Transitional Kindergarten Recommendations

We've been very hapy at St. Martin in the Fields. They have an excellent pre-K that would be a good option to explore. I love their schedule- 9-2, Monday through Thursday, and their teachers are excellent.

Discovery school at Smithfield United Methodist offers a transitional Kindergarten program. I don't know much about this program, but we had attended pre-school there and absolutely LOVE it. The curriculum is all hands-on. The kids love learning and learn so much. The teachers have all been there for a long time and are caring and kind. Here is their website if you need more information. www.yourdiscoveryschool.com. They are enrolling now for next year. They will give you a tour during school hours so you can observe the class you are interested in at work!

Check out Noah's Ark Preschool at First United Methodist Church Colleyville. They have a transitional class that is between pre-K and kinder and all the kids are ones that were held back for whatever reason (or just miss the Sept 1 cut-off). It is an excellent program and I can tell a big difference from the pre-K we did last year somewhere else! The teachers that teach this class have been together for 10 years so they have their system down! It is 930am-230pm (which works better for errands b/c by the time you get them dropped off and to the stores you need to go they are open instead of waiting for them to open like I used to do when school was 9-2). It is T-W-Th and they have an optional Mon half day which is dedicated to science from 9-12. I can't say enough about the school! I'm in the Keller area too and the only drawback is the further drive, but I'm very happy!

The Montessori method is a great way for a kid to learn to put letters together into words and learn basic math functions. Maria Montessori developed her method for working with special kids, but she turned out to be a pioneer in the way we know kids learn today. There are 4 or 5 other Montessori schools in the area besides Keller Montessori. They are Barbara Gordon M., Highland Meadow M., NRH M., the Clariden School, and Country (Place?) M. Visit each school, talk with the director and a teacher. Ask to observe a class in action. They should be open to a visit from you. If not, then avoid.

Don't worry about your son being bored when he starts Kinder next year. My daughter was very advanced academically when she started last year and, while the work wasn't too challenging, the social changes between elementary school and pre-K were quite enough to contend with. I was very relieved that we had gotten a head start on reading and math instruction so that she could concentrate on the challenges of being in a big school with big kids, a big cafeteria, new rules, new social situations etc.

I don't have a specific pre-school recommendation to make but I think any one that you are comfortable with will be fine. Just don't worry about him being bored. He won't be.

My daughter has attended Keller Montessori for the past two years, and we have been very impressed with the curriculum and teachers. It is very challenging, but I feel like the school has given her a solid foundation for when she starts kindergarten next year.

Reading Friends in Keller is awesome! My son is there for pre-K, and I am so sad that he is leaving to go to Kindergarten next year! Many of the teachers have been with Reading Friends since the Colleyville location opened up 7 years ago. Definitely check it out. www.readingfriends.org