Kindergarten
“What the hand does the mind remembers.”
This video from our accrediting body, The American Montessori Society, highlights the benefits of the Kindergarten year in a Montessori classroom.
Montessori’s 3-Year Cycle
Kindergarten is the final year of the Children’s House program, so does not involve a change of location, as the move from the Toddler House to the Children’s House did. Kindergarten children remain a part of their classroom community, with the added opportunity for the Kindergartners from all four classrooms to come together as a peer group in the afternoon.
The reasons families choose Montessori at age 3 are still valid at age 5, the Kindergarten year. In fact, we might argue that the reasons are actually more important for the 5-6 year old year. As a child turns 6, they are entering into the next plane of development; Maria Montessori saw this as the transition year between the absorbent mind and the rational mind. Developmentally, children reach a different stage as well. In many cases, a six year old is better able to manage the requirements of a modern classroom than they were at the start of their Kindergarten year, which is why the completion of the three-year cycle in a Montessori classroom before moving on to first grade is such a successful transition. Transitioning to a sedentary classroom for Kindergarten short-circuits the natural need for movement as a mode of learning in most 5 year olds. By contrast, a Montessori Kindergarten continues to allow children to follow their natural rhythms for this final developmental year, and setting them up for success in the transition to first grade.
Montessori’s third year student continues to cultivate their self-discipline and an internal sense of purpose and motivation. They are encouraged and guided to develop time management skills in the Montessori classroom, and the child realizes that learning is their responsibility.
During the third year of the early childhood program, many of the earlier lessons come together and become a permanent part of the young child's understanding. Montessori’s method allows for cumulative learning. The child’s learning from his previous years is integrated into a more solid understanding. It’s like constructing a house - the foundation and walls are fundamental to a well-built house, but not until the roof is put on does it become a home. Participating in Kindergarten is like completing the roof. The children have progressed towards high level work for two years prior to the Kindergarten year. They look forward to the next challenges and accept them with enthusiasm and tremendous pride. Students are invited to complete a “capstone study,” a special project designed around each child’s unique interests.
Whole Child
Kindergarten students are guided to challenging work in every academic area of the classroom: reading, writing, and mathematics, as well as social studies, the arts and sciences. Our low teacher : student ratio allows teachers to not only meet the state requirement for Kindergarten, but to continue offering the enriched Montessori curriculum, as well as plenty of opportunities for movement throughout the day. There’s more to a Montessori school than academics, and Montessori Kindergartners are not expected to remain seated at all times. In addition to academic preparation, the Kindergarten program continues to emphasize social, emotional and physical development. In-house specialists and artist residencies, reserved only for the Kindergarten class, ensure this will be a meaningful, challenging, and memorable experience.
Character Development
The greatest qualities that the third year child develops are those that build character, such as self- confidence, self-motivation and responsibility for a community. These character traits are practiced and perfected each day, with opportunities to show empathy, love and affection for others of all ages and for oneself. Winfield consciously teaches children to be kind and respectful through our Peace Curriculum. Kindness, conflict resolution, and personal reflection are experienced each day. Kindergarten students learn to be leaders in keeping the peace. This is learning for life.
Leadership
The oldest students learn that with their Kindergarten status comes both privilege and responsibility, something in which they take great pride. The Kindergarten program inspires children to challenge themselves and to act as responsible community members. Interaction between the mixed ages of the classroom allows the Kindergartners to practice responsibility, to be leaders, to teach others, to help and console others – the Montessori classroom is a real-life community. After watching the older children for two years, they are now role models. Wherever a child goes next, they'll be one of the younger students at school. This is their year to lead!
"She gained so much confidence over the course of the K year and also built solid social skills that now allow her to join in when introduced to a new group, reach out to make a new friend, and try unfamiliar activities without struggle. She has seemed so ready for 1st grade, and has done beautifully adjusting to a larger school with new classmates and a different format for learning. She has been ready to try new things, even asking to sign up for Lego club all on her own because she had an interest in this activity and possessed the confidence to try it, even without familiar faces beside her. She has thrived and we know her K year at Winfield was a big part of this."
What our parents say about Winfield Kindergarten
"Our son has always struggled with transition, with fear of the unknown and a desire for control. We have been reflecting deeply on the incredible progress and change we saw as he made the biggest transition yet to a much larger, new school and to first grade. He greeted the change with eager anticipation and a clear picture of what he was looking forward to socially and academically. There has not been a single day of fear or difficulty. He even reported that their fire alarms, a big fear of his, are not “that loud”. It has never been clearer to us what an incredible gift Winfield has given him and us in supporting him all these years in learning to prepare himself, his thoughts, and his body, to envision his goals and to celebrate change as progress."
"...an excellent transition to first grade at MIW! Winfield provided a solid foundation for her social and academic growth. We are all so thankful for our time at Winfield."
"I feel indebted to Winfield and will forever credit the school with making my child who he is today. I also experienced Kindergarten in the public school with one child and Winfield's Kindergarten with another and greatly appreciated the Winfield experience."
"did extremely well with transitioning to a new school with ease and confidence. A big change from previous years where he was anxious with any changes."
"My son began 1st grade at MIW and had a seamless transition. I think he was able to regulate his needs and impulses more than his peers. He understands that a classroom has guidelines and rules. He carries himself with confidence and joy on his way to school each morning, and ends the day looking forward to the next."