Kindergarten — a monumental milestone in childhood — was a dream year for our daughter. She won the lottery to attend a public Montessori charter school, a schooling option we felt lucky to have in our small mountain city.
She had attended a private Montessori preschool, and so we applied to the charter, thinking it’d be nice if she could have the “capstone experience” of a primary Montessori classroom (ages 3-6) — and for free, at that.
So when our older daughter won the presumably prized golden ticket and the ability to continue a Montessori education, we were elated.
There were plenty of benefits to her time at Montessori schools
The benefits were abundant: she learned to read, write, and perform fundamental math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
She grew socially and emotionally by being a class leader and role model — she became the “big kid” in the multi-age classroom. She regularly gave lessons to the younger kids and took on more classroom responsibilities. But as we started connecting more with our neighbors who have kids in public schools, we began to wonder whether a “traditional” school experience would be a better fit for our family.
However, we were still interested in checking out a public school
After her kindergarten year came to a close, we decided to tour the nearby elementary school to get a feel for the differences and to follow our curiosity. Our daughter’s eyes were opened to new, exciting possibilities: a larger rotation of specials that included art, P.E., music, global studies, social-emotional learning, and library; several outdoor playscapes; a cafeteria; and the novelty and delight of riding a big, yellow school bus with the other neighborhood kids.
And we saw convenience (the school was closer to our home), more resources (the school had a wider network of community partners), and an opportunity to deepen our own community (most families lived in the same area of town as us). The deal was done; public school would be our next move.
Switching to public school was the right choice for our family
My 6-year-old has been at school for a few weeks now, and, although there are some things I’m not thrilled about — like candy being offered as a reward for “good” behavior or “good” work — she is overall a happy kid, making new friends steadily and adjusting to the new environment swimmingly. Even better, I know she is amply prepared for first grade because of her exceptional education from the public Montessori.
Since her transfer, the families we have met at the public school often ask us newcomers where our daughter went for kindergarten, and we answer obligingly. Often, they’re unfamiliar with the Montessori method and inquire about the differences between traditional schools and Montessori schools. My response is always the same: we love Montessori because of the unique multi-age classroom experience, the emphasis on caring for the natural environment, and its “constructivist approach,” allowing for children to build their own understanding of the world through hands-on interaction with physical materials.
It’s also true that we wanted more for our daughter in terms of extracurriculars, resources, and support. There are pros and cons to both pathways, and, as parents, we’re often splitting hairs on what’s best for us and our families. The decisions we make are wildly subjective, and we understand that what’s best for us may not be what’s best for others.
What matters most to us is that school be an experience that feels right for our daughter and our entire family. So far, this sentiment rings true, but of course, it’s only been a short time. Only time will tell, and if things change, it will be back to the drawing board again for us. We can hold both truths.
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