Kindergarten Considerations

Deciding when your child should attend kindergarten can be a very difficult decision. In the following information, you should find some details to consider, specific information on what options are offered at MMS for your child’s kindergarten experience, and some general information to think about when making this choice.

Details to consider:

A child must be 5 years old by September 1st of the current year to attend kindergarten.
Level of independence – can the child easily dress and undress self / use the bathroom without assistance / and make choices on their own and follow through with tasks?
Maturity level – can the child sit quietly and focus their attention for a length of time / is the child able to adapt to changes and react in an emotionally acceptable, age appropriate manner?
Does the child have appropriate verbal skills and the ability to effectively communicate? Can they listen, express their needs and feelings, or take turns speaking?
Are the child’s gross motor skills developing? Can the child walk, run, skip, hop, catch, throw, jump, slide, swing, and so on? Do they understand safety when playing?
Does the child demonstrate fine motor strength? Can the child use simple fine motor skills? Can they pour, cut, grasp, button, zip, draw, hold a pencil, or print their name?
How are the child’s cognitive skills? Can they problem solve, formulate and ask a question, recognize colors, shapes, sizes, match, sort, try to recognize letter sounds or read, count and recognize number symbols and quantity to at least 10, and express themselves in a meaningful way?
Does the child have age appropriate social and emotional skills? Do they have a positive feeling about school, cooperate, share, initiate and sustain interest in a task, try new things, follow classroom rules, ask for help when they need it, accept responsibilities for their choices, participate in activities, have enthusiasm for learning, and appear to feel secure and at ease in school?
Can the child appreciate a story, interact with materials, and demonstrate creativity in art, body movement, and music? Does the child interact with role playing, exhibit pride in what they produce, and have the ability to concentrate on projects for longer periods of time?
Are you comfortable that your child has the level of independence needed to be successful in a kindergarten environment where higher expectations will be anticipated than in their preschool years?

Midland Montessori School Kindergarten Options:

Each of the following options can be considered for your child’s kindergarten experience at MMS. No matter what any other school may offer or require for a time commitment, MMS can offer you the following time schedules for kindergarten:

Half day session: 7:30am-12:30pm

School day session: 8:30am - 3:30pm

All-day session 7:30am-5:30pm

As parents, you can still make the choice of the schedule you wish for your child in kindergarten. The work they are doing and the skills they are building are what make it a kindergarten experience, not the time schedule. In the Montessori classroom you can expect the following examples for kindergarten at MMS:

Individualized language building skills. Beginning with where a child is at with this skill, the teacher will move them forward, whether starting with sound recognition and basic phonics or all the way to reading books and reading comprehension activities. There are materials available in the classroom for each child’s level and ability.
Writing activities. Children will use writing papers and folders to practice proper letter writing formation and also creative writing when they are ready.
Personalized math building skills. Much like the language skills, each child will get lessons that move them forward from where they begin, to continue to build mathematical understanding from number recognition and beginning math activities all the way through to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and even division. Montessori materials also include works for the decimal system, squaring, cubing, and number building and exploration. There are a multitude of possibilities and activities in the math area to keep children moving forward in their interest with numbers and what we can do with them.
Geography and Science are also included as particular areas to explore in the kindergarten year. Maps, geographical features such as land and water formations, different cultures, space and solar system activities, plant and animal activities, and many other topics that open up the world for the children to experience.
The most important aspect to remember is that teachers work with each child on the next skill they are ready to begin by introducing activities and lessons that focus on that specific child’s needs.

Information to think about when making the choice for kindergarten:

Is your child really ready? What are your expectations of the school or program? Are you concerned that your child will lose friends if they stay behind or move on, or do you wish they could stay with the same group of children?

These are understandable questions and concerns. Your child’s teacher can help you with knowing if your child is really ready to go to kindergarten. Each school and program is different, looking in to a program or visiting a school you want to consider is a great way to start. Children at this age are beginning to make the first of many, many friends they will have in their life, understand that they will make new friends and be in new social situations from here forward for the next several years and into their future beyond school. Trust their skills to make new relationships, it will be okay. Don’t let the smaller issues convince you to make a decision that may not be in the best interest of your child, try to see the bigger picture.

Most of all remember…your child will be on their own, without a parent, in a room full of children who may influence them in positive and negative ways. Consider your child’s abilities in these situations and weigh the outcomes. Is your child self-confident and independent enough to handle these situations? Are they more of a follower or a leader? Which would you rather see them as? And last, the decision to start kindergarten sets your child up for their next years of education. Would you rather have them be a younger or older member of their class when they are in their middle and high school years? If they are just not ready to start now, in this time of changing birth dates and big expectations, waiting to send them for one more year is the right decision. If they are really ready to attend kindergarten this year and have the skills necessary, then sending them on their way is the right decision. Talk things over with their teacher, they are your partner in your child’s educational experience.

Best regards to you and your child,

Miss Amber and Miss Sarah

Administration

Midland Montessori School