Montessori and autism?????

[Joy38]

Does anyone here have any information or viewpoints on montessori schools and how kids on the spectrum do in these type of schools?
Thanks.
Joy

[trek]

I think it depends on the school and the child. I have no personal experience.

[angeleena]

Well, my girl was in a montessori school for a while.

Besides the director being a loon....

the actual scchool was nice for her in one way because it was quieter than a regular school.

However, here is my take on it....a lot of the learning is done on their own. Only one kid allowed at each station....so for my girl, she needed more socialization with the learning.

Just my 02c!

Angi

[Yvonne]

My personal opinion is that kids on the spectrum need more structure than they can get in a Montessori classroom. They thrive on structure, routine and predictability. I don't know a tremendous amount about Montessori, but it doesn't seem to me that there would be enough structure.

[BriNJ]

From what I've read, Montessori is best for kids who are self motivated, flexible and able to manage thier own learning and interests. The M philopophy is to the let the child guide the learning in each area. A child who needs structure or guidance or is inflexible will usually not do well in this environment. And a M environment will most likely not support the heavier involvement needed with a child on the spectrum in terms of transition, behavior etc support.

One thing to consider asking is if the school has a number of students on the spectrum and how they manage thier needs. It could be that the school is doing well in this area- but that would vary from one school to another and the age groups involved.

[chris s]

We were recommended not to do montessori b/c DS gets

stuck and would do the same thing all day, everyday if given the choice. So, we went w/a more structured preschool. In retrospect, I don't know if it was the right decision, but I do know that the more structured preschool made the transition to kindergarten easier.
Chris

[anncook158]

Montessori is designed to help all children reach their fullest potential at their own unique pace. A classroom whose children have varying abilities is a community in which everyone learns from one another and everyone contributes.