starting montessori in 1st grade - can we?

[mackysmama]

Hi All!

My son is 5 yo and is suppose to start kindergarten next year but we are going to keep him in his preschool because 1) we love it 2) we don't think he's ready for a full day 3) there aren't any schools we like and 4) etc. We are planning on moving (don't know where) next summer, before he would start 1st grade. Will Montessori let him start in 1st grade or does he need to have previous montessori experience. What about a homeschooler wanting to move to montessori (technically, I'll homeschool him for kindergarten next year, even though he'll be in preschool. Does that make sense?). Should we try to get him into a Montessori next year even though we'll be moving in a year? It seems it would be better for him to stay where he is next year and then start a new school when we move.

Thanks mamas!

[arahzel]

I don't have an answer for this since DD is still so young, but perhaps since you will homeschool him you can invest some time in reading some Montessori-based preparation books. It will probably help a lot if you know where you're moving to and what type of school you want to eventually enroll him in. Maybe call the school now and see what they think is best?

Good luck!

[kaydee]

I think it will really depend on the school--but I agree with the PP about starting to introduce some M materials and approaches sooner rather than later.

[mehndi mama]

I can only share my personal experience, but we started our DD in a Montessori School for her first year of school at the age of 7. She was unschooled in the years before that.
What I've observed - the classrooms with a larger proportion of kids without previous Montessori experience *do* need a bit more direction and reminding from the adults in the room. But in all, jumping into Montessori at a first grade level *does* work for most of the kids. They're just not as calm, quiet, and focused as some of the other children.

[trimomma]

I would also agree that it depends from M school to M school. I think it also depends on the child. We kept ds in the K at his preschool, also. Then, began looking at M schools for his 1st grade year. One M school wouldn't even talk to us because he didn't have M experience. Several of the others offered him a spot at the school after meeting with us and him. He just finished his 1st year there (last day of school today!!) and loved it and did really well. Ds is a very focused, sensitive, and self-driven person ~ the transition was very easy for him.