The Montessori method is not for every child, but I think it is worth visiting a good Montessori school and observing the kids and how much they enjoy the work they are doing, and also seeing how your child interacts with the environment. Then you can see if it is right for you.
Good Montessori Websites
Local Montessori Notes
I really liked this posting about Montessori schools in my local area. Plus, the website it points to looks very useful as well.
"I've been looking at Montessori schools on the Peninsula because we are moving there this summer and there are a lot of terrible ones! But I was very impressed with the Discovery Children's House (650-856-1760) Montessori school, which is in Palo Alto (and also in San Carlos); I also liked Montessori Community School in Redwood City. In general, AMS certified schools seem to be better.
What I like about Montessori--they teach children to respect other people, they teach children to be self-motivated (the child is the one who picks what he/she will work on) and disciplined, they have an environment that is interesting to kids and helps them learn about the world in a concrete way, and they want to reach out to the community to interact positively and promote respect and peace. I also like that they have mixed ages, where older kids can act as teachers and mentors for the younger ones.
What I look for are teachers and directors of schools that treat the children (and each other) in a respectful way--a Montessori teacher doesn't raise her/his voice, but uses positive disciplining measures. I also look for a warm environment where the children are engaged but having fun, where the teachers obviously care a lot for the kids. Yes, these schools are expensive, but child development research has shown that the biggest differences in a child's education come in the first 6 years of life. Better to spend that money now when it can so positively impact the way the child will learn for the rest of their lives.
