The School in the Woods Parent/Infant program serves families with children from pre-birth to 18 months of age. The Parent/Infant Community provides a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment that allows young children and their parents to learn together in a Montessori environment that is specially prepared for the developmental needs of infants, allowing them the opportunity to explore and learn. It also supports new parents and families by providing them the knowledge and support they need as they embark upon this new stage of their lives – being a parent!

The School in the Woods Toddler Program is an environment uniquely prepared for children between 15 months and three years of age. The Toddler Community offers very young children the unique experience of self-development in a tender atmosphere of special understanding, respect and support. Toddlers begin building the foundation for who they are to become. Their character, self-esteem, purpose in life, social skills and learning processes begin to form during this stage of life. The main goals of the Toddler environment are to help the children function independently, to allow them to explore the environment and manipulate the objects in the environment freely, and to assist them in their rapid language development.

The School in the Woods Toddler Program is an environment uniquely prepared for children between 15 months and three years of age. The Toddler Community offers very young children the unique experience of self-development in a tender atmosphere of special understanding, respect and support. Toddlers begin building the foundation for who they are to become. Their character, self-esteem, purpose in life, social skills and learning processes begin to form during this stage of life. The main goals of the Toddler environment are to help the children function independently, to allow them to explore the environment and manipulate the objects in the environment freely, and to assist them in their rapid language development.

The Montessori Preschool classroom is a carefully prepared environment designed specifically to support the three to six year old child’s natural curiosity and interest in his world. It allows the child to learn in a place of beauty, order and rich opportunity. The Preschool classroom is well organized to allow children the freedom to select from a wide variety of activities that entice the young child to follow his innate drive to learn. The Montessori Preschool Classroom provides a rich curriculum that has both depth and breadth in all subject areas. Children are encouraged to follow their natural desire for repetition and are given lessons on new activities when they are ready. Daily group times (called “line”) present opportunities to share verbally; explore literature; experience science and cultural lessons; participate in music, movement and rhythm activities. Outdoor time is another part of each day; children develop important social skills and are provided many opportunities to interact with the natural world in this atmosphere of unstructured play.

The Montessori Preschool classroom is a carefully prepared environment designed specifically to support the three to six year old child’s natural curiosity and interest in his world. It allows the child to learn in a place of beauty, order and rich opportunity. The Preschool classroom is well organized to allow children the freedom to select from a wide variety of activities that entice the young child to follow his innate drive to learn. The Montessori Preschool Classroom provides a rich curriculum that has both depth and breadth in all subject areas. Children are encouraged to follow their natural desire for repetition and are given lessons on new activities when they are ready. Daily group times (called “line”) present opportunities to share verbally; explore literature; experience science and cultural lessons; participate in music, movement and rhythm activities. Outdoor time is another part of each day; children develop important social skills and are provided many opportunities to interact with the natural world in this atmosphere of unstructured play.

This full day in the classroom gives these children longer periods of time to complete more advanced work. Pre-Kindergarten children attend both the morning and afternoon mixed-age Preschool classrooms, giving them the opportunity to act as mentors and role models to the younger preschool children. Pre-Kindergarten children spend the hour between the two Preschool classes eating lunch together, reading a chapter book with a teacher, and participating in special Pre-Kindergarten only activities. During this time they are also given the opportunity to rest for 30 minutes.

The Pre-Kindergarten program is an all day program from 8:15am to 3:15pm. These children must be in their second full year of attendance in a Montessori 3-6 classroom. This full day in the classroom gives these children longer periods of time to complete more advanced work. Pre-Kindergarten children attend both the morning and afternoon mixed-age Preschool classrooms, giving them the opportunity to act as mentors and role models to the younger preschool children. Pre-Kindergarten children spend the hour between the two Preschool classes eating lunch together, reading a chapter book with a teacher, and participating in special Pre-Kindergarten only activities. During this time they are also given the opportunity to rest for 30 minutes.

The School in the Woods Parent/Infant program serves families with children from pre-birth to 18 months of age. The Parent/Infant Community provides a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment that allows young children and their parents to learn together in a Montessori environment that is specially prepared for the developmental needs of infants, allowing them the opportunity to explore and learn. It also supports new parents and families by providing them the knowledge and support they need as they embark upon this new stage of their lives – being a parent! One day a week parents and infants attend a 90 minute class together. The role of the parent during the class is to observe, support and encourage their child’s natural development. This weekly class gives parents a unique opportunity to sit back and actively observe their child’s developing skills. The teacher serves as a guide and model for parents and children as they explore the environment and their relationship with others. One evening a week, parents attend a 90 minute discussion session facilitated by the Parent/Infant teacher. This adults-only evening provides the parents an opportunity to learn more about the Montessori approach, discuss common parenting topics, and share questions and observations from the weekly class and family life.