Pre-school/Day care Q

kittylove · January 2011

How many did you visit before you made a choice?

I just signed up for my 6th (and last) tour. Dh says 6 is too many.

My.ABC.Life · January 2011

Are you doing any pre-qualifying? Are all 6 that you are looking at - ones that fit/meet all your needs? I don't think 6 is too many... but its seems like looking at 6 would only make your choice harder down the road.

2bearichards · January 2011

I agree with Alison.

I toured 2 before making my decision. Talked to three, but only toured 2.

kbrodie06 · January 2011

I toured them in January last year, took a break because it all seemed the same. Toured 1 in Feb, and maybe march. Took a break and in JUne started again, something clicked then and i did a few more and then in August, I started looking at what I toured, compared prices and times and then it just clicked and i started seeing what i did and did not like and did 2nd tours. Had Katies name on 4 waiting lists in august, took til October to get a call. She ended up starting one in November. I had planned to start her in January 2011, now but it came sooner. 6 is probably the max i would do and then do second tours and also put his name on waiting lists if there is no charge.

futrkingsley · January 2011

I researched a bunch, but only visited 4. I really liked different things about two of them. We chose one of those two.

kittylove · January 2011

Nothing 100% meets my ideal of preschool for him. I think that is the problem, what I want doesn't actually exist. And I am having a hard time prioritizing.

My.ABC.Life · January 2011

kittylove:
Nothing 100% meets my ideal of preschool for him. I think that is the problem, what I want doesn't actually exist. And I am having a hard time prioritizing.

What are you looking for?

kittylove · January 2011

My.ABC.Life:

kittylove:
Nothing 100% meets my ideal of preschool for him. I think that is the problem, what I want doesn't actually exist. And I am having a hard time prioritizing.

What are you looking for?

I would love a montisorri based preschool where classes are combined so that kids aged 2-prek are all together. It would focus on respect of self and others with emphasis on community. I would be happy for it to be a co-opt as well but it doesn't need to be as long as the price is reasonable. Ideally under 300 for 2 or 3 mornings a week.

OT: I heard your name at the pre-school fair be called for winning something and even saw B with Andrew, but didn't see you. What did you win?

My.ABC.Life · January 2011

kittylove:
I would love a montisorri based preschool where classes are combined so that kids aged 2-prek are all together. It would focus on respect of self and others with emphasis on community. I would be happy for it to be a co-opt as well but it doesn't need to be as long as the price is reasonable. Ideally under 300 for 2 or 3 mornings a week.
OT: I heard your name at the pre-school fair be called for winning something and even saw B with Andrew, but didn't see you. What did you win?

Ah -B said he saw you! And I DID win! A 30 min massage!! Can't WAIT!!

I'll have to think about your outline above... I have been researching (A LOT) of the preschools... maybe one of them will fit your needs!

m&m818 · January 2011

I wanted to see what the price difference was really all about, but knew in my head I had some top choices. I talked to 7 and toured 4.

futrkingsley · January 2011

kittylove:
My.ABC.Life:

kittylove:
Nothing 100% meets my ideal of preschool for him. I think that is the problem, what I want doesn't actually exist. And I am having a hard time prioritizing.

What are you looking for?

I would love a montisorri based preschool where classes are combined so that kids aged 2-prek are all together. It would focus on respect of self and others with emphasis on community. I would be happy for it to be a co-opt as well but it doesn't need to be as long as the price is reasonable. Ideally under 300 for 2 or 3 mornings a week.
OT: I heard your name at the pre-school fair be called for winning something and even saw B with Andrew, but didn't see you. What did you win?

DS attends a Montessori preschool that meets most of those criteria for 3 half days a week but it at least 30% more than what you are looking to spend. And it was the most reasonably priced school that I liked by far. Maybe in your area it's cheaper but that doesn't seem reasonable for a good Montessori school. The materials can be expensive so compared to schools that don't offer quite as many intricate wood objects for learning, they can be more expensive.

While we were searching I didn't encounter any co-op Montessori schools. The co-ops near us were all play based and required more involvement than I could do so I skimmed them and crossed them off my list though.

As for your search for a Montessori that combines ages 2 and up, I'm surprised you haven't found that. It seems pretty common in traditional Montessori schools (only one of those near us that claimed to be Montessori seperated by age and they were very loose in their interpretation of the method). The one DS attends is 2 to preK most of the day, separating by age for some sessions (meals and art since the older kids use supplies that are more advanced).

kittylove · January 2011

futrkingsley:
kittylove:
My.ABC.Life:

kittylove:
Nothing 100% meets my ideal of preschool for him. I think that is the problem, what I want doesn't actually exist. And I am having a hard time prioritizing.

What are you looking for?

I would love a montisorri based preschool where classes are combined so that kids aged 2-prek are all together. It would focus on respect of self and others with emphasis on community. I would be happy for it to be a co-opt as well but it doesn't need to be as long as the price is reasonable. Ideally under 300 for 2 or 3 mornings a week.
OT: I heard your name at the pre-school fair be called for winning something and even saw B with Andrew, but didn't see you. What did you win?

DS attends a Montessori preschool that meets most of those criteria for 3 half days a week but it at least 30% more than what you are looking to spend. And it was the most reasonably priced school that I liked by far. Maybe in your area it's cheaper but that doesn't seem reasonable for a good Montessori school. The materials can be expensive so compared to schools that don't offer quite as many intricate wood objects for learning, they can be more expensive.

While we were searching I didn't encounter any co-op Montessori schools. The co-ops near us were all play based and required more involvement than I could do so I skimmed them and crossed them off my list though.

As for your search for a Montessori that combines ages 2 and up, I'm surprised you haven't found that. It seems pretty common in traditional Montessori schools (only one of those near us that claimed to be Montessori seperated by age and they were very loose in their interpretation of the method). The one DS attends is 2 to preK most of the day, separating by age for some sessions (meals and art since the older kids use supplies that are more advanced).

I bolded the part that suprised me the most too. The one school that does combined classes is 600 a month, way out of our price range.

I have amazingly found three Montisorri schools that are about 300 a month in our area for 2-3 days a week, so I know it exists just not with a combined class that I have found so far. I realize I am asking a lot pice wise.

futrkingsley · January 2011

kittylove:
futrkingsley:
kittylove:
My.ABC.Life:

kittylove:
Nothing 100% meets my ideal of preschool for him. I think that is the problem, what I want doesn't actually exist. And I am having a hard time prioritizing.

What are you looking for?

I would love a montisorri based preschool where classes are combined so that kids aged 2-prek are all together. It would focus on respect of self and others with emphasis on community. I would be happy for it to be a co-opt as well but it doesn't need to be as long as the price is reasonable. Ideally under 300 for 2 or 3 mornings a week.
OT: I heard your name at the pre-school fair be called for winning something and even saw B with Andrew, but didn't see you. What did you win?

DS attends a Montessori preschool that meets most of those criteria for 3 half days a week but it at least 30% more than what you are looking to spend. And it was the most reasonably priced school that I liked by far. Maybe in your area it's cheaper but that doesn't seem reasonable for a good Montessori school. The materials can be expensive so compared to schools that don't offer quite as many intricate wood objects for learning, they can be more expensive.

While we were searching I didn't encounter any co-op Montessori schools. The co-ops near us were all play based and required more involvement than I could do so I skimmed them and crossed them off my list though.

As for your search for a Montessori that combines ages 2 and up, I'm surprised you haven't found that. It seems pretty common in traditional Montessori schools (only one of those near us that claimed to be Montessori seperated by age and they were very loose in their interpretation of the method). The one DS attends is 2 to preK most of the day, separating by age for some sessions (meals and art since the older kids use supplies that are more advanced).

I bolded the part that suprised me the most too. The one school that does combined classes is 600 a month, way out of our price range.

I have amazingly found three Montisorri schools that are about 300 a month in our area for 2-3 days a week, so I know it exists just not with a combined class that I have found so far. I realize I am asking a lot pice wise.

We pay $530 for four hours, three days a week, including meals/snacks. The ages are totally mixed for about half the activities. His school was the most reasonably priced of the ones that follow the method most closely. Others were double that for similar offerings in flashier packaging.

pink.dutch.tulips · January 2011

i think it was about 4. i did alot of viewing online and narrowed it down from there.

i'm w/ alison, 6 would make it very difficult to narrow down. the downside to having TOO many choices.

pink.dutch.tulips · January 2011

i think it was about 4. i did alot of viewing online and narrowed it down from there.

i'm w/ alison, 6 would make it very difficult to narrow down. the downside to having TOO many choices.

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