up a scheduled meeting, but drop-off/pick-up is pretty crazy.