Former Montessori and Reggio teacher here (and mom.) It is not the philosophy but the TEACHER that influences 1st grade readiness.

It’s hard to trust a teacher making such a blanket statement with very little nuance about an approach used in countless preschools. The fact that you would make such a blanket statement makes me question it because it’s obviously impossible to say something about all kids across such a host of different programs.

How is Reggio different from Montessori? Why do you hate Reggio but not Montessori?

My kid went to a Reggio-inspired preschool, is currently in K in DCPS, and is doing great academically. It's been a bit more of a struggle in terms of social-emotional expectations, but I don't think the preschool environment is to blame. K in DCPS is very intensely academic (at least at our school) and I don't think any preschool environment would be able to adequately prepare a kid for that, plus my kid is on the younger end for the year.

I mean, what's the answer, a highly academic preschool? No thank you, I don't want my 3/4 year old drilling letters and numbers all day. I want them playing, exploring, singing, dancing, and having fun.

OP,

It entirely depends on the intelligence of the teachers at school. The program matters little. How deeply teachers can challenge and develop a child's cognitive thinking and social skills is what matters. This is difficult to assess when visiting preschools, so parents gravitate towards curriculum proxies such as Montessori, Reggio Emilia, play-based, etc.

My two (very different) kids thrived in the same Montessori preschool. It wasn't because it was Montessori, although I definitely like that structured approach. It was because the director was incredibly good at her job, and required all her teachers to be good as well. She saw my oldest had special needs, took him under her wing and developed his skills one-on-one. She saw my second was anxious but gifted, and didn't push her to socialize, but gave her all sorts of challenges to work on by herself. Later that led to socialization, because my daughter felt happier and more confident doing all these great things.

This is what you want in a school: intelligent customization.

Sounds like you have an issue with how K prepares kids for 1st.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you aren't going to explain exactly *why* you think Reggio schools fail to prepare kids, this is useless. There is a very broad variety in these schools.

Also, has it occurred to you that the kids you are currently getting in 1st grade in NW DC may have missed most of PK3 and PK4 in person due to Covid? Or even if they were in person, that these programs were very different during these years due to Covid restrictions like masking, class quarantines due to exposures, and social distancing requirements. Especially critical in a play-based program. They didn't really get a true Reggio experience.

NP. Second paragraph-good point.

Not OP, but I assume OP is saying (s)he now sees what is expected of students in 1st grade, and she knows what kind of preparation kids who go to Reggio schools get….

I understand. I still think the 2nd paragraph is a good point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you aren't going to explain exactly *why* you think Reggio schools fail to prepare kids, this is useless. There is a very broad variety in these schools.

Also, has it occurred to you that the kids you are currently getting in 1st grade in NW DC may have missed most of PK3 and PK4 in person due to Covid? Or even if they were in person, that these programs were very different during these years due to Covid restrictions like masking, class quarantines due to exposures, and social distancing requirements. Especially critical in a play-based program. They didn't really get a true Reggio experience.

NP. Second paragraph-good point.

Not OP, but I assume OP is saying (s)he now sees what is expected of students in 1st grade, and she knows what kind of preparation kids who go to Reggio schools get….

So…what are the DC Kindergarten teachers who have the kids for a full school year before you do doing about this?

Maybe our expectations for first grade are inappropriate.

Anonymous wrote:If you aren't going to explain exactly *why* you think Reggio schools fail to prepare kids, this is useless. There is a very broad variety in these schools.

Also, has it occurred to you that the kids you are currently getting in 1st grade in NW DC may have missed most of PK3 and PK4 in person due to Covid? Or even if they were in person, that these programs were very different during these years due to Covid restrictions like masking, class quarantines due to exposures, and social distancing requirements. Especially critical in a play-based program. They didn't really get a true Reggio experience.

NP. Second paragraph-good point.

If you aren't going to explain exactly *why* you think Reggio schools fail to prepare kids, this is useless. There is a very broad variety in these schools.

Also, has it occurred to you that the kids you are currently getting in 1st grade in NW DC may have missed most of PK3 and PK4 in person due to Covid? Or even if they were in person, that these programs were very different during these years due to Covid restrictions like masking, class quarantines due to exposures, and social distancing requirements. Especially critical in a play-based program. They didn't really get a true Reggio experience.

Why? What exactly do you hate? What skills do you think they lack?

More specifics please?

Teacher here, with over 25 years of experience. I have worked in Montessori and Reggio schools and I'm now teaching 1st grade at a public school in NW DC. please listen when I tell you Reggio schools do not prepare your children for the next step. Children who go to Reggio Inspired schools struggle more than others. Please do your kids a favor and keep them away from these schools.Don't be fooled by the fancy titles they give their teachers and the deeper learning they talk about. It's all hogwash.