蒙特梭利國際學校

elmostoney

反而係小朋友suitable否. 個人以為montessori 唔係個個啱, 我個女都考左, 收左, 諗左一星期, 最後放棄.  我個仔都會轉去佢地幼稚園, 希望佢ok可以上埋小學.  如果小朋友fit montessori, 讀出來可以好勁, 但呢d真係因人而異.

elmostoney

我個仔本身好專注, 有好奇心之餘亦有動力去探索, 而且唔怕失敗.  我個女完全相反, 佢有機會有ADD, 好容易分心, 怕難怕失敗, 如果佢唔想做個樣野, 老師唔迫, 佢真係唔會同你做又或好抗拒.  我擔心montessori 比佢自己安排時間, 結果佢拖拉住物都做唔到, 而且個個小朋友有機會同時間做唔同野, 佢咪更分心? 所以佢考左小學後, 我都諗左一星期, 雖然我自己好鍾意montessori, 但係都要因人施教.  我唔敢講佢一定唔得, 但係就非常睇個老師, 我覺得有d搏, 所以都係留返係而家間學校.  對佢來講structured learning比較好d.

elmostoney

主動學習嘅小朋友比較啱montessori. 如果要人多d帶住, 又或老師比多d guidelines, 咁就差d.

dms中環校舍我覺得ok啦, 都係全indoor，如果入到IMS天后或海怡，起碼佢地有outdoor. 不過最重要唔係校舍，係老師！我重來唔睇校舍選校，我個仔讀左３年montessori，如果大家以校舍揀校，呢間一定唔入流，但係我個人意見，我認為作為幼稚園，教細仔，真係超哂班．如果唔係為左入IMS小學鋪路，等佢涵接得好ｄ，我都未必會轉我個仔入去IMS讀最後一年casa.更豪華嘅超級校舍，冇好嘅老師配合，都冇物發揮．如果真係要講校舍，係港島區,西環間casa del bambini　優勝．

elmostoney

濕疹仔，你講個間係ICMS? 我可以話，如果你當普通英文幼稚園讀都ｏｋ，小朋友會開心，但如果你想小朋友接受montessori教育就唔好入呢間．不過呢間ICMS又幾得意，好多小朋友申請英基都抽中，有得面試．

elmostoney

chungtang, just curious.  how old is your child?

I don't think  IMS is IB/PYP. According to their website, "The group chose the Montessori Method over the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP)."  Perhaps you are mistaken.

Personally, I don't think IB/PYP is superior to any other methods in any way.  I truly can't understand what is all the hype about it.

IMS debenture is $75,000.  School fees for full day is $12000~$13000/month.

elmostoney

Montessori's casa has a very clear program, but how much a child achieves highly depends on the child.  For sure, the teacher will teach every aspect of all the Montessori material.

As for primary, more self-motivation is necessary because they use less tools.  If you have any questions, join the school tour.  

I think by saying that, IMS is trying to make sure that it is not too out of sync with IB/PYP, but it doesn't make it a an IB school.  And frankly, after what I have heard from many friends about what they do in PYP/IB primary, I hardly think you miss too much by not doing it during the kindergarten and primary (esp early primary) years.  What they claim to be self-exploratory way of learning is implemented by many schools - which is probably the most important IB feature for the early years.  It is not a unique approach and is adopted by many non-IB schools.  Only for IB, they have other criteria, e.g. something about using mother tongue and other areas.  Most important, the school needs to pay a hefty annual maintenance fee to the IB organization.

elmostoney

funnymommy, so glad to have someone who holds similar views about IB.  In my days at an American public high school, projects, community services, experiments, after-school sports, even music and a foreign language were ALL encouraged as part of the curriculum (though not required) if a student wanted to have a fair chance with a good university.  It's just...not so special.  What IB is asking children to do now is just putting down all these as requirements, but I tell you - it's been out there for YEARS.  Only in HK, emphasis has always been placed on grades and exams and pretty much nothing else, so now this IB "thing" has become the latest fad, imho.

elmostoney

The problem with IB, as I gathered from many different sources (parents, students, and former teachers), is that it aims to achieve too much with very little guidance to the teacher.  So teachers teaching the same subject to two different classes of the same level may have VERY different expectations.    In other words, it could be quite unstructured - unless the school steps in and coordinates an IB curriculum centrally (and some schools are going in that direction).  

You are right in that Montessori is quite structured, but to a highly motivated child, it will not diminish his curiosity.  A good teacher will also allow room for a child to explore.  I really like the fact that Montessori lets a child  work at his own pace.  Lately, my son is very much into math. The first thing he does in school is usually math or take his biscuit.  He is able to focus for a long stretch of time.  If I put him in a regular school, he will have to go with the flow  - math time, reading time, golden (play) time.  What if he wants to do more math?  What if he wants to read more?  A normal school won't allow him to set his schedule, and will instead, ask him to break his concentration and move on.  What if his "discovery" lies in his lengthy work and thoughts?  

So I still haven't decided yet.  ICA is also a great school.  I know the teacher has been doing adjustments with the children.  Those who are capable and want to do more are given something that suits their need.  Those who need extra help have been getting some one-on-one attention.  So in a way, they do customize.  So I have schedule to meet up with my daughter's teacher to discuss how the class will be run and how my son can benefit. Keep my fingers crossed.

elmostoney

dadmumkids, 我比較活在當下, 覺得那一間學校在現階段適合孩子, 我便選那間, 特別是幼教和小學, 因為小時候培養了學習的好習慣和對品德的觀念, 到中學孩子才懂得選擇和堅持. 亦因此, 我家老二一直在一家非正規的蒙氏中心念了三年, 因為我真的覺得作為蒙氏幼教, 除了沒有固定的學伴外, 這中心我覺得是最有愛心最正宗的. 至於中學如何涵接, 我認為有麝自然香. 如果孩子的基礎打得好, 我相信中學一定能找到一家好學校.

IMS小學老師的情況我實在不太清楚. 不過他們的幼稚園班別太多, 老師的投入感自然就很難劃一, 要知蒙氏持牌老師本來就不很多.   我家老二還要多念一年casa (現在四歲半), 所以上小學起碼也是一年後的事.  不過現階段我尚在猶豫, 老二的性情, 上蒙氏學習真是再合適不過.  可是他這人太害羞, 我又怕他繼續在蒙氏發展, 更助長他個人工作的習慣, 因而變成更不合群.  他不是不喜歡群體, 而是害羞得要命, 這也是值得關注的.  

我也好奇, 不竟到二年班和三年班才轉校的始終屬少數, 能知道原因嗎?

elmostoney

dadmumkids, 我們最後決定讓兒子進Island Christian Academy (Small World的小學), 就是我女兒現在唸的那家.  

對於我來說, 放棄蒙氏就有點像放棄我的夢想. 我很懶, 沒有看多少蒙氏書, 但去唸了九十小時家長班, 上部份課堂時, 還是挺著8個月的大肚子.  所以對兒子不能完成蒙氏幼教課程, 實在很感惋惜, 更何況我知道他是絕對能勝任的. 但我的確擔心, 以他的性格, 如果找不到朋友, 雖然他也渴望有個伴兒, 但他可能真的會自己做自己的事情.

我讓兒子在蒙氏唸書, 除了喜歡其概念外, 亦因為我知道他真的能在蒙氏發揮.  不過我也不想他成了一個科學怪人, 只會讀書.  始終將來面對的是人, 不是機器.  

elmostoney

dadmumkids, 希望你九月後會來update一下, 我也很有興趣知道IMS小學的情況.  

其實我的老二明年在 esf 也有一個學位, 不過我想我們多數也會放棄.  一來, 不想讓他重讀一年班 (八月開學時在 ICA 他會是一年班), 二來ICA對我們來說, 應該是一個更好的選擇.

elmostoney

蒙特梭利話, 比小朋友guidance, 到適當時候, 佢嘅興趣出來, 你想唔比佢做, 想擋都擋唔住.

呢樣真係好因人而異, 我個女身上我唔係太體現到, 可能因為佢係ADD, 所以集中唔到做野.

我個仔就引證哂, 之前三年嘅功夫, 而家終於開始收成, 但係佢已經要離開.  

最近佢瘋狂迷上數字, 唔洗我地迫, 佢主動要學睇鐘, 好留意時間, 而且會自己練習寫數字, 做單位加數, 甚至會答我地口頭出題, 連沖緊涼都做, 而且佢已唔用手指數, 係心裏默默數, 雖則會數錯, 但關鍵係佢有興趣做.  

呢樣就係蒙特梭利, 冇時間限制, 唔係學校迫, 要小朋友做, 係小朋友興趣來了, 擋也擋不住.

elmostoney

我所據聞IMS中文係谷谷地, 但係同傳統學校有別. 佢地係以小組形式, 因應程度上課,  我覺得課堂上, 小朋友參與程度較大.  其實學中文, 最後都要靠死記, 呢個難以避免. 我喜歡IMS其中一個原因, 就係佢中文好, 唔係我似我個女咁, 而家教到嘔血.

我個女而家睇緊e生, 食緊一d維他命 (我堅拒比佢食藥), 好左好多, 不過之前幾年, 就好似miss左d黃金時期咁, 性格同習慣, 好多已形成.

summer我都會比我個女返返以前間montessori school, 唔係求佢學到太多野, 畢竟得一個summer, 不過希望佢ADD有左改善, 老師係學術上可以重新啟發下佢.

elmostoney

dadmumkids, 你為工作, 其實最後都係為屋企, 為人父母不易, 你已做得很好. 係香港呢個現實社會, 個個都追求成績同cert時, 唔係好多父母能好似你咁, 為佢地, 你唔隨波逐流 (就係呢樣, 我都要頂好大壓力, 我阿爸成日 um 我, 話我幫仔女揀d咁嘅學校), 而只係想揀一間合適佢地嘅學校.  

至於你個大仔, 你再observe一下, 因為有d小朋友, 因為某d原因, 需要特大量某d vitamins又或佢地吸收唔到, 我個女就係.  而家食返d相關vitamins and minerals, 情況改善左好多.  佢讀IS, 我都可以兩個月比老師的去照3次肺, 當然我講得過嚴重, 老師係真心想幫佢, 但係做阿媽嘅我, 當時真係唔好受.  以前我以佢懶, 原來佢係控制唔到自己, 所以成日遊魂, 包括我係屋企同佢讀中文都係. 我都係近月先find out, 浪費左佢幾年, 所以佢而家係學習上自信心都有d低落, 我都要慢慢幫佢建立返.

elmostoney

唔敢當, 大家都係為自己小朋友盡力.  可惜係香港有心辦學嘅人少, 賺錢嘅人多.  唔洗去到外國, 淨係去台灣走個圈就睇到港台如何不同.  或者香港嘅租金真係太高昂, 政府又鼓勵教育百花齊放, 導致而家大家咁少選擇嘅惡果, 不竟人唔係一件係工廠生產出來, 大家一樣嘅物件. 所以有咁多小朋友返學返得咁痛苦.

如果大家有時間可以走開下, 我大力推薦暑假去台灣讀montessori, 有戶外, 有大自然, 老師有愛心, 有耐性, 費用便宜.  係台北租屋可能貴d, 咁可以考慮去台中.  租屋同學費 (全日, 起碼到四五點, 仲要包埋lunch)分分鐘加埋都係一萬至一萬鬆d港幣一個月. 去完你就知道原來montessori係咁! 係香港montessori preschool中, 我覺得最接近嘅係best concept, 我老二 (以前老大)讀緊個間, 無獨有偶, 都有台灣 background, 只係好多人覺得佢冇英文, 亦唔係一間正規學校.

elmostoney

Jasonbourne, 香港大部份家長求勝深切, 要快見功, 但係蒙氏係慢工出細貨. 有d幼稚園, 可能標榜點樣教一個兩歲pn小朋友學識哂 abc, 由1數到10呢d, 蒙特梭利唔會咁做, 真正嘅蒙氏係由培養一個人做起, 點樣自理, master日常生活嘅task.  我記得, 當時我個導師話, 小朋友同大人一樣, 都需要肯定自己嘅價值, 所以佢地會想自己有能力照顧自己, 甚至係屋企幫手, 但係大人怕煩, 幫小朋友做, 又或叫佢地咪攪屋企d野, 梗係易好多. 久而久之, 便成習慣, 小朋友失去左培養獨立同自信嘅機會, 要知人生唔係淨係讀書.

另外, 蒙氏主張慢, 係因為小朋友要空間諗野, 休息, 如果學野一樣接一樣, 冇時間歇下, 大人都唔得啦, 而且小朋友係玩或者發白日夢嘅過程中, 都會有得著, 你唔知幾時會係  the next big idea.  一個成日比人催佢快d嘅小朋友, 有機會變到同個大人一樣毛燥.

教學理念太多, 我係到亦無法盡錄, 而且我自己都係識皮毛.  但係香港蒙氏幼教有另一個問題, 就係老師質素同師生比例.  真正嘅蒙氏, 可能好多時真係自己做自己野, 但係我去台灣一間蒙幼睇過, 佢地嘅學生真係打成一片, 同蒙氏本身有少少出入, 但係對群體發展比較好. 我見我個仔個老師, 都會鼓勵小朋友互相幫忙, 大帶細小朋友(呢個都係蒙氏概念), 同其他人合作分享.  但係如果一班 (3-6歲)人數太多, 而且大部份係細小朋友, 老師淨係帶呢d細仔都疫於奔命, 邊有時間引導大仔去帶細仔, 又或老師教大仔?  所以效果唔會太好.  我有朋友個小朋友係歐洲出世, 讀蒙氏, 佢話一班係十幾人, 兩個老師, 佢覺得帶得個女好好.  佢見咁有成效, 返來繼續讀蒙幼, 點知一班25人, 得一個qualified老師帶一個非蒙氏助教, 結果效果差好遠.  點解我選阿仔而家間中心而唔讀正規蒙幼, 就係呢個原因, 因為我個仔個班係一個老師對6~7個學生! 都唔係學費問題, 但係呢位老闆真係有心教學, 三年未加過3~6歲學費.  
其實

elmostoney

物野叫蒙氏學習? 係咪一定要有教具? 我諗要睇年齡.  我唔係做得好好, 但係基本嘅野, 如唔用bb車(兩歲開始唔用)唔抱, 倒潟水要自己抹, 玩具要自己執, 食完飯洗返自己d碗,呢d都有做.  係咪可以做更多?  當然, 我都覺得自己做得唔夠.

教具係死嘅, 睇下父母點教.  我覺得除非父母本身有蒙氏 background, 就咁買副教具返去, 唔識點用, 反而會越攪越亂.  montessori唔係淨係教abc同數學, 係有個sense of order, 佢地所有教具, working order都係由左至右排, 因為生活中好多野, 都係呢個順序. 做三角盒時, 老師會教小朋友用手指沿邊沿摸一次　（感受邊同角）, 因為佢地相信用手做過, 會令小朋友記憶更深刻, 更理解, 然後先係將不同嘅三角組知合為其他形狀（要知好多形狀，其實都係三角組成），　如果冇受過訓練，唔好話步驟，連一套教具嘅目的都未必好理解，所以對家中用教具，我覺得簡單個ｄ尚可，跟住就會越來越難．

elmostoney

Sorry, but I have to disagree.  Montessori is not for every child.  I am a staunch supporter of Montessori.  My son blossomed, but my daughter didn't.  You would never believe how desperate I wanted to let her stay in Montessori and how I had to admit my own absurdity at the end.  Eventually we found out she has mild ADD and will not perform in Montessori as she cannot focus on her own task for a prolonged period of time.  She will have problem moving up to primary as she will need to organize her own schedule.  In other words, a more structured environment will suit her better.

我女兒學校有幾位從IMS轉來的同學, 都是因各種原因, 蒙氏非最合適的教學方法.  你可以說, 他們當然可以繼續唸蒙氏, but it may not be the way to bring the best out of them.

elmostoney

But i have to say pre-Casa (every school calls it differently) is for EVERY child.  They teach children rules, respect for others, independence, etc.  Academically, it's not for all.  At age 2, my kids were using scissors, sewing with needles, pouring their own water into a cup and drinking from it, etc.  Squeezing orange juice at age 3+, peeling apples at 4 years old.  My kids now (6.5 and almost 5) will take a towel and wipe spilt water, do their own set of dishes after dinner, change their own clothes.  Older one can shower herself (but cannot rinse off shampoo thoroughly and cannot dry herself).  She can read a regular recipe, loves baking and cook us dinner (當然唔係好難個d, 要開大火煮野就唔得)

elmostoney

jolalee, indeed, I think it's too early to tell if your son fits Montessori at age 2!  Having said that, a child with good concentration does have an advantage (as in all type of learning).  

其實我而家都有d無所悉從, 一般學校, 就算幾活動, 幾自由, 都有自己curriculum, 佢唔會因為你個小朋友有能力, 就push佢做多d. 唔好話push, 就話係比機會啦.  始終montessori跟小朋友興趣而走, 小朋友有興趣時, 佢個種投入同進步可以好驚人.  我而家對細仔, 有d唯有自己係屋企同佢做, 但係做唔到咁多, 心裏真係覺得好可惜.  但係比佢繼續係montessori, 又驚佢成日自己做自己野, 本來已怕羞, 如果由得佢, 我怕會越大越嚴重.