I know all parents think their kids are smart, but I am truly convinced mine is.. I am not sure public school is right for her. Nor do I think I have the patience to deal with it. Not that I am knocking on public school teachers, they work hard and do a great job. But they have no control over things like budgets, which hamper them so. There are many great teachers, who arent paid well enough for the job they do. Trust me, you could not pay me enough to work with 15+ kids all day long. I need a break from my TWO every several hours! (In case you missed that second sentence, I am EXTREMELY impatient) However, before I delve into my issues with public school, or on a public blog that might come back to bite me... Lets just leave it at that- unspoken issues. I let me water buffalo mouth overload my hummingbird butt- ... or however the saying goes..
I will tell you my two main issues.
Number 1 - Gifted program ( this goes back to the 1st sentence about me thinking my daughter is extremely intelligent )
Number 2- Field trips.. Yes, this shouldn't be an issue, but the school my daughter goes to claims budgets cuts are the reason there are NO field trips. Thats right, ... none. I do not know how that is even possible, ( and I'll plead the 5th on my opinions about it -remember water buffalo/hummingbird.. LOL.. ) since parents pay for the field trips anyway!
There are a few other issues, but these two directly affect my child, so they bother me the most and we'll just leave it at that.
So, I have put my private investigator hat on and been digging through Google's "files" on schools, local to me.
Unfortunately you would assume, me being on the outskirts of such a LARGE city, such as Jacksonville, would be beneficial in this situation. You would be thinking wrong. There is only ONE private school within 10 miles of me, and there are only 6 within 30. A catholic school, a Montessori School, a run down Christan school, which i have heard the "teachers" do not have to have a degree to teach at.. Unfortunately this is the one that is closest to me. *sad face* a handful of extremely small (and I mean whole school size students smaller than 30 and a few of them are basically just day cares calling themselves private schools, and the last one is for special needs children. So looks like Montessori is our best bet. I toured the school. Its nice enough , small. But they seem to know what they are doing. They sold me on it really were I to be honest... BUT, its a 30 miles trip ONE way. I drive a gas hog of a beast - that gets like 15mpg (on a good day) and I might have to trade it in.. I'd be driving more than an hour every day. I might be able to find a parent to carpool with me, but that would mean my child would be riding every day with a stranger.. Gas might have to go up another dollar or more for me to consider that.. (That was a joke.. I have a wry sense of humor.. I apologize) No I would actually have to get to know them, and even THEN, still might not be comfortable with it.
Besides the distance and cost of gas these days, there is the whole tuition issue. This school costs on the outwards of SEVEN GRAND A YEAR!.. WHOA! Maybe I am just cheap, and you cant put a price on education, but that seems kinda steep. My sister made an excellent point however and that is this: The government pays us almost that much money for kids every year. Wouldn't that money be best spent on our kids education? What better could it go towards? BUT my husband and I mapped it out, and If there are 20 teachers/headmaster/assistants/employees, making on the outwards of 40 grand, (if they make that, which I would HOPE they would, since their job is invaluable) Thats a student funded budget of 800,000 needed- that means they would need 114.5 students - .. roughly.. And that is only for payroll, not things like supplies, bills, rent... I am not the best at math, but I think thats correct. I am not sure if there are even that many students there.
When we toured it, I did learn that they do not take many new Montessori students, unless they are Montessori transfers.. (from another school) The reason being that it is hard to "unlearn" what public school "damaged" and re-learn an entirely different way of thinking. I do think the way they teach would be more effective for my daughter who catches on quickly and gets bored easy. I think it is definitely more "hands on" which would definitely suit her better than being sat at a desk all day being told to be quiet.
She is so smart it is a hindrance. When the rest of the school was learning "SAM books" _ (three letter word books) Giana was in the library starting accelerated reader at the beginning of the year, I think within the first month of school or better, reading books 2nd graders read) She gets labeled as a troublemaker because she is through with her work and tries to talk. Almost every sheet of paper she brings home has elaborate drawings on the back where she has gotten done quickly and been bored.
In fact, she sits segregated from the other students at a desk right next to a teachers all year so she wouldn't bother the other students. This is her first "social year" she has never been in daycare. I tried to get the school to consider skipping her to first grade at the beginning of the year , but they claimed they do not do that (which they later recanted saying only for special exceptions) in fact now, suddenly they are testing her not to move up to 1st grade with rest of her peers, but to 2nd grade at the beginning of next year, and I kinda feel like, now you want to listen to me? She prob isn't ready for 2nd grade because they have taught her to be lazy and she has been cutting and pasting and coloring all year. They said she needed it for the social, but in fact she wasn't/hasn't getting the social, because she was separated form the other children ALL YEAR anyway. So what to do, let them skip her to 2nd grade, which they are testing her for? Or will the school keep putting me off as they have proven they so love to do? Or what? Giana reads so wonderfully it is almost disturbing. No I am just kidding, but she is an exceptional reader, WITH A REMARKABLE VOCABULARY.
I just do not want her to be teased, because next year, all the 2nd graders will be kids she doesn't know (and likewise) , and there s a big difference between a year or two in children that young's maturity, and the things they like to talk about do, and are interested in. Now ,yes, Montessori students are grouped by ages of 3 year spans, but it is different, because you are not trying to fit into a "clique" of older kids where you are the ONLY younger one. Also, those children are used to being in a classrom with younger children. So now I am really confused. What to do? Trust public schools to take care of my daughter, or send her to the Montessori school - and go broke tring to do so?
My sisters little girl is 4 years older and is in a Waldorf school, and she loves it. From what I get- Waldorf and Montessori are a LOT alike. With key differences, not mirror images of each other- mind you, but kinda like.... cousins.. LOL. I do not know which one would be best for her.. in fact- public school may even be.
I am just bothered by the whole "budget problem" for the gifted program. In my area, as of right now, the gifted program consists of taking the child out of the school, to another school, ONE day a week. For only a few hours, being worked with. I am not sure if it is one on one, which I would hope so, or a group gifted thing. (Or what they even do.) And I most certainly do not see how one day a week, for a few hours is sufficient, helpful or meets the needs of the gifted student either...
I do not even know if the school is planning on skipping her. If she is ready.. or if she passed the test, or if that is something they are saying to bide time. They have been "going to test her" all year, now that there is less than a week left they are doing it? Kinda ridiculous if you ask me, considering just how many times, the subject has been hounded and brought up. (By me, of course.)
But my other Montessori issue, as I said earlier is the co$t of the school. They do have financial aid, but they only give it to ONE outside child coming in, (for the whole school) and its not barely 20% off tuituion, which is hardly helpful at all. And probably givent to the new applying family with the lowest income, and who even knows if that would be us..
I do, however, like how the is so much parent involvement. I like how the children help each other, what I noticed about walking around the classrooms was how quiet the children were. I couldn't help but wonder how Giana's loud talkative butt would fit in. I dont know if they can break her. LOL, kidding, again. They were all working and more than that, WANTED to be working. It was cute. I love how they go at their own pace, and have excellent materials provided to help them better understand. For those who don't know what I am talking about, for instance, if they are studying about italy, they might draw a map, or make some italian food. They are always encouraged to be responsible for ones self and clean up their own messes beofre moving on to another subject.
What I have been saying is, I do not know what to do- and I need some advice? Do you have any?
I have some useful links about Montessori if anyone is interested..
Montessori School Guide
Is Montessori right for my child?
Interesting argument on Yahoo Answers
The forum I found most interesting
Montessori vs Waldorf
http://www.montessorifortheearth.com/
http://www.montessoriconnections.com/
http://www.montessori.org/
http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1251824/is-montessori-school-right-for-my-child-s-personality
another question,, (what does DS mean?) ?????
http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1280725/please-help-me-decide-if-montessori-is-the-right-fit-for-ds
Best fit for every child?
Montessori article
BELOW IMAGE COPIED FROM " http://www.tmaonline.org/rightforyou.shtml " click the image to read it more clearly, to zoom, hold down your CTRL key and roll your mouse ball forward)
Thanks!
“Let us leave the life free to develop within the limits of the good, and let us observe this inner life developing. This is the whole of our mission.” – Maria Montessori
I will tell you my two main issues.
Number 1 - Gifted program ( this goes back to the 1st sentence about me thinking my daughter is extremely intelligent )
Number 2- Field trips.. Yes, this shouldn't be an issue, but the school my daughter goes to claims budgets cuts are the reason there are NO field trips. Thats right, ... none. I do not know how that is even possible, ( and I'll plead the 5th on my opinions about it -remember water buffalo/hummingbird.. LOL.. ) since parents pay for the field trips anyway!
There are a few other issues, but these two directly affect my child, so they bother me the most and we'll just leave it at that.
So, I have put my private investigator hat on and been digging through Google's "files" on schools, local to me.
Unfortunately you would assume, me being on the outskirts of such a LARGE city, such as Jacksonville, would be beneficial in this situation. You would be thinking wrong. There is only ONE private school within 10 miles of me, and there are only 6 within 30. A catholic school, a Montessori School, a run down Christan school, which i have heard the "teachers" do not have to have a degree to teach at.. Unfortunately this is the one that is closest to me. *sad face* a handful of extremely small (and I mean whole school size students smaller than 30 and a few of them are basically just day cares calling themselves private schools, and the last one is for special needs children. So looks like Montessori is our best bet. I toured the school. Its nice enough , small. But they seem to know what they are doing. They sold me on it really were I to be honest... BUT, its a 30 miles trip ONE way. I drive a gas hog of a beast - that gets like 15mpg (on a good day) and I might have to trade it in.. I'd be driving more than an hour every day. I might be able to find a parent to carpool with me, but that would mean my child would be riding every day with a stranger.. Gas might have to go up another dollar or more for me to consider that.. (That was a joke.. I have a wry sense of humor.. I apologize) No I would actually have to get to know them, and even THEN, still might not be comfortable with it.
Besides the distance and cost of gas these days, there is the whole tuition issue. This school costs on the outwards of SEVEN GRAND A YEAR!.. WHOA! Maybe I am just cheap, and you cant put a price on education, but that seems kinda steep. My sister made an excellent point however and that is this: The government pays us almost that much money for kids every year. Wouldn't that money be best spent on our kids education? What better could it go towards? BUT my husband and I mapped it out, and If there are 20 teachers/headmaster/assistants/employees, making on the outwards of 40 grand, (if they make that, which I would HOPE they would, since their job is invaluable) Thats a student funded budget of 800,000 needed- that means they would need 114.5 students - .. roughly.. And that is only for payroll, not things like supplies, bills, rent... I am not the best at math, but I think thats correct. I am not sure if there are even that many students there.
When we toured it, I did learn that they do not take many new Montessori students, unless they are Montessori transfers.. (from another school) The reason being that it is hard to "unlearn" what public school "damaged" and re-learn an entirely different way of thinking. I do think the way they teach would be more effective for my daughter who catches on quickly and gets bored easy. I think it is definitely more "hands on" which would definitely suit her better than being sat at a desk all day being told to be quiet.
She is so smart it is a hindrance. When the rest of the school was learning "SAM books" _ (three letter word books) Giana was in the library starting accelerated reader at the beginning of the year, I think within the first month of school or better, reading books 2nd graders read) She gets labeled as a troublemaker because she is through with her work and tries to talk. Almost every sheet of paper she brings home has elaborate drawings on the back where she has gotten done quickly and been bored.
In fact, she sits segregated from the other students at a desk right next to a teachers all year so she wouldn't bother the other students. This is her first "social year" she has never been in daycare. I tried to get the school to consider skipping her to first grade at the beginning of the year , but they claimed they do not do that (which they later recanted saying only for special exceptions) in fact now, suddenly they are testing her not to move up to 1st grade with rest of her peers, but to 2nd grade at the beginning of next year, and I kinda feel like, now you want to listen to me? She prob isn't ready for 2nd grade because they have taught her to be lazy and she has been cutting and pasting and coloring all year. They said she needed it for the social, but in fact she wasn't/hasn't getting the social, because she was separated form the other children ALL YEAR anyway. So what to do, let them skip her to 2nd grade, which they are testing her for? Or will the school keep putting me off as they have proven they so love to do? Or what? Giana reads so wonderfully it is almost disturbing. No I am just kidding, but she is an exceptional reader, WITH A REMARKABLE VOCABULARY.
I just do not want her to be teased, because next year, all the 2nd graders will be kids she doesn't know (and likewise) , and there s a big difference between a year or two in children that young's maturity, and the things they like to talk about do, and are interested in. Now ,yes, Montessori students are grouped by ages of 3 year spans, but it is different, because you are not trying to fit into a "clique" of older kids where you are the ONLY younger one. Also, those children are used to being in a classrom with younger children. So now I am really confused. What to do? Trust public schools to take care of my daughter, or send her to the Montessori school - and go broke tring to do so?
My sisters little girl is 4 years older and is in a Waldorf school, and she loves it. From what I get- Waldorf and Montessori are a LOT alike. With key differences, not mirror images of each other- mind you, but kinda like.... cousins.. LOL. I do not know which one would be best for her.. in fact- public school may even be.
I am just bothered by the whole "budget problem" for the gifted program. In my area, as of right now, the gifted program consists of taking the child out of the school, to another school, ONE day a week. For only a few hours, being worked with. I am not sure if it is one on one, which I would hope so, or a group gifted thing. (Or what they even do.) And I most certainly do not see how one day a week, for a few hours is sufficient, helpful or meets the needs of the gifted student either...
I do not even know if the school is planning on skipping her. If she is ready.. or if she passed the test, or if that is something they are saying to bide time. They have been "going to test her" all year, now that there is less than a week left they are doing it? Kinda ridiculous if you ask me, considering just how many times, the subject has been hounded and brought up. (By me, of course.)
But my other Montessori issue, as I said earlier is the co$t of the school. They do have financial aid, but they only give it to ONE outside child coming in, (for the whole school) and its not barely 20% off tuituion, which is hardly helpful at all. And probably givent to the new applying family with the lowest income, and who even knows if that would be us..
I do, however, like how the is so much parent involvement. I like how the children help each other, what I noticed about walking around the classrooms was how quiet the children were. I couldn't help but wonder how Giana's loud talkative butt would fit in. I dont know if they can break her. LOL, kidding, again. They were all working and more than that, WANTED to be working. It was cute. I love how they go at their own pace, and have excellent materials provided to help them better understand. For those who don't know what I am talking about, for instance, if they are studying about italy, they might draw a map, or make some italian food. They are always encouraged to be responsible for ones self and clean up their own messes beofre moving on to another subject.
What I have been saying is, I do not know what to do- and I need some advice? Do you have any?
I have some useful links about Montessori if anyone is interested..
Montessori School Guide
Is Montessori right for my child?
Interesting argument on Yahoo Answers
The forum I found most interesting
Montessori vs Waldorf
http://www.montessorifortheearth.com/
http://www.montessoriconnections.com/
http://www.montessori.org/
http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1251824/is-montessori-school-right-for-my-child-s-personality
another question,, (what does DS mean?) ?????
http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1280725/please-help-me-decide-if-montessori-is-the-right-fit-for-ds
Best fit for every child?
Montessori article
BELOW IMAGE COPIED FROM " http://www.tmaonline.org/rightforyou.shtml " click the image to read it more clearly, to zoom, hold down your CTRL key and roll your mouse ball forward)
Thanks!
“Let us leave the life free to develop within the limits of the good, and let us observe this inner life developing. This is the whole of our mission.” – Maria Montessori
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