All About Montessori

[Cherrybites]

Hi, I’m new to this forum. Am thinking of sending my daughter to MMI Kovan. Anyone has latest updates to share about the centre? Any complaints, in particular? Thanks much!

[buds]

ngngpopo:

hi i see many montessori parents here, would like to get some advice here...


my toddler is 21mths and some ppl has been telling me that its good that toddler go to playgroup to socialize with other kids... we are in jakarta now and there is a new montessori near our place, i went to see their school today which already operated maybe a few months, they have library, music room (the teacher told me they have piano session but i didnt see any piano), playground at the top floor of the building (no grass or field) n swimming pool, i can see that they have a rather good system, but i dono if the teachers are experienced enough.

Can share about your last reservation?
Anything you saw there that made you come to this thought? :idea:

ngngpopo:

..... and the timing is from 8am to 12pm 4hours.
some ppl told me 4hours is too long for a toddler at his age. i have been to other school near my place, the school are either old or there are too many kids squeezing in a small building... didnt have any good feeling at all...


1)my son is not talking yet n he is on potty training now. should i let him go playgroup at this time or should i wait?

Depends. :idea:

4hrs is a wee bit long for a playgroup kiddie.

Will the school also help you achieve the potty training success?

ngngpopo:

2)are all the montessori school the same even they are not in the same country??

Generally, the materials/apparatus used are the same or should
be the same rather. The lesson presentations may differ a little
but not a big deal there as long as the approach used is similar.

ngngpopo:

basically what does the kid do there?? cos i did went there once when there were some kids in the class, and i saw the kids were doing nothing walking around or playing the those blocks n stuff... some dont even do nothing and the teacher didnt bother at all... is that the norm??

Teachers are observers in a Montessori environment.
They are termed as Directresses in Montessori classes.
A directress introduces age-appropriate materials and present
lessons through hands-on activities that help build the child's
concentration and esteem, plus create a routine for children
within an environment which emphasizes on freedom within
limits. That's where you see children walking around deciding
their next work. Montessori children work through play... and
it is purposeful play which may seem repetitive to the eyes of
an adult but to a child.. it is a process to perfection that calms
them and helps them absorb the activity better through
greater concentration each time they work on a similar
activity.

While adults are usually interested in the end result, children
take pride in their process..... which they are able to work
individually. Yes, without the assistance of an adult too
many a time. As materials are self correctional,
children build confidence in knowing it is acceptable to
not get it right the first time round and that there are
opportunities aplenty for them to get it right.

Directresses will observe children's progress gradually..

Kiddies who start Montessori education at a young age,
develop good finger muscles via the fine-motor activities
introduced in a Montessori setting. Retention of Phonetic
and Math concepts are concrete with the use of graded
apparatus and many varying presentations to support
its use.

Montessori children are given a wealth of information on
Science studies and exploration including cultural
experiences of the world through early Geography lessons
as well as tap on their Sensorial skills to help them develop
the use of their senses... hence the use of the term multi-
sensory activities.

Practical Life activities in a Montessori environment helps
children develop independence in day to day activities like
self-feeding, buttoning, lacing (etc) and also definitely help
them with a fantastic pincer grip. Montessori children are
known to have good pincer grip which is essential for early
tracing & future writing... and also working with the scissors.

ngngpopo:

3)can parents tell me what is the most important things to look in when we choose a school for our kid based on your experience??

Too many to list really being the kiasu people we are... :lol:

But in short, it should be clean, safe and fun!
At least where playgroup classes are concerned..

ngngpopo:

im singaporean (1st time mommy) but im living in jakarta, so thanks for any advice from parents here

Nice to hear from you all the way there..
Keep in touch, okie!

Take care!

[zow]

Hi


I live in Holland village area. I am a 1st time mom and am looking for good montessori preschool for my son who will turn 2 next May.

Any recommendations as to which ones are good? Have car so can drive some distance.

Thank you so much!

[Ori]

Teachers are just like you and me… A human being who is continuously growing,learning and be wiser with opportunities and support!


The most wonderful part of a successful parent is to be able to work hand-in-hand with teachers and build warmth loving relationship to ensure the child grows, the parent grows and the teacher grows too…

How many times have we made mistakes during our course of work in the office and our superior enlightened us?

How many times have we made mistakes and our child’s teacher enlightened us?

At times, it’s time for us to show our compassion to enlighten our child’s teacher by extending our tender, loving care in return.

All relationships comes in 2 ways with great trust and support.

What goes around, comes around.

I give negative comment instead of support to my child’s teacher, I am sowing a negative seed and what can I expect in return?.. Let’s ponder of this…

It would be a lot more supportive for all of us in the next comment if we were to comment in positive, constructive and supportive way to enhance each other’s personal development to another level…

Should our child’s teacher needed to hear the truth from our compassionate heart, let’s take the courage to share it positively and lovingly with here. Otherwise, the poor teacher has no awareness on what’s to be improved on.

Imagine everyone is talking behind my back instead of creating a supportive and loving awareness to create the opportunity for me to be a better person…

It would be wonderful if we can do that because our child will be looking upon us and our attitude to grow up…

We dont want our kids to talk and do things behind our back, dont we? We would love to have our kids to render trust, kind, loving and supportive relationship with us…

Monkey see, monkey do…

That’s how life works…

Best wishes to everyone…

[buds]

There's http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/kindergarten/buttercups-montessori-kindergarten listed in

our very own KiasuParents Listings. Click the blue link
above to lead you there.

Hope this helps.

[zow]

Hi Buds


Thanks for your recommendation. Will check it out!

I have also looked at Montessori for CHildren at Newton. Any thoughts on that school? They seem very stricly AMI.

They have a very high children: teacher ratio of 14:1. So it is almost 20+ kids in one room with 2 teachers, one is AMI and the other is Mandarin teacher but not officially Montessori trained. I am wondering if that ratio is too high especially for a Montessori system where teacher observations and response are important. What are your thoughts on that?

Thank you so much fory our help!

[yeomaylin]

hi all, i'v just registered my 3 yrs old boy in MRC 3Q Junior nursery at Downtown East for a week trial lesson. It seems like a centre focusing a lot on acadmics. The N1 students are already learning how to spell and write from 1 - 10! I really do not know whether my boy will be stressed out.


It's a bit difficult to explain my boy's situation. He can read (certain words only, not in sentence yet), spell and say words, ie name of animals, things, etc like other kids tho' he may yet to pronounce them very clearly. But he simple can't communicate and never really respond to your questions. For eg, when you ask a little kid to drink water, he/she may answer \"don't want\" or \"ok\". But my boy will just be quiet or maybe doesn't even know that is meant to be a question. Simply no respond back from him. It's like throwing a ball onto a wall and it never bounces back. Is that normal for a 3 yrs old? My friends kept assuring me that he's still too young and boys tend to develop slower than girls. Are they rite? My boy is very hardworking. He always studies by himself. In fact, he learns most of the spelling and phonics from a-z all by himself (i always play dvd on phonics for him when i'm busy). Can somebody please advise what i should do or can do?

Anybody has kids studing at MRC 3Q Junior at Downtown East? Or anybody can share with me their experience on MMI (The Learning Curve) at Tampines Mart. I've seen the comment on MMI (The Learning Curve) at Tampines Mart on sgparent.com and there are a whole list of compliments. Is that centre really terrific and fantastic?

Tks in advance.

[StarMum]

Hello !

I’m a newbie here and a mother of a two year old.I’m interested in enrolling my child in a Montessori school and have been trawling the net for info on such schools.

I’ve not been able to find any reviews on Sonrise Montessori , Kovan.Please can anyone on this forum help me out here? Do you know anyone who sends their child there?.

Thank you.

StarMum.

[jhmum1]

Hi,

Is it true that montesorri schools do not decorate the walls with subjects related to the themes covered in the month? The walls are kept clean so that children can concentrate on what they are doing? I visited a school recently and noticed the walls are very bare compared to other preschools that I saw and find it very strange. The above is the explanation given to me. Can someone advise?

[cherryseeker]

hhhheeeeellllpppp…


Have to find a good Montessori school for K1 son in vicinity of Lentor/YioChuKang/AMK/Thomson area… any to recommend?

Does anyone have any comments about MMI @ Brighthill Drive or Character Montessori @ AMK?