introducing kid to M?

[sarahr]

As I posted in another thread, we're considering putting my will be almost 5 yr old dd in montessori next year, as a bridge between her play-based nursery school and academic k. She has the "average" academic skills of a kid her age -- she knows the alphabet, can write her name, can count up to 20, etc -- but nothing extraordinary.

I get that when school starts, she has to be given lessons on particular materials before she can use it -- she can't just explore on her own. But I also understand that it's child-led in that she's given lessons on the material in which she shows interest.

How does she know what she's interested in -- what her options are -- so that her teacher knows what to give lessons in?

[sapphire_chan]

Will there be an orientation visit to determine if she'll be up for transitioning to M at this late stage?

I would expect the guide to observe what your dd seems curious about and to pick works that will lead your dd towards those works.

[sarahr]

There will be a playdate in the summer, but by then we will already be committed to the school. At that playdate/orientation, can I expect that she'll be able to touch/play with things that she hasn't gotten lessons in? Otherwise, how will either dd or the teacher know what she's curious about?