Montessori Radmoor

maria montessori

When making the transition from primary to elementary, some children transition with a breeze, they like the excitement of a new environment and the idea of having new children in their classroom.  Other children may have a difficult time with the transition. They are moving from an environment that they have spent an extended amount of time in and where they were the “top dogs” into an environment where they need to learn where their pencil is housed.  It is not always easy to hear your child struggle with not knowing what to do, who to ask for help or how to handle a social situation.  All of these struggles are valid; however, they are important struggles. If you would like to know how to best help your child with the transition from primary to elementary, here are six things you can do to support them.

1.       Be an informed parent

Educate yourself on the basics of the elementary child in a Montessori environment. Ask for handouts from the school or contact me for book suggestions. I am happy to help. This knowledge is important for your child’s transition.

Attend as many events that our community holds to be informed. Volunteer to help out at Bagel Breakfast and other events held by the elementary community.  This tells your child you are invested and it helps you to better know your child’s teacher.

If you are unsure of something your child is talking about or you seem confused and wonder why your child is doing certain things, send an e-mail to get your question answered. This will help support your child and give you a deeper understanding of your child’s day to day. 

 

2.       Know that the Elementary Montessori classroom looks different than Primary

In Primary, a key focus is that everything is always put back in its place; the classroom is quiet and peaceful. You also may notice that children work independently. In Elementary, you won’t see too much of that. The elementary child is keen on working in groups; they are very social and have a natural tendency to want to work with others. They are learning how to fit in and work in groups. In order to meet this natural tendency, our environment is built to support collaborative work and larger group lessons. The classroom is much noisier and very busy. The movement is forever constant. 

It is common that children will disagree and be upset with each other. This is a learning process. In disagreements, children must learn to problem solve. The adults in our environment step in only when necessary. This supports the children to learn how to navigate problem solving on their own. Yes, feelings may be hurt and that could have been avoided if adults stepped in more frequently. However, then we are robbing the children of a natural learning experience. When adults keep stepping in, it often also teaches the children to rely on the adults in the room rather than themselves.  Rest assured, Grace and Courtesy lessons of how to treat one another and problem solve are presented frequently. When children do have disagreements, it is their chance to practice these lessons. 

3.       If you want to help at home, READ READ READ!

So much of the elementary environment and work depends on independent research. All of this research is based on what your child is interested in. If you really want to help your child excel in the classroom, focus on reading at home. In the classroom, your child will receive many lessons throughout the day and is invited to follow up on subjects of interest. The “follow up” could be using a dictionary, encyclopedia, going to the library to find books on the subject, all in order to do a “research project” with their friends. 

You can support your child’s reading journey by putting reading at the top of your list. Be sure to set aside time each night to read as a family. Show your love for literature. Read aloud to your children before bed, talk about what you have read, engage them in your aloud reading. 

4.       Develop a partnership with your child’s teacher

You, as a parent, play a key role in your child’s education, as I am sure know. One of our main goals in our classroom is to create an environment where children care about each other. It is not easy work and honestly, rarely is it perfect, but at the end of the day, it is all worth it. When you see children develop empathic relationships with their peers, then you may give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. 

Our environment is an incredibly complex social place. We do try our best to only intervene when absolutely necessary; however, there are times that will be missed.  So many things happen on a daily basis.

This is where you come in though. Anything positive or negative that your child mentions about school is helpful to us. With those bits of information, we can make adjustments in the classroom to best help your child.

Also, be sure to inform your child’s teacher about life events, whether they are positive or negative. Did a relative pass away? Did you get a new pet? Has a parent been out of town for an extended amount of time? Are you moving? When we notice a child to be a bit “off” knowing these pieces of information can better help us with how to help your child feel comfortable. 

The basis of a partnership is trust. Trust is built with communication and in this case, always error on the side of communication with your child’s teacher.

5.       Give your child time to adjust

Due to the amount of time spent in the primary classroom, you may need to give your child more time that you deem necessary to adjust to their new elementary environment. 

They were the oldest in the last classroom. They were the “helpers” when younger students needed help. They knew where everything was meant to go. Now though, they are the youngest in the environment, they are joining an environment filled with older children and entering a new social dynamic. They will not understand the ins and the outs right away. They will be tired. They have just been introduced to a whole new world of things to learn and do. 

We work hard, as a community, to help your child feel as comfortable and welcome as possible. However, it is normal for them to express missing their old room and their old teacher. That was where they had spent the last three years (or more) getting comfortable. It is time to start that journey again, only this time, in elementary. 

You can help by validating their feelings, listening and staying positive throughout this change. If you project a positive image, the image in their head will also be positive. Know that it may take up to 2-3 months for them to adjust and acclimate to the new environment.  In good time, their own time, not only will they adjust and acclimate, they will fall in love. If after 2-3 months you are still hearing complaints, contact your child’s teacher to schedule a meeting to discuss in detail.

6.       Trust the process

I know it can be hard at times to be a Montessori parent. Remember though, you are allowing your child to follow their interest, make decisions for themselves at an early age. You are supporting them to grow into a well-adjusted, independent and resilient adult. This experience allows them to explore their interest without limits.

Montessori education has a track record of 110 years. Trust in the process. 

Sincerely,

Ms. Sara

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