Montessori transition to public school?

Question

Has anyone ever had a child do the transition from Montessori education in preschool, to traditional elementary, and if so, did your child have long-term difficulties?

Answer 1

Whenever I hear this question I think about a scene in the movie Mean Girls. Kady, the movie's protagonist, has been home-schooled in Africa by her anthropologist parents. Her first 'real' school is a public high school.

At first she is shocked and confused by the rules of the school. As she says in a voice over,"Never before had I lived in a world where adults didn't trust me. I got in trouble for the most random things." Then she is seen getting up to sharpen her pencil or to go to the bathroom and teachers being dismayed with her.

Being a Montessori teacher in a public program that only goes to 3rd grade I often hear from the 4th grade traditional education teachers and former students about the problems they face when they leave Montessori. I listen very carefully and over the years have realized that they pretty much fit into three different categories:

MANAGEMENT - Montessori students are used going to the bathroom when they need to go, they sharpen their pencils when they need to, they get up and get something that they need to complete their work with, they put on chapstick.... The only time I make them ask for permission to get up is during a lesson or if they have been abusing the privilege. So going to a classroom where they have to ask permission, or just aren't allowed to do such things during class time takes a little time to get use to.

SOCIAL- Montessori students are used to working together and helping their peers. They are used to using conflict resolution skills to work through their problems, they are used to the teacher not only respecting their input and opinions, but encouraging them, and they are use to respecting other children's needs and having their needs respected. It takes time for them to adjust to classroom where they are ultimatums and they aren't allowed to work with others to find solutions to their problems.

ACADEMIC- Montessori children are use to being able to move on to new material when they are ready for that information, not when the scripted program or district benchmark says that they should. They are also used to saying to the teacher, 'I'm having a lot of problems understanding this concept, could you show it to me in another way?" or, "I really understand this concept, can I please take a test on it and move on to the next concept?"

Additionally, they are use to having a hand in their education. A common question is 'May I study .... and write a report on it for science this week?" Obviously, being in a classroom where the teacher follows a script and teaches only what they are scripted to teach, will takes some time getting used to.

So yes, there are adaptation problems. But you know what? Montessori children are unusually adaptable. They know how to work independently and in groups. They are problem solvers who can make choices and manage their time well. So in general, after an initial adjustment period, they can do adapt quite well. And, at least in my eyes, the skills that they have learned from being in Montessori classroom completely outweigh the problems that they encounter when they first make the transition to a traditional school.

Answer 2

my sons came from a progressive preschool and i was pretty sure they'd have a difficult time transitioning to a regular school. they're so used to experiencing learning rather than memorizing lessons.

good thing i found this developmental elementary school that made use of traditional and progressive learning.  the curriculum is an even mix that allows students the best of both worlds.  the school's even got an individualized program for each student that can help them in mainstreaming.

this way, i got them to transition to elementary, but not harshly.  

this school is in the philippines by the way, and it's pretty unique.  so i suggest you look into developmental schools in your area.

and don't throw your kid into public school that fast.  a private school might not be as painful so go for that.  but do expect a bit of a culture shock.

Answer 3

I went to montessori

its a VERY good school

i ended up skipping 1st grade

i STRONGLY recomend private school if you want to keep your childs intelligence in tact

Answer 4

Hello,

My daughter went to a Montessorri nursery for 2 years, from age 2 to 4, and then started school.

However schools differ widely in their approach - she started at the school my 2 older children attend and so I knew how they operated, similar in sone respects to Montessorri in terms of their repect for the child and in providing a stimulating environment rather than a rigid timetable.

My second son had been to a 'normal' nursery and then went for one year to a very rigid 'traditional' school where his energy and enthusiasm were not really appreciated. After it got to the point of his teacher carrying him in screaming I knew it would not work and he moved to the happy, friendly school he is at where he progressed very fast.

My daughter has done one year of school and is starting Year 1, there have not really been any problems, other than she is very sensitive (and montessorri probably nurtured that) and can struggle with her friendships, falling out, playing together etc. I suppose that girls tend to be like that - boys are more straightforward I think.

Montessorri will have given your child an excellent start, I'm sure they will do well. My daughter has excelled a lot at school despite being one of the youngest, I think a lot of this is due to the good nursery she went to.