The kindergarten year of the Montessori program is essential for unlocking a child’s full potential.

The primary Montessori curriculum is a 3-year cycle. The third year, or kindergarten year, is when all the learning that has taken place in the previous two years reaches fruition and a child’s knowledge begins to fall into place.

Your child will be challenged to reach his/her potential by his/her Montessori teacher who knows your child incredibly well and so can provide precisely what is needed next. Children build upon what they have learned, experience rapid academic and social growth and their skill level dramatically increases when they are given the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge within the Montessori classroom.

Third year students are ready to explode into more complex learning and discovery and they delve into a wealth of new and interesting materials. They are guided to take on more and more complex work, begin to learn time management skills and have an increased set of expectations and privileges in the classroom.

These older children also reinforce their academic skills by helping another child, a well-documented way to consolidate knowledge.

Preschool children in a Montessori classroom look forward to being one of the “big kids” in the classroom. If he/she is put into a school where the kindergartners are looked down upon as being in the “baby class” his/her cycle of maturing is interrupted.

It is especially unfortunate for a child who is a younger sibling at home to miss this opportunity to shine. This year of leadership gives a child immeasurable self-esteem and intellectual confidence.

Watch this American Montessori Society Video about the importance of the 3-year cycle and the kindergarten year.