Hello! Not much going on. The drama this week concerned Tyler's schooling. After much waiting and anticipation, we finally got a call that Tyler could enter a Montessori in Irvine. With a wait of 12 to 18 months, you would think that it was the best school ever, right? WRONG.

My experience at this school confirms what I have always said about teaching. It doesn't matter what materials a teacher is given, it doesn't matter where the school is, or how pretty a school looks from the outside...all that matters is the teacher's heart and true intention to teach the children in her care.

This school has totally blindsided so many parents in Irvine. Parents just think, "Ooh, nice looking school, has all the newest materials, long wait list, expensive, so it's gotta be the best, right?" They don't see that Montessori means "child initiated." What does that truly mean? It's a fancy way of saying that the child teaches himself while the teacher just watches! Duh! Parents, read between the lines!

Seriously, Tyler was in a room of thirty students with one teacher and two assistants. Most of the day is free "work time" when students get to play with all the toys and activities in the room. The only true interaction that the kids had with the teacher was at circle time which lasted twenty minutes of the six hours that Tyler was there!

I am taking Tyler out immediately and sending him back to his old preschool. You never know how good things are until you don't have it anymore and you compare it to something else. Before, I just thought his previous preschool was ok, but NOW, I think it is the best school ever! :)

Well, most of you who are not parents probably don't care too much for this post! Sorry, but I just had to vent. It's kind of sad that a school has a good reputation for nothing. I was talking to another parent at Tyler's tae kwon do about how disappointed I am with the Montessori and she said she would never send her child there. I asked her, "Who are these parents that send their child there?" and she replied, "Well, they are definitely not teachers because we know better than to think kids will teach themselves. If given the choice, my students would do nothing or do the same thing every day!" haha, we got a good laugh at that!

So, to parents or future parents, beware of Montessori. Maybe if the Montessori philosophy is applied correctly, it might work, but the word Montessori doesn't mean anything at all. Just be cautious.

Seriously, I feel like the little girl screaming, "The emperor isn't wearing any clothes!"