stand-alone K classroom versus 3-6 year old age-integrated classroom

[lucysmom]

Hello!

My daughter (4.5 years old) is in her second year at a wonderful, large (7 classrooms of 20-24 students each) Montessori school. I was planning that she would remain next year for her kindergarten year -- in the same class, same teacher as the past two years. She would be among the oldest children in the classroom next year if we do this.

The school has now announced that they are opening a stand-alone kindergarten-only classroom in their elementary school building. The elementary kids are in classic Montessori age-integrated classes: 1st-3rd grade and 4th-6th grade equivalents. Only the kindergarten would have kids who cover just one year in age.

I am certain that it has been great for my daughter to be in class with older kids last year & this year. Not certain how important it is for her to have the experience of being among the oldest next year -- for confidence, experience helping younger kids, or other reasons. Also not sure whether she might get more out of the all-K experience academically, which is somewhat important to me.

I would really appreciate any thoughts folks want to share about this choice.

-- Lisa

[bobandjess99]

I would ask why?
So..is it a hoice? Like, you can keep your kid in he 3-6 room for another year, OR choose to send her to the standalone K? Or do all 3rd year EC kids have to go to the standalone K?

[mtnhighmama]

Our public charter montessori runs a stand alone kinder class. It's not ideal, but at this point we can't run a 3-6 program, and it's better than not having a kinder.

But if you have the choice, why would you move her out of a 3-6 classroom? If you are worried about academics, don't be. She won't be missing anything. I think it is important for kids to get the experience of leadership. It does a lot to build their confidence in themselves.

[snowmom5]

I agree - what would be the reason to move her? I have two kids in K in a 3-6 classroom right now. Only the K kids stay for the afternoon; the others leave at 11:30. They are both so much more confident this year. I don't know if that has to do with being the oldest, or the third year in the same classroom, or what. But it has definitely been a good thing for them. Then there's the teacher issue - they both have fabulous teachers who are well-suited to their different personalities. Having the teacher know them so well at the start of K may make a big difference too - that's potentially invaluable. (LOL I just said to one of the teachers the other day that I wish they could have those teachers for first grade!).

Conversely, if you had any issues with the current teacher, you could gamble and go with the stand-alone class. (I would also wonder if the stand-alone class might be comprised of students who were not in the school for preschool.)

[lucysmom]

Good food for thought so far. Yes, we can choose whether she stays in the 3-6 class, or moves to the stand-alone class. I do have a lot of confidence in the current teacher. I would have thought being in a class with just older kids might build her confidence, but it sounds like that is not necessarily your experience ... any other experience or thoughts?

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by lucysmom

Good food for thought so far. Yes, we can choose whether she stays in the 3-6 class, or moves to the stand-alone class. I do have a lot of confidence in the current teacher. I would have thought being in a class with just older kids might build her confidence, but it sounds like that is not necessarily your experience ... any other experience or thoughts?

If you switch, chances are, you'd be losing out both academically and socially.

[BCFD]

Our private M school just started their first kindy program this year and they have about 12 or 15 kids in there that range from a late 4 year old/almost 5 to a late 6 year old/almost 7. From what I recall about our charter M school, the classes are broken down like this: k/1, 2/3, 4, 5/6, 7/8. I don't understand why 4th graders are in a class without other ages, but I vaguely remember them saying something about it's more of a social issue than academic. I could be TOTALLY wrong about that though. I'll have to ask DP. Maybe she remembers.

Personally, I prefer the age range and if given the choice would keep her with the 3-6 year olds as long as they had the appropriate work for her to do.

[nkm1968]

In our experience, having both DDs in the 3-6 classroom for the entirety of their 6th year, was invaluable. Not only did they get the benefit of being part of the small-group afternoon session, but they got to (finally!) be leaders in the morning session, with the 3, 4, and 5 year olds, in addition to their afternoon "extended day" group. The experience of being able to show the younger children the practical life and sensorial lessons totally anchored those experiences in their brains, even for works they had not chosen in 2 years. Both of my daughters did 4 years in the 3-6 classroom, btw, and that has shown to be a real advantage. In the elementary Montessori classrooms, the pace is very fast and frenetic, and the extra year in the Casa has allowed them to make independent discoveries and independent growth that has solidified their orientation as learners excited about learning for learning's sake!

[OnTheBrink]

Originally Posted by mtnhighmama

Our public charter montessori runs a stand alone kinder class. It's not ideal, but at this point we can't run a 3-6 program, and it's better than not having a kinder.

Just curious: Why is this? Our public charter has a 3-6 class. That include the tuition paying "preschool" kids as well as the public charter "kindergarten" kids.

I would definitely leave her to complete her three year cycle in that class. My daughter benefitted greatly from her "leadership year." She gained confidence and poise that would not have been gained if she was around others "just like her." It also really cemeted some of the academic concepts when she had the chance to teach them to younger students.

[bobandjess99]

I woudl stay.....I think the multi-age groupoing is truly essential to learning....not just in an academic sense, but in a "how to live life in the real world" sense.

Our public school magnet has a 3-6 room and a 6-9 room. The 3-6 room, the kids under 5 go home at 11:30,and the 5-6's(K's), stay until 2:20. It seems to work really well at givein the K's the best of both worlds, the multiage classroom , being the masters, etc, and also some "alone" time to learn "K" stuff, state reading standards, etc.

[mtnhighmama]

Originally Posted by OnTheBrink

Just curious: Why is this? Our public charter has a 3-6 class. That include the tuition paying "preschool" kids as well as the public charter "kindergarten" kids.

<snip>

Our original charter didn't allow for a pre-k class, mostly due to (I think, though I'm not sure) funding issues and that fact that pre-k isn't state funded. We've been open for enough years now that we are ready to look into creating our 3-6 program and hope that we can open one in 2010. Though, with the way the economics are and how hard we've been hit financially, I wonder if we will have to postpone for awhile.

Our 3-6 program will also be tuition based. I'd be interested to hear how your school models that with a Kindergarten that is funded bu the state. It's one of the things we've been talking a lot about. Also, our elementary is run by a lottery system, so we're also exploring how it would work to have people in our 3-6 program without having the guarantee that they could lottery into the older classrooms. Though, they can start the lottery process early if we have a 3-6 program, I think.

Any words of wisdom about how you made it work are greatly appreciated.

[snowmom5]

Our montessori is also a public charter and charges tuition for preschool (half-day). They also charge tuition for K because the school district (we're in CO) only funds a half-day K program, and the montessori program is full-day for K. The tuition price for K is similar to, but slightly more than, the tuition price for preschool. Then first grade and up is free. We have 7 preschool-K classrooms (just over 200 kids).

Both prices are still less than the tuition prices at a nearby private montessori preschool-K school, where one of my other kids attends a toddler program (though in that case I think the private school had to raise its prices due to declining enrollment, which then led to further declining enrollment...but that's another story).

hope this helps

[OnTheBrink]

Our public charter Montessori serves ages 3-12.
www.LakelandMontessori.com

We have one 3-6 class that includes "preK-3", "preK-4" and "kindergarten" (though we don't call them that, of course). PreK3 and PreK4 pay tuition. Next year, the cost for PreK3 is about $7,000 and PreK4 is about $5,000. We have a state funded Voluntary Pre-K program for four year olds, so there is a discount that year (the state pays the difference). Both of these are full day. Kindergarten is a public charter school and there is no tuition.

The way our charter was written states that 3 and 4 year olds in our program get priority for K. After that is kids with other Montessori experience (there is no other M school here, so it would be people new to town), siblings, then others.

We opened with a full 3-6 class, so it wouldn't be the same as adding it in later. But I think it could work!

Perhaps we should have a thread about public Montessori schools.

[lucysmom]

Just wanted to say thanks to all who responded. It has really helped me reevaluate my attraction to the stand-alone K class & lean back toward leaving my DD in her current 3-6 class. Your points all make a great deal of sense. Thank you!