Montessori Philosophy

Much of Montessori is not imaginative play. That's what I thought, too, based on what I knew of Montessori preschools in my area. I discovered that they use the Montessori name, but don't follow the philosophy, to the point that one girl in my care a few years ago had gone to a Montessori preschool, yet she had never laid eyes on any of the Montessori materials I had.

Maria Montessori actually believed that imaginative play had no place in a classroom for kids 6 and under. Not that imaginative play was wrong, as she expected it would be done by the children when they weren't at school, but that it didn't meet the needs of the 3-6- year old in an educational setting.

For Montessori, the really important stuff for 3 to 6-year olds is learning practical skills (which they have a blast with—pouring water, learning to cut bananas, cheese, pour juice, spray the window and wipe...) and developing the senses. So, instead of pretending to clean and keep house, the kids are actually allowed to do it; instead of pretending to cook, the kids are actually cooking; instead of pretending to shine shoes, they are actually shining shoes. Sensorial activities are like games to them; so are all the language, math and culture activities. It's fun, but not delving into the realm of fantasy!

Games for Learning: Ten Minutes a Day to Help Your Child Do Well in School - From Kindergarten to Third Grade

Just Beginning Homeschooling

You are just beginning homeschooling? Imaginative play is very important. (I stink at it too but my kids both loved it, especially my son when he was young!) We had a big bag of dress up clothes and he was always something.

In much of the Montessori and Waldorf literature imaginative play is one of the most important things a child that age can be doing.

Try not to look at it as him not wanting to do what you want him to do, but rather that HE has unfinished business with his own activities. It's not just "play" for them. They are learning all sorts of things in that brain and working things out that we can't even see. Encourage your child by asking him if he would like more "props", ask him if he would like a tape recorder so he can make up a pretend story about what he is doing. If you look at what your child is doing, a computer game say, maybe that could count as "math" or "phonics" if that is what he is playing. Keep a list of what he is doing and remember that Kindergarten isn't about lesson plans and being on a schedule. Aim for a happy kid who is learning the things he needs to know right now. See if there is something he keeps going back to in his play that is a special interest that you can build on and whatever you do, hang in there an don't give up yet!

For Kindergarten

For Kindergarten we read tons of books, did BrainQuest cards, Leap Pad, Jumpstart Kindergarten, watched Read Between the Lions on PBS, did map puzzles, played Monopoly Jr., baked (he would measure everything), did writing on a dry erase board, played store with a toy cash register and real money, etc. I just focused on fun learning. If you need to give some kind of a log or record to your ex, I would not list the actual activities above--just write what subjects you cover with the activities:

Math

Language Arts

Reading

Geography

Science

For science we would look online and make a volcano or observe a black widow in the garage (Enchanted Learning has awesome labeled coloring sheets), go on a hike and look for lizards, play with magnets, a compass, make static electricity with balloons, etc. I bought two kitchen science project books from the Parent Teacher store--fun and easy!

You can do this! Your son will be so happy and love this and you won't be so stressed out. Don't get too caught up in having to follow some formal advanced curriculum to satisfy your ex. Once you get your son to the point where he loves learning, gradually introduce FUN work sheets from online (my ds despises workbooks-- finds them boring and repetitive). There are curricula out there that don't focus on seatwork.

If you are worried about keeping your ds at grade level, you might find your state's education standards online--my state lists all subjects and standards by grade.

Enjoy Childhood

It is time to enjoy childhood, not cram for the SAT's - not that I am suggesting that you are doing that.

We only get to be kids once so have fun with it

We only get to be kids once so have fun with it.  If he's not into igloos, drop it and try something else. But don't tell him it’s a 'lesson'.  Just do something for fun.  Have a contest, whose ice cube will melt faster, yours in a glass of soda or his in an extra hot cup of cocoa. .  Try something like that.

Mean Moms

I can understand how you feel. I feel like giving up too. I know my daughter knows the answers but she likes to pretend not to and play around. Then she starts with I am a mean Mom.

Play is Work for Kindergarteners

Maybe it’s just me, but shoot, the kid is 5.  I’d let him be a kid and try to make learning come from play.  I tend to find the harder I push, the harder they push back.  I’m not saying play all day, but 5 year olds don't usually have too long of an attention span and if you get educational toys they learn when they don't realize it.  Also not sure about your state, but here in Michigan, kindergarten is optional.   I’d check into it and let him mature a bit.