Re: choosing montessori school

[Guest guest]

I'd like to comment on the school question. I put my son in a Montessori

toddler program (the class is composed of 8 kids, 18 months - 3 years of

age, with 2 teachers) when he was 21 months old. I had lots of reservations

about it, since he wasn't talking and definitely wasn't understanding at an

age-appropriate level. I have to say it has been a wonderful program for

him. I truly believe his remarkable progress has been due, at least in part,

to the wonderful curriculum of the school and the teachers. The teachers

have been phenomenal in terms of incorporating suggestions into the

classroom routine to make modifications for my son, and have welcomed early

intervention therapists into the classroom. It has made a big difference for

him in his socialization and learning. Parents with a developmentally

delayed child would do well to look into this type of setting, with the

caveat that the school and teachers need to be open to suggestions and

modifications.

Thanks,

Mom to Liam, 3 in Feb.

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you for your post. I have a 25-mo son who is at the 15 mo

level for both expressive and receptive language (and the expressive

is only rated at 15 months because he has 15+ signs that he uses

functionally).

My (non-delayed) 6-yo went to a montessori program from age 3-almost

6 (including Kindergarten). It was a wonderful program for him; the

only problem is that he ended up being too advanced (especially in

reading and writing) by 1st grade. He is now attending 1st grade in

a public school, and he has basically been bored (due to already

knowing the material) up until right after Thanksgiving, when his

teacher started giving him more challenging books to read after he

had finished his regular work. His behavior has been better now that

he has been challenged more:-)

I have been hoping to put my 2 yo in this program as well, but have

been wondering if it would be the best place for him, considering how

much language stimulation and speech therapy he needs. The school

that I would send him too also has a toddler program (2-3 yo's),

although it is full now so he would have to be on a waiting list for

the spring. The " tots " teacher said that she would want him to be

able to follow some 2-step directions that aren't routines. Well, he

can definitely follow some 1-step non-routine directions, and

definitely 2-step *routine* directions. But, he is so inconsistent

sometimes. He had done well on some Omega-3 (DHA and EPA) fish oil,

but he seems to be backsliding the past few days. I am hoping it is

only because he has been ill (probably a sinus thing).

2 questions:

1) Does anyone think that I should increase his dose of Omega-3? I

am currently giving him 1 ml per day. I have not been using the

Omega-3/Omega-6 Pro-EFA combo at this point. I plan on switching to

that after/if we rule out seizures; (his EEG, MRI and BAER are

scheduled for Jan. 15th). I realize that it is debatable as to

whether Primrose oil has any effect on seizures...but I would rather

be safe than sorry. Should I just " wait out " the cold he has and see

if he bounces back? He has only been on the fish oil for 2-3 weeks

now, so I can't imagine that he has already plateaued?!?

2) Will a montessori program include enough language stimulation, in

your opinion? Should I be looking more along the lines of ABA (PDD

has been cited by the neuro as a possibility)? I *really* would love

for Evan to be able to go to a montessori program...you probably know

that it was actually originally developed by Dr. Montessori

for " at-risk " children in Italy. I know that it would be great for

his motor skills, sensory awareness, and self-help skills...I'm just

not sure about the language stimulation and socialization as much of

the program focuses on independent work. There *are* circle times (2

per day for preschool age), but again, the focus seems to be

independent work.

BTW, I do know that there have been at least a few children at our

montessori school who have had educational classifications (and at

least one with autism). The teachers seemed very accomodating, but

the moms had to fight hard to get the school districts to provide one-

on-one assistants and even to send a speech therapist to the school

once per week. Also, one mom that I spoke with said that her child's

case manager flat-out told her that " montessori programs aren't

really the best place for children like yours. " My 6-yo did so well

there that I just couldn't believe that anyone would think that it

would be an inappropriate place for any child!

Thanks so much for your input!

Laurel, mom to Evan (25 mo, Pierre Robin Sequence, cleft palate

repaired, 2nd set of ear tubes, non-verbal with 15-18 signs and

placed at the 15-mo level for language development, not diagnosed as

to why) and (6yo)

[Guest guest]

thanks for your insights on montessori

> I'd like to comment on the school question. I put my son in a

Montessori

> toddler program (the class is composed of 8 kids, 18 months - 3

years of

> age, with 2 teachers) when he was 21 months old. I had lots of

reservations

> about it, since he wasn't talking and definitely wasn't

understanding at an

> age-appropriate level. I have to say it has been a wonderful

program for

> him. I truly believe his remarkable progress has been due, at

least in part,

> to the wonderful curriculum of the school and the teachers. The

teachers

> have been phenomenal in terms of incorporating suggestions into the

> classroom routine to make modifications for my son, and have

welcomed early

> intervention therapists into the classroom. It has made a big

difference for

> him in his socialization and learning. Parents with a

developmentally

> delayed child would do well to look into this type of setting,

with the

> caveat that the school and teachers need to be open to suggestions

and

> modifications.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Mom to Liam, 3 in Feb.