[JohnBooty]

What was your kindergarten like?

Was there no reading because it was academically poor or was it kind of an "alternative" learning environment ala Montessori?

(I don't know Montessori's specific ways of teaching reading)

[teiferer]

There wasn't much directed learning. We played all day. Indoors building stuff, outdoors in the woods. All that academic material with reading and writing and maths and all that, that's what primary school was for. Which started at age 6/7.

I'd say let kids be kids and have them explore the world through curiosity, not through a planned curiculum from age 3.

[em-bee]

montessori is very directed but the key difference is that each kid is learning on their own at their pace. which means the kids learning is only driven by their curiosity. montessori materials are also designed to make learning interesting. kids can choose what they want to play with and after introduction to a new lesson are allowed to explore the material in their own way, which makes it very playful. teachers observe the kids and suggest new lessons to each kid when they feel a kid is ready.

[em-bee]

if it didn't teach reading it wasn't montessori.

montessori teaches reading, writing and math far beyond what an average kindergarten does.