How Will My Child Transition into the Public School Setting?

Dear Parents,

Many of you who are considering the elementary program may be confronting tough questions, such as:

1. How will my child transition socially into another school setting after third grade?
2. Will my child be ready academically for fourth grade?

I can speak to these questions only from my own experience..... My daughter graduated from the MCH elementary program last year and now attends Leopold–a public school in the southwest part of Madison.

When she graduated I had to face the age dilemma. She was only eight when she finished third grade and would surely be one of the youngest in her class. I was grateful to not have had to make this decision in first grade for by the end of third grade I was clearer on her skill levels and social abilities.

I was assured very quickly that I had made a good choice in putting her in fourth grade. On the first day she had already picked out some good friend possibilities and fell in love with her teacher (who ironically is very traditional and by the book in her approach.)

I was amazed. My child, who had always been with me during the day in a small intimate setting, was now walking to and from school all by herself and functioning quite nicely in a school of almost 900 children.

I credit this smooth transition to the nurturing she received early on. I have always thought that if you can inspire a child’s love of learning and teach them that school is fun, their positive attitude will carry on to all other school experiences.

The small, comfortable environment of MCH is the perfect place to learn the social and problem solving skills that are so crucial to survival in a bigger school. Academically, MCH children are allowed to work at their own pace and level. This is especially important during the early grades when abilities within a class are extremely varied. One first grader may be reading fluently while another is just beginning sound work, for example. By the fourth grade the skill level gap closes somewhat and the whole class approach makes a bit more sense.

My daughter was academically well prepared for fourth grade. She did struggle a bit at first with providing several different ways to solve a math equation, but because she had learned with concrete math materials she understood the concepts. She wowed her classmates and her teacher with her skills in geography and soon became the person to ask if anyone had a question on geography work.

As a parent, the most satisfying results of the three years in MCH's elementary program are the self confidence and uniqueness that my daughter maintains. While fourth grade is often the age where the girls are starting to compare themselves to each other, my daughter is secure in her own style and is not daunted by critical comments and negative influences. She amazes me with the way that she stands up for herself and for others. She informed me the other day that she stood up to a bully. A girl was apparently picking on another girl’s clothing, and my daughter stood up to her and helped the girl out of the negative situation. The little girl came up to my daughter after school and thanked her for her courage. I feel quite reassured by this when I think of the encroaching teenage years.

I have never regretted my decision to keep my children at Montessori for these first precious years of elementary school, even though it has been difficult financially. I have a feeling I will continue to see the benefits throughout their lifetimes.

-Erin, a parent and teacher at MCH

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