Experience with Montessori to PK transition?

[Anonymous]

Well, we are among the many that are on a PK waitlist spot in DCPS. We recognize that if we dont get a PK spot, we have ~0% chance of getting a K+ lottery spot next year, since there are so few. That means that we are putting all our eggs into the PK basket or its moving time to get somewhere good for K+.

My dilemma is that my 4 yo DS is doing very well in his 2nd year of Montessori program. It was recently pointed out to me that PK may be very boring to him next year and is basically the same level that he is doing now, if not more remedial. For example, the DCPS PK curriculum says they only need to count to 10! OMG he counts to 100 now and reads to 100. He pretty much is at or above the PK curriculum today, and by next Sept even more so.

Please share your experience with transitiong from Montessori to PK (not transition to K). He is a late Oct bday so there is no option to move up to K, and I am not trying to rush him, but I dont want him to languish bored in PK since he is so full of enthusiasm for learning now. TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, we are among the many that are on a PK waitlist spot in DCPS. We recognize that if we dont get a PK spot, we have ~0% chance of getting a K+ lottery spot next year, since there are so few. That means that we are putting all our eggs into the PK basket or its moving time to get somewhere good for K+.

My dilemma is that my 4 yo DS is doing very well in his 2nd year of Montessori program. It was recently pointed out to me that PK may be very boring to him next year and is basically the same level that he is doing now, if not more remedial. For example, the DCPS PK curriculum says they only need to count to 10! OMG he counts to 100 now and reads to 100. He pretty much is at or above the PK curriculum today, and by next Sept even more so.

Please share your experience with transitiong from Montessori to PK (not transition to K). He is a late Oct bday so there is no option to move up to K, and I am not trying to rush him, but I dont want him to languish bored in PK since he is so full of enthusiasm for learning now. TIA

i moved to an urban neighborhood just outside of the district with great public (guaranteed entry). very similar situation to you---but also had a newborn and was thinking longterm for both. couldn't stand the dynamics of teh 'private' system in dc and wasn't willing to subject my children or myself to that mess.

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem but in K. It seems the schools really place them on their own level starting in first grade. If you wait one more year to go public you will have a child reading that won't read on his level again until first grade. They will learn other things if you make the switch and it is not a wasted year but for continued academic progress I found moving at first grade made for a better transition. In first grade they are more likely to be placed according to their level even if they have to go into a second grade reader. Math is also an issue.

[Anonymous]

That is very helpful to hear about 1st grade. I also have a child in a Montessori (age 5) and have waitlist spot for K but have the option of K at the Montessori. When I visited the school he's on the waiting list for, I realized my child is doing alot more now than what is expected in K. He's reading, can count way past 100, doing alot of interesting Montessori math that is introducing him to arithmetic. It seemed like the DC school math curriculum did not really start until 1st grade. I was told in K they just learned counting. The do differentiated reading in K apparently which I was glad to hear but I didn't hear alot about writing. Maybe trasitioning in 1st grade might make more sense...although the lottery process looms.