Berkeley Parents Network: My Own Montessori

Berkeley Parents Network

My Own Montessori

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Preschools > My Own Montessori

March 2005

I would like to hear parents' recent experiences with My Own Montessori School in Rockridge. I'm looking for feedback on the school in general, teaching philosophy, extra-curricular programs including music, languages, fieldtrips. thanks! Amy

We have 2 children going to M.O.M. They both love the school and so do we. They are learning so many things--geography, spelling, numbers. They come home singing new songs all the time. They have made many great friends. Most importantly,the school is doing an excellent job teaching my very outgoing children healthy boundaries and good social skills. You are welcome to email me with any further questions. Jodi

My son has been attending My Own Montessori school five mornings a week since last September, and he loves it. My younger boy will join him there two days a week starting next Fall. I didn't know much about Montessori before having kids, but I'm really impressed by how well all the elements of it work in practice at M.O.M. -- mixing different ages together in the same class, letting the children structure their own time and choose their own activities, having Montessori-trained teachers and Montessori ''manipulatives.'' (When my son first visited the school he thought they had the coolest toys ever, and now he knows to call them ''works'' but his enthusiasm is stronger than ever!)

You asked about music, languages, field-trips -- The kids sing songs at Circle Time every morning when they arrive and again at the post-lunch pre-pickup Circle Time. There is also a Montessori-trained music teacher who comes on Wednesdays and brings rhythm instruments. One of the teachers does a little Spanish once a week, and there is a smattering of lots of languages because this year's theme is ''geography and peoples of the world.'' I had wondered how you could possibly do a theme like that with 2- to 5-year-olds, but my kid brings home roller-print pictures of islands, straits and peninsulas (he can pronounce isthmus a lot better than I can!), and he tells us about Chinese writing, Persian New Year, Spanish dancing...

There's a field trip to a pumpkin patch every autumn, and that was fun, but field trips are challenging when everyone is carseat age. Other field trips are on foot around the neighborhood -- to the Rockridge Library, and a tour of a student's house across the street that was under construction.

When I visited the school this morning, I was amazed to see how many art projects were available all at the same time: poster painting on an easel, making an Easter basket scene with a roller and sponge paints, glitter play dough, 3-D collages with a variety of objects, watercolor paints, simple paper puppets, and decorating a paper oval Easter egg by rolling a marble wet with paint around the inside of a tub. Some kids did one or two projects and then went out to the playground, while others wanted to do art all morning, which you're welcome to do there. And it never got chaotic because the kids (with occasional gentle prompting from the teachers) know how to take turns and clean up after themselves with sponges and towels. In the end, your child's preschool experience depends upon the teachers, and the teachers at M.O.M. are incredibly patient, warm-hearted, smart, well-educated, dedicated and enthusiastic. Jennifer

Nov 2002

Hi, I'd love to know what people think of My Own Montessori in Rockridge. I'd especially appreciate hearing about your experiences there. Is it ''too'' Montessori? Are the kids given warmth, love and freedom as well as order and education? Thanks!

My daughter started My Own Montessori this summer and is now going every day. so far so good--she loves it and we do too. I went to visit many pre-schools prior to choosing M.O.M. and this was just right for us. Some of the other Montessori schools I saw looked like they had turned the kids into Stepford children--just a wee- bit too behaved for me. My daughter is a sponge right now and is just learning new things constantly. For her, it's definately the perfect mix of structure & freedom. hope this helps & best of luck- Leslie

We love My Own Montessori! My daughter attended the summer session this July, and just started full time last week. Most mornings she is so excited that she runs all the way from the car to the school door, and once inside barely remembers to kiss me good-bye! One of the things we like about the school is all the different spaces -- the kids can be inside, outside, or in the special art studio whenever they choose. The teachers are good at letting the children do their own thing, and encouraging them to learn new tasks. For example, my daughter almost never wants to color or paint at home (she wants me to draw pictures for her), but she has brought home a number of very fun art projects from school. I visited four other Montessori programs, and thought the children seemed by far the happiest at M.O.M. Stephanie

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