Montessori Kindergarten vs. Traditional Kindergarten

Kindergarten is a milestone year. As parents, we anticipate this big leap when our children approach their second preschool year, and we must consider whether we’re ready to send them off on a big yellow school bus (or face a longer drop-off line)! In this conventional model, kindergarten is often situated in the same school as elementary, where they would be grouped by age and change classrooms annually. 

In this default model, it’s not surprising that kindergarten feels like a crossroad — it sets the trajectory for their future schooling. It might even be nostalgic to revisit that yellow school bus if it’s how we experienced school. This familiarity leads many Montessori preschool parents to ask, “Should I pull my child out of the Children’s House for conventional kindergarten?” 

It’s important to understand how each year of the Children’s House is connected, and why withdrawing mid-cycle doesn’t come with programmatic advantages. The third year of the Children's House completes the academic and social experiences that 5-and 6-year olds require for optimal development. We’ll explore more below.

What is Montessori Kindergarten?

Montessori Kindergarten is the final year of the Children’s House — a three-year learning community for ages 2.5-3 to 6. Each year is purposeful and is often compared to building a house. In their first year, the three-year-old lays a foundation. At age four, they start to build the walls. By age five, the child is ready to secure the roof. The child keeps progressing by deepening their knowledge with new layers; it is not the same experience year after year. 

Instead of starting over in a new classroom, the Montessori Kindergartner experiences continuity through a “capstone year,” where they gain protected time to master all that they’ve learned and to take that knowledge to new heights. Academically, they have access to much more advanced materials — many of which compare to third-grade level work.

Socially, they step into leadership roles made possible by the mixed-age environment. Through mentoring the younger students, they hone life skills like how to communicate, problem-solve, plan and execute — all while getting the repetition with lessons that is key to deeper understanding. 

Why so Different?

Montessori Education was scientifically designed around the stages of human development, and so each aspect answers an age-appropriate need. In traditional education, core features came from a need to systemize learning, and so the students must adapt to the teaching — rather than the teaching adapting to them.

For example, grouping children in mixed age communities in Montessori is intentional, not operational like same-age groupings. Children between 3 and 6 do not learn like we do as adults. Their senses are heightened, and their brain is forming connections at an unprecedented rate. Different times of life bring different cognitive capabilities.

At age five, children are still learning through heightened absorption of their surroundings; they still benefit immensely from hands-on, concrete introductions to abstract concepts, and they are still wired to work individually so they can finish refining their sense of self. Montessori kindergarten mirrors these aspects of their development.

After age six, they will undergo significant shifts. They will become more imaginative, capable of more abstract thinking, socially motivated, and hungry for intellectual knowledge, but The Children’s House does not seek to rush this transition; it meets them precisely where they are — empowering them to “secure that roof.”

Learning to Embrace a Different Model

Kindergarten is the first time when your family’s alignment with Montessori may start to clash with traditional options, and it can be confusing to navigate. Here are four of the most frequently asked questions around this milestone year:  

1. Will my kindergartner grow bored in the same classroom for a third year?

Boredom is more likely to arise in traditional schooling because the children must move at one collective pace under the teacher’s lead, and if something is too easy or too hard, they must wait. In Montessori:

2. Why would it be good for my kindergartner to be the oldest in the classroom?

Working with younger children is naturally motivating. Being the oldest gives the child a sense of responsibility that is not felt in a same-age dynamic, nurturing a wider range of social skills. It also cultivates a more encouraging learning experience. Mixed-age classrooms promote collaboration because learning at different rates is treated as normal. Same-age classrooms foster competition, where every student is expected to learn at the same rate, which can be quite stressful.

3. If my child is going to attend traditional elementary, wouldn’t it be better to get them out of Montessori sooner rather than later?

Departing Montessori early doesn’t stack up to the known benefits of time maximized in a Montessori environment. The early years are the most critical period in a child’s development, and ongoing research validates that Montessori education helps children thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

Montessori children have a strong foundation for learning new skills and being flexible learners. Their experience in the three years of Children's House will prepare them fully for the changes that come in traditional elementary learning. 

4. The “leadership year” sounds applicable to kids with more assertive personalities. Is Montessori Kindergarten right for every child? 

The leadership year in the Children’s House is beneficial to all personality types. Socialization in the Montessori classroom is not forced or adult-constructed; the mixed-age format inspires peer interactions to unfold naturally. This is a pressure-free way to boost confidence in both assertive and reserved children, who will learn to handle a variety of exchanges on their terms.

For a closer look at Guidepost Montessori’s programs and curriculum, go here. For a deep dive of everything you need to know about Children’s House, go here.