Mom of SSSAS student here. I would put your child where he will be the happiest and learn the most, and not worry too much about it. It is understood that K is a transition year, and kids come from all kinds of backgrounds. The K teachers are very experienced, and have seen it all. The only child I saw have real issues was one that simply wouldn't follow directions at all and whose parents didn't take the problem seriously. SSSAS is fairly traditional, but actually a great school for active boys, with lots of outdoor play time and great playgrounds and room to run around.

Anonymous wrote:Montessori is not a do what you want to do classroom. You are more likely to find that in play based school without trained teachers. If your child is happy I think you should stay there if you are moving in a year. But that said children from Montessori schools transition very well to independent schools in K or First Grade. If you want more of a challenge I would suggest Montessori for at least 2 years. He will learn to work independently and hopefully develop an intrinisc desire to learn that is the goal in a Montessori classroom.

Agreed.

I find Montessori to be highly structured - it's the choice within the structure that's the hallmark of a good Montessori school. Also, Montessori schools (again, good, real ones) focus on self-control, manners, and responsibility in a way that prepares children for anything. Transitions can obviously be inherently difficult, but Montessori is a great foundation for other environments.

Montessori is not a do what you want to do classroom. You are more likely to find that in play based school without trained teachers. If your child is happy I think you should stay there if you are moving in a year. But that said children from Montessori schools transition very well to independent schools in K or First Grade. If you want more of a challenge I would suggest Montessori for at least 2 years. He will learn to work independently and hopefully develop an intrinisc desire to learn that is the goal in a Montessori classroom.

Would going to a Montessori program for 1-1.5 years be a good base for a school like SSSAS? We are definitely applying to SSSAS in a year for JK, but I am unsure whether the less traditional schooling of a Montessori will do DS a disservice. I guess I keep thinking about circle time and wondering how a child goes from "do whatever you want to do" to the structure of a more traditional classroom environment. I was a Montessori kid and did not really have any trouble with adjustment, but I am still concerned what such a shake up would do to a very energetic, strong-willed little boy. Also - is Montessori worth it for only 1-1.5 years?

Background - We have our DS in a daycare/preschool environment right now and he is happy. We were hesitant to move him because we mostly just want him to be a kid and have fun at this age (3), but there are many signs pointing to the need to move him. The preschool, without telling us, moved him up into the JK to "try to satisfy his educational needs." He was not at all happy, felt "little with the big kids," and we asked that they put him back in the preschool. They urged us to test him and we did with the results leaving us to believe we need to find a more challenging environment so that he can use his God-given skills, so to speak.

TIA!