Transition to School Statement
Preparing for school is about connecting home and early learning. At Montessori Kindergarten, our educators help families with their children’s transitions and learning through play and projects. School readiness means having the skills needed for school. Children are naturally curious and learn about the world through play. We create opportunities for them to explore, experiment, and discover in a playful way, which is important for their learning and wellbeing. Through play, children learn about the world and how they fit into it. It also prepares them for learning in school and beyond.
Starting at a young age, children learn important skills like independence, confidence, and teamwork through play. Our educators use open-ended questions and interactions to help children develop their fine and gross motor skills and self-regulation. Some skills they learn include tummy time, hand-eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills.
As children grow, their learning expectations change. At Montessori Kindergarten, we provide intentional and structured play experiences that focus on self-help and academic skills needed for school. These skills include self-regulation, fine motor skills, name recognition, basic numeracy and literacy, self-confidence, and self-help skills like putting on shoes and using the bathroom independently.
Early Childhood Education: Ages 0-2
Preparing for school starts at a young age, where children learn important qualities like independence, confidence, and teamwork through play. Our educators use open-ended questions and interactions to help children develop their fine and gross motor skills and self-regulation. Some of the skills we focus on include:
- Spending time on their tummy
- Hand-eye coordination
- Fine motor skills
- Gross motor skills
Ready to Learn: Ages 2-3
As children grow, their learning expectations change. At Montessori Kindergarten, we provide intentional and structured play experiences that focus on self-help and academic skills necessary for school. Some of the skills we work on include:
- Self-regulation
- Fine motor skills
- Recognizing their name
- Basic math and reading skills
- Building self-confidence
- Independence skills like putting on shoes and using the bathroom independently.
For children aged 3-5 years,
School readiness includes emotional confidence, social skills, foundational learning, and physical health and wellbeing. They learn to understand and express their emotions, engage with others, develop early literacy and numeracy skills, and improve their physical development and self-care abilities. Our goal is to prepare children for a successful transition to school by nurturing their emotional, social, academic, and physical development.
- Emotional resilience
Children are taught to recognize and communicate their feelings, build strength in the face of challenges, and believe in themselves.
- Social interaction
Children learn to interact with others, develop social skills, and understand the impact of their actions on others.
- Fundamental education
Children acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills, learn how to use writing tools, and develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
- Physical wellness
Children learn about healthy habits, become more self-sufficient in taking care of themselves, and enhance their physical abilities.
Transition to big school
At Montessori Kindergarten, we connect with our nearby school community through an excursion, where the children can see the school setting and activities they will encounter. We also offer a “transition to big school” week, where parents and children are invited to bring their lunchboxes as if they were going to kindergarten. During this week, our educators will have prepared special experiences and activities to help prepare for this transition.