Transition Montessori to traditional private

[Anonymous]

Our small Montessori has been wonderful, but DC will "graduate" next June.

All the potential new private schools have traditional classrooms with desks and a lecture-style instruction with a whiteboard. That is fine with us, but it is very different from a Montessori open classroom. DC has been in Montessori from K onwards.

Would love to hear from other parents whose kids transitioned from Montessori to traditional classrooms about possible challenges, any tricks to help smooth the transition, and any other tips to help DC. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

What grade will he be in?

[Anonymous]

OP here. One of the higher elementary grades.

[Anonymous]

Where are you located? Green Hedges School in Vienna has a Montessori through K and then some say Montessori-like in the lower elementary grades. I know kids who successfully transitioned from another Montessori school into grade 5 and into middle school at GH.

[Anonymous]

Montessori classrooms are typically three years grouped together, so I’m guessing your kid is entering 6th or so. You’re essentially looking for middle schools? Do you want one that continues through 12, or would you be open to changing schools again in a couple years?

My DC went from a small Montessori school to Congressional School in Falls Church in 4th and did great with the transition. But they only go through 8th, so while kids definitely do join in 7th, you’re really only there a year before you’re back in the thick of school applications again.

[Anonymous]

OP. We are not looking for another Montessori.

Want to have a smooth transition. Moving from open classroom to a traditional classroom is a big change. Not being able to choose which area to work on when also is a big change.

[Anonymous]

We hope to move to a school that goes thru 12th. We have a candidate list of schools, just need advice on how to smooth the transition in school setup.

[Anonymous]

My 2 switched in 2nd and 4th grade. The 2nd kept getting in trouble for talking and not sitting still. The 4th had a hard time w/ tests and homework. It didn't go well the year we switched.

[Anonymous]

I think for most kids this isn't a big deal and they will just follow along with the other kids. Obviously you explain it beforehand and have them visit the new school. Issues may arise if your kid has trouble sitting still and controlling their body and speech in an age-appropriate manner, and if they are below grade level academically in something but don't realize it or have been allowed to skate by. (And I'm not saying it's because of Montessori specifically, it tends to come up with various more 'child-led' approaches). You need to do an honest assessment of your child's preparedness and maturity so that you, and they, go in eyes wide open.

[Anonymous]

My DC was at a Montessori and had no problems transitioning to a traditional classroom - neither did the other kids in his class. They get used to the new set-up really quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. We are not looking for another Montessori.

Want to have a smooth transition. Moving from open classroom to a traditional classroom is a big change. Not being able to choose which area to work on when also is a big change.

Is your child neurotypical? If so, at the age you are talking about (roughly 10-12, since you are being deliberately vague for no reason about the grade your child is), they really shouldn’t have difficulty adjusting to a scheduled approach to the day over the Montessori “you choose the work” process.

[Anonymous]

People do this all the time. Haven't you noticed there are lots of Montessori elementaries and far fewer Montessori middle and high schools? It is not a big deal unless your child is ND (whether you acknowledge it or not), or you're a parent who likes to be precious about things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 2 switched in 2nd and 4th grade. The 2nd kept getting in trouble for talking and not sitting still. The 4th had a hard time w/ tests and homework. It didn't go well the year we switched.

Thanks. This is very helpful.

[Anonymous]

We switched in 7th, girl had no trouble but is top student anyway. Boy struggled more with organization and amount of homework. Still working on it.

[Anonymous]

They learn so many useful skills in Montessori- I think the first real-life application of those skills is when they transition to a regular school. And it usually goes really well. From our experience. 3rd grade transition.