Kindergarten
When you chose to invest in a Montessori education for your child, it is a purposeful decision. By choosing Village Green Montessori for the kindergarten year you are providing your child with an environment that enriches all aspects of development.
If you child is already a VGM student, then they will build upon the foundation they have already established during their preschool years at VGM. If they are new to VGM or an existing student, kindergarten is a time for self discovery, practicing responsibility, teaching others and reinforcing their learning.
Montessori programs are designed for children to build upon their skills, providing rich layers of knowledge that deepen each year. This foundation happens over time, and children leave with a sense of confidence and ownership over their learning. The kindergarten year is the pinnacle of the Montessori experience!
Special Teachers and Personal Attention
Developing relationships with children and families is the heart of VGM. A special bond is formed through significant time spend with teachers, and the kindergarten year is often the second or third year that they will have the privilege to work with your children: we love them and know them as well! Teachers have had the time to develop an understanding of each child’s individual learning style and are able to challenge him to learn most effectively.
Our 1 to 8 Teacher/Student Ratio is Perfect for All Learning Styles
No matter how your child learns best, the Montessori approach is individualized. Our low student-to- teacher ratio allows for one-on-one reading time and small group lessons to take place simultaneously. The is approach accommodates both the child who grasps concepts quickly and the child who learns better through repetition.
Montessori Meets Children Where They Are
Multi-sensory learning enables each child to move forward in their abilities at their own pace, in their own time. While public school districts are charged with assessing all incoming students of varying experiences and “catching them up” to the Common Core standards, kindergarteners in the Montessori classroom transition smoothly to a new year. Given their established relationships, they can move forward with their goals and continue exploring new concepts that will continually interest and challenge them.
Flexible Scheduling For Your Family’s Needs
While some children are ready for full-day kindergarten, others are not. Parents know their children best! At VGM, you can choose from a wide array of options. VGM offers full-day kindergarten, half-day morning or afternoon kindergarten, as well as three or four extended day options.
It is wonderful to watch the kindergarteners’ growth from the beginning to the end of the year! They leave Village Green Montessori having come full-circle in the Montessori program, confident and excited to begin first grade.
FAQs
Every year, parents of upcoming kindergarteners begin to ask questions about our Kindergarten program. Here is a look at our most frequently asked questions:
1. What does a Montessori kindergartener's curriculum look like?
Our rich curriculum includes geography and culture, science, sensorial and math, language, practical life and art. The lessons are not based on workbooks or memorization, but on hands-on experiences that are specific to each child’s needs and readiness, while also developing creative and independent thinking. In addition, our program allows more time for specials, such as music and Spanish, as well as community building in a classroom where children feel supported by the peers they have come to know so well.
2. How does the Kindergarten curriculum differ from the Primary curriculum?
While both groups interact with the same work and build skills in the five main subject areas, teachers engage kindergarteners in more complex, concept-heavy activities. For example:
- In Practical Life kindergarteners learn how to do advanced living functions, tying their shoes, following recipes, etc.
- In Math they learn advanced skills such as addition, subtraction, decimals, and skip counting.
- In Language kindergarteners read, write, and discuss short books while primary students are still learning letters and sounds.
Every child is given one on one focus to ensure that not only are they learning at their current level, but they are also challenged to lead and teach others to cement their knowledge. The kindergarteners are the leaders of the rooms!
3. What is the multi-age advantage?
The multi-age environment allows children to grow within the classroom each year at their own pace. As a three and four-year-old, your child has the benefit of working with kindergarten mentors. Most children wait eagerly for this role! They grow and mature each year, becoming more responsible and capable, eventually emerge as the leaders of their classrooms. The chance to demonstrate lessons to younger friends while continuing thier own Montessori journey with their peers is amazing to witness. A year of building upon previous knowledge creates a learning foundation that lasts a lifetime. Watch their self-esteem and confidence soar…this is your child’s year to shine!
4. Is my child ready for Kindergarten?
Every year, we have parents who are unsure if they should consider giving their child an extra learning year before they move on to kindergarten. Since so much happens developmentally between ages five and six, enrolling your child at VGM allows you th flexibility of watching your child’s growth and deciding mid-year if you would like the current school year to serve as your children’s kindergarten year or not.
