Montessori or a school like Magellan? (Austin: preschool, kindergarten, best)

[FueledByBlueBell]

So Montessori for a 3 YO or it is better to put them in an immersion program with Spanish and Mandarin like a school like Magellan provides?

[Austin97]

better for what?

[FueledByBlueBell]

Originally Posted by Austin97

better for what?

Good question. In the long run, which provides a skill set that best prepares them to absorb information (learn how to learn), IB programs, critical thinking, testing...

[centralaustinite]

three years old? Montessori! Or Waldorf! Or just a play-based program, let them run around in the woods, explore the environment through play, it the long run that will do the most to build their capacity to learn!

[CarnivalGal]

As a preschool teacher, I think that it all depends on the child. Some kids who thrive in a Montessori school do horribly in a play-based program and vice versa. The best advice I can give you is to choose the school that your child enjoys the most. In the long run, whether your child went to a school that taught Mandarin or not won't make a darn bit of difference.

While it's true that kids who went to a quality preschool do better academically, I think that is more because they have learned to love school because preschool was fun (or should have been). They also learn sooner how to work well in a structured environment and tolerate and adhere to rules better than kids who have not attended preschool. I also think that statistic is rather anecdotal. The fact is that most children who go to quality, elective preschool programs have parents who place a high value on education. I think that is at least as big a factor in determining why kids who attend preschool do better academically when they are older.

[mcstayusvi]

I think it would depend on what you want. Are you going to stick with an immersion program until they are bilingual or are you only looking for a program that gets you until Kindergarten in your local Public School? I can say Magellan is excellent and I would put my kids there, but I want them to be fully bilingual and expect them to use it too. I will also be sticking it out until they are in middle school/high school.