We're planning on sending DS to a Montessori school this fall, but as a back-up plan I went ahead and put him on the list at the local preschool (we live in a rural area, so there's only one preschool). The local school is Montessori-ish, but with lots of traditional aspects as well.
When I brought in DS and all of the paperwork needed to enroll, the director told me that they received a grant to help with tuition costs and provide new materials, and one of the stipulations of the grant is that each child receives a kindergarten readiness test upon enrolling and when leaving. So she had DS (3 years old) take the test. Except for a few coordination things (becuase he's THREE, not FIVE), the little guy actually passed the test.
So of course, once the director went over the test, she fed me the same crud she normally does- how DS would do well in "his own learning group", meaning that when the other 3-year-olds are learning letters, he's be off on his own doing something else. That doesn't sit right with me at all, which is why I'm keeping my fingers crossed that our Montessori plan works out.
So out of pure curiosity, why do you think they are placing so much weight on this test? Do all kids take a test before going to kindergarten? Does passing a test even matter??? If he's passing it now, then what's going to happen by the time he's 5 and actually ready for kindergarten?
I'd love some insight. I'm new to this whole preschool ruckus.
When I brought in DS and all of the paperwork needed to enroll, the director told me that they received a grant to help with tuition costs and provide new materials, and one of the stipulations of the grant is that each child receives a kindergarten readiness test upon enrolling and when leaving. So she had DS (3 years old) take the test. Except for a few coordination things (becuase he's THREE, not FIVE), the little guy actually passed the test.
So of course, once the director went over the test, she fed me the same crud she normally does- how DS would do well in "his own learning group", meaning that when the other 3-year-olds are learning letters, he's be off on his own doing something else. That doesn't sit right with me at all, which is why I'm keeping my fingers crossed that our Montessori plan works out.
So out of pure curiosity, why do you think they are placing so much weight on this test? Do all kids take a test before going to kindergarten? Does passing a test even matter??? If he's passing it now, then what's going to happen by the time he's 5 and actually ready for kindergarten?
I'd love some insight. I'm new to this whole preschool ruckus.
That was how we did things that focused on "getting ready for kindergarten" And while the groups did tend to also fall into an older/younger grouping, it wasn't at all unheard of to have somebody like your 3 year old at the 'more academic' table. (and when I say "academic" I'm talking things like activities that focus on learning (or showing what you know about) letters and numbers because these kids have mastered shapes and colors, that kind of thing.)
