DR. MARIA MONTESSORI
One of the most frequently asked questions parents have when it comes to Montessori is… How will my child do when they move to a more traditional school setting? We hope to put your mind at ease and inform you that the transition is easier than it seems.
Transitions
We want to make one disclaimer: all children respond to changes and transitions differently. The good news is, more often than not, the transition is easier for children than for parents. From the early stages, Montessori schools focus on helping children develop high self-esteem, a strong sense of motivation, effective coping skills, and a sense of respect and responsibility. All of this learning will help set them up for success in any educational setting.
Academics and Socialization
Academics and socialization are usually the main areas of concern that parents have when it comes to this big transition in their child’s life. A few Montessori parents who have already experienced this transition have said that at first, their child was bored in their new classroom. Often Montessori children are usually ready to jump onto the next concept or lesson before the rest of the class. They may be a bit confused or frustrated as to why everyone in the class has to do the same thing at the same time. Over time, a Montessori child will adjust and usually become a classroom leader and a model student. The skills they have learned in the Montessori classroom will set them up with adaptability and confidence. When it comes to socialization, the Montessori child is already well equipped! They have experienced a social environment and sense of community from their Montessori classroom. When making this transition in their education, you will notice that the Montessori child will adapt fairly quickly to their new social setting. Most make new friends and begin to quickly understand the guidelines of their new setting. While leaving their Montessori classroom behind might make your child sad for a bit as they bid farewell to their teacher, classmates, classroom, playground, and materials they know so well, they have a strong foundation that will help them confidently assimilate to a new environment.
In the majority of situations, the child will make a healthy and eventually happy transition from Montessori to traditional schools. That being said, we do encourage parents to do their part in the transition by carefully researching schooling options. Each family will ultimately make the decision that is best for their child, and give them the support they need along the way.
What Does Research Show?
Research seems to back up the ease of the transition from Montessori to traditional schooling. A study supported by AMI tracked 400 students in Milwaukee. Half of the students received only public school education from kindergarten to graduation, while the other half attended Montessori through 5th grade before transitioning into the public school system. At the end of the study conducted between 1997-2007, researchers compared test scores and GPAs. Students with a Montessori education not only outperformed the other student group in math and science test scores, but also graduated with higher GPAs. Researchers concluded that Montessori early education had a long-term impact on later public school performance!
