Chronicles of Chaos
Oliver’s Preschool Transition
Oliver’s starting at a Montessori school this September, and the transition they’ve set up has been great for both of us. They invited us to visit the school outdoor play area starting the second week of August. We’ve gone by twice to swing on the tire swing and try out the slide. The first time we ran into his teacher carrying a new fish for the class tank. Our next visit, Oliver tried out the seated bikes, which intimidated him a bit in the beginning. He had the chance to figure out how to make the pedals turn quietly on his own, with me beside him when he needed an extra push to get going.
The week before school his teacher will visit Oliver at home, see his room and favorite toys. Then Oliver will go to school with the other new students for two hours a day the first week. He’ll have the chance to learn a few lessons (the Montessori approach) and get comfortable in the room and with pick up and drop off before the entire class begins school. The teacher also talked with me about the transition for Oliver when she called to set up her home visit. After starting at various preschools with the kids, this experience feels the most comfortable and supported. The process simple and relaxed.
In her letter to class parents, the teacher suggests we set up evening and morning routines two weeks before school starts so the kids will be used to getting dressed and ready in the morning. She also talks about giving the kids opportunities to be independent–clearing their plate from the table, putting on their own shoes and jacket–which independence will be part of their school days as well. And she includes language we can share with them about where they’ll sit and wait for us to pick them up and the name of the teacher who will greet them in the morning at the school gate. She’s giving us this amazing map, which is especially helpful with Montessori since parents aren’t involved in the way that we’d be at other preschools. I can see how I’m participating in Oliver’s transition even though I won’t be there in the classroom. I feel reassured, listened to, and well advised. It’s a terrific model.
i’m so happy you and oliver are off to such a sweet and supported start. that notion of starting a couple of weeks early to build the rhythm is wonderful. xx
We are in a Montessori class as well and it’s been good. Not as slow as a transition but our son did well with just jumping in. I’m having to remind myself to be more patient with him when he comes home happy and then melts down because he is so tired or needs to decompress from the activity of school. Those episodes have pretty much disappeared now that he is more settled. It is definitely a nurturing environment.