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Originally Posted by siennaxo
I toured Claire's last week for my 2 1/2 year old. She is pretty advanced and I want to make sure she will be challenged. I would love to know anything good or bad that you have heard about the school in general. Thank you!
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Claire's is definitely one of the best Montessori schools in the area. Miss Claire is PASSIONATE about the children and her program (even if she seems a little distracted at times). I have had many conversations with her where tears fill her eyes because she truly believes in the Montessori theory and that children should be respected and heard. I toured many, many Montessori and Montesomething schools in the area and bar none, Claire's is second to none. We have been there for 18 months and I have nothing but positive things to say about the teacher's and the different programs available. The teachers are loving and just downright fantastic. Of course, there will ALWAYS be something about every school that bugs you, but on a scale of 1 to 10, I honestly would have to rate Claire's a 9.5. My kids have thrived here and they truly treat you as part of the family, not just a "client". Miss Claire has done so much for my family (and other families) and all of the other families that I have spoken to have nothing but positive things to say about the school. There can sometimes be a waiting list and the turnover rate with students and teachers is VERY low. Most of the children there started in the infant or toddler program and are now in pre-school, pre-k, and kindergarten there!! Families just don't leave.
Mossy, I'd love to hear what negatives you have heard about the school. Like I said, I do have a couple of things that nag me from time to time, but they are very trivial things - i.e. I want to go in a hang out in the a.m. with my daughter for 10 or 15 min., but they like a quick drop off. Honestly, that is what is best for the children because it's less distraction for them. If every parent wanted to just "hang out" in the a.m. it would be a cluster-you-know-what. So, they are doing the right thing and I need to just take a chill pill. Hehehehe...
I'd be happy to discuss more in PM's if you have any specific questions.
As for CMP, from what I have seen in 3 tours and several visits to the school offices, I am extremely impressed. Again, I expect to be disappointed with a few things, but they require a lot of parent participation (it's mandatory and you have to sign a contract) and I definitely plan on being a room parent. The positives I have seen at the Carmichael location are: Good security (all doors are locked by 8:00 am and you have to be buzzed in. They buzz you in within seconds since they have security cameras and a nice big glass window for the office staff to keep an eye on all who enter. All visitors have to first sign in at the office. I like that they have a uniform policy and a no character clothing policy on clothes, shoes, lunch boxes, or backpacks (i.e. Dora, Transformers, Star Wars, blinking shoes, etc.). I like that their kindy program is from 8:30 to 2:00 vs. most public schools that are 8:30 or 9:00 to 12:00 or 12:30. In Montessori, it's imperative that they have at least a 2 hour un-interrupted work period. I think starting 1st grade that goes to a 2.5 hour work period. I like that they incorporate sports, music, art, and use the Rosetta Stone program for 2nd language learning. And most importantly that they are true to the Montessori method and use the proper materials. Their math program is far superior to any public or private school in the area (that could be a whole post in itself). I love how they have taken an old medical/doctor office building and have remodeled it. The rooms are so cozy and set up with nooks for peaceful work periods/quiet reading/etc. I really got a great vibe from the tour I took and our tour guide (the equivalent to the vice principal, I believe). I think her name was Elizabeth? She was down to earth and had a great sense of humor. Oh, and of course they use only positive discipline with the children. You can read about it on their website. I toured several public schools (Orangevale Open, Cambridge Heights Open, Dewey Fundamental) and was HORRIFIED with their discipline (making children sit at a table and put their head down or sitting them on a wall at recess and not letting them participate. Yeah, way to humiliate the child. YIKES!) Also, Montessori (and CMP) believes in intrinsic rewards, not extrinsic. So, you child doesn't get candy or stickers or BRIBED to do something. Their reward is taking pride in a job well done. Of course they are praised from time to time, but it's not over the top. It's just very different than most public schools.
The American River campus had AMAZINGLY beautiful and peaceful classrooms. I know 2 families that attend that campus who have Montessori backgrounds as former Montessori students and that are currently teachers in a local private Montessori school. I feel with their background and knowledge that if they send their children to CMP that it's a good program. I was very, very impressed with my tour of the AR campus.
I recently spoke to Norman Lorenz and really got a feel for what the school is doing and his passion for the Montessori pedagogy and CMP (although he no longer is on the board there). It took a lot of very hard work to get the charter and I feel that with all the research I have done on CMP that it is a wonderful school. I have never been to the Elk Grove campus, but have several friends with kids there and they loooooooove it. I was a little less impressed with the Midtown campus, but it was more about their location than anything. Their classrooms were cozy and quiet and the children looked focused on their work.
What I love most about Montessori is that the children are not chained to a desk and not given a time limit on how long they can work on math, or language, or science. They have the freedom to choose what they want, but in a prepared environment. Montessori is a fabulous way to educate a child and I can't even fathom any other method for my family.
Hope that helps a little.
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Question about Maria Montessori Charter in Rocklin
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