I posted last spring looking for advice on Montessori kindergarten. My DS, who turned 5 in May, was not ready for kindergarten. His preschool teachers urged us to consider holding him back, as he was not interested in letters and numbers and would just get frustrated at school. Not wanting to set him up for failure, we decided to "red-shirt" one year, only to find there were no open spots in his preschool for the following year.

An educator in our school district advised sending him to private kindergarten, vs. another year of preschool somewhere new.

After researching Montessori, I was a little hesitant because the teaching philosophy and methods were so different from a traditional classroom. My biggest concern was that by not correcting the student, and allowing the student to "self correct," I thought these students would all end up a bunch of coddled kids who wouldn't be able to handle the real world. However, with limited options, and our fingers crossed, he started kindergarten three weeks ago.

Just three weeks, and it's been a world of difference. He actually looks forward to going to school now, and he comes home telling me about what he discovered, what he learned, what he can do now. He actually did the hundred board yesterday - this from a kid who would only count up to 6 just three months ago! By watching some of the older kids do the board, he was able to figure it out on his own. Now I actually "get" the Montessori philosophy - it's all about instilling a love of learning in your child at a young age, which can't happen if they are being told they are doing something wrong. By experimenting and trying things out, they get a sense of accomplishment and confidence in themselves they couldn't get from a traditional classroom. It's amazing.

I had been thinking of Montessori K as a stop-over on the way to "real" public school, but I am now definitely considering keeping him there for at least a few more years.