Wow, we really didn't know how great we had it at SLMS until we moved and switched daycares. Our daughter started SLMS at 3 months old and we have loved every second of it. Nancy is the lead teacher in the infant classroom and she is amazing. We were new parents at the time and didn't really know what we were doing. Nancy helped us navigate the newborn phase by answering all our questions and gave us advice and resources. Unfortunately, we moved when our daughter was about 20 months old. SLMS was all that we knew at the time so when we began the search for other daycares, there was a HUGE difference in teaching philosophies, cleanliness, and just quality of care. Just a few things I appreciated/noticed at SLMS compared to other schools/daycares: - The infant and toddler classrooms have indoor and outdoor shoes which is great for cleanliness and germs. - The Montessori philosophy teaches them independence. They have self service breakfast every morning in the toddler classroom. Many other daycares do not. I know our daughter misses that. - Many of the other daycares will disrupt the class for parents to tour the school (which i did NOT like). I remember at SLMS, the administration was very cognizant of not disrupting the classes which is exactly how it should be. There are tinted windows so if parents want to see their kids interact or for tours, they are not distracting the students. These are just a few of the things that separate SLMS from the others. While tuition is expensive, it is worth it. We definitely miss the staff and school. SLMS really spoiled us and now we can only hope to find a school of similar caliber where we are. read more

Run away! They charge fake fees, won't show you an invoice and no teachers just aids that get paid little. Save yourself the headache they are a complete ripoff read more

I was new to the idea of Montessori when we enrolled my son in the AMA primary classroom this fall and his growth this year is beyond our wildest dreams. Our son has shown growth both in academic skill but also as a curious and self sufficient young man. It is fantastic to see the Montessori curriculum trickle into other aspects of his life and every day I love the stories he tells about his day. This really was the best place for him and I cannot recommend the staff and teachers more. read more

This Montessori school checks all the boxes! - wonderful staff who are trained on the Montessori principle. - teachers that really get to know and care for the kids (even teachers in other classrooms know my daughter - easy to access updates about your child's day and to communicate with teachers. - clean and safe facilities - a diverse community where all are welcome - but mostly my 8mos old gets excited everyday to go there and the smile on her face when I drop her off is all I need to know she is in good hands. read more

We absolutely love the school! Our daughter has joined school when she was 6 months old and has been here for the past 19 months. There are so many things that I love about the place: 1) I very appreciate Montessori philosophy and how teachers teach my daughter to be respectful to others and respect herself, how they teach her to be independent and be proud of it, how they teach her to be curious and persistent in learning new things 2) but it's all accompanied by so much love And compassion to our child-I truly see how all teachers love my daughter and how she loves them! The way she smiles when she recounts which teachers were at school that day-priceless! 3) I love the feeling being on the same team with the teachers and administration: if I need anything, if I have a question-it's always us all deciding What's best for the little one vs. me trying to resolve something with the school. Everyone is super responsive and supportive! 4) the school staff is super professional - during COVID we were kept in the loop, we had clear guidance on what are options, how to make choices, etc. 5) the atmosphere in school is very routine in a good way-there is no chaos, everything is well organized and predictable-it defitinely reflects on kids-they're all calm and are able to focus on what they're doing instead of trying to get acclimated to constantly changing environment. read more

We are so so happy with AMA South Loop! Our infant daughter has attended since she was 4 months old (currently 9 months). I agonized over the childcare decision, speaking with and visiting all options in the South Loop and several in Hyde Park. While there are many good options, AMA South Loop is great. We have been happy with every aspect of her care. Wonderful communication. She is growing and learning, and clearly loves her teachers. Perhaps most important of all is the total confidence we have in the school and the staff. There is no substitute for the peace of mind that offers. Appreciate you, AMA South Loop! read more

My daughter has been attending SL Montessori since their Toddler program was crated in August 2017. I, honestly, can't be more grateful to the lead teacher Katelyn and her staff. Katelyn, Dani, Miriam and Lani are always so kind, loving and patient with all the children which manifests in my daughter's advancement in every area of her development. I thank SL Montessori in acquiring such talented, and carling individuals! But, truly, my deepest gratitude is to the Ladies! THANK YOU! read more

One of the best school in Chicago. Am so glad my sister came across AMA Academy (Andersonville) while walking from work. Ms. Andrianna who is the school director was very helpful and accommodative. I explained to her about my son's eating problem, not potty trained, and first time attending day care she assured me they will take their time to teach him and to also become independent. I love that the school is Montessori. Their method of education is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. Montessori classrooms children make creative choices in their learning. Liam enjoys going to school everyday. He made some amazing friends. He comes home all the time and teaches me what he learned from school. Example: he takes his clothes off by himself, make sentences, write, able to play with other kids, and officially eating which makes me very happy. My son is a very smart boy but I am grateful to have Ms. Sophia as his teacher, who is also from the same country as my family. I have trouble trusting my son with people but when it comes to his teacher I have so much confidence in her that she will treat him as her own and take her time to make sure he is comfortable. My son just started AMA Academy and I must say I highly recommend this school to any parents who has a child that isn't around any children, who isn't social, who wants their kids to be hands on learning, who works late and need more time to pick up their kids, etc. AMA Academy forever gone be on my top list of school. read more

So grateful for the teachers and program there. I've never seen a school that cares so much about its children. Our boys are not only learning but they're also becoming members of the community. They regularly visit the local museums and take enriching trips around the city. Worth every penny and more. I can't say enough between the meals served, enriching curriculum, and all-encompassing curriculum, it's simply heart-warming that our kids go here. read more

Love everything about this school. Teachers for both classes are awesome and love the kids. The owners, Mahdi and Sameer couln't be nicer, more responsible and more dedicated. We have had our oldest son in two other pre-schools in the South Loop and nothing compares to this experience. It is by far the best selection we have made and both of our kids love going to school every day. They learn to respect others, to take care of their world and the environment plus they learn thru experiences and great montessori tools. One of the best parts is that it has its own playground, which is almost impossible to find in the city. read more

More like 3.5 stars, compared to our current daycare. If I had written this review while my child was at SLMS, it would've been 4 stars. I have an older child who was in the 2-yr-old program (and celebrated her 3rd birthday there) before going into another preschool and a younger child who was in the toddler's program with Katelyn, Dani, and Miriam. We very much liked the program for our older child, as she was having problems with another conventional, corporate daycare that moved around from class to class according to subject area every half hour. That the child stays in the same classroom and moves from station to station out of her own free will is great. Katelyn, Dani, and Miriam were patient, kind, and attentive caretakers, and we appreciate their work very much. At the same time, we realized we didn't appreciate enough the other aspects of conventional daycare vs. Montessori, which we soon found out with our second child, who we moved after about a year with Montessori to a more conventional daycare (which had been our first choice because it's in our neighborhood, and different from the corporate daycare mentioned above), so have had some time to compare notes. The first point is that with Montessori the interaction is much cooler than a conventional daycare. The rationale for this policy is so that the toddler does not come to depend on being held for comfort, since independence is paramount. The classrooms are kept very quiet, to "improve concentration." I generally agree with both of these, but as I said, it is generally a cooler atmosphere than the other two daycares we've experienced, and for my child I wish there were more social interactions. The second point is that we found out they had been swaddling our toddler for naptime some time after they had been doing it regularly, without consulting us about this. Swaddling a toddler is quite a different story from swaddling a baby, and this is one of those areas where I felt the parent should have been notified from the first. They reported that our toddler cried and then fell asleep from exhaustion. We were sad about this, but didn't know what else to do--there was a sense that she was difficult to put down for a nap, which she was, and there wasn't much else anyone could do. The third point is that the classroom activities are utterly structured, pre-planned, in steps. There were times I questioned the rigidity of this approach, but decided at the time that this is just how some Asian countries do it as well, which has its pros and cons. So it would really be up to the individual preferences of the parents. On the other hand, parents are not allowed to step inside the classroom. This is to keep things quiet in the classroom, but we were not allowed to knock either, but to show our face at the window until someone notices us. There is a sense that the teachers' interpretation of a situation concerning the child is more correct than the parents', as the interpretation is backed by a whole teaching philosophy. A fourth point is that Montessori firmly discourages make-believe. No imaginary representations. Young toddlers of course are not quite at the stage where they are donning capes or having imaginary tea parties, but you might want to take a close look at what your own attitude might be with regard to this. A part of me, I admit, was delighted in keeping play restricted to this ultra-practical, realistic realm, because I get fed up with magical thinking one hears news about adults performing on an everyday basis. But when you get to the basic implications of what this idea is actually proposing to eliminate from childhood, you might want to examine your own attitude towards this. My own philosophy now is that, had I had another child, what I would love in a daycare is a patient, caring, attentive adult, for a child to attach themselves to, and Katelyn, Miriam, and Dani were each so (not sure how the afternoon teachers were). But additionally, I would want a daycare that allows a little more social interaction, less rigidity about how activities are pursued, allows for some make-believe, and also keeps communications with parents completely open, and exchanged at least one comment or anecdote or photo or two about their child every single day. read more

Our son attended SLMS for almost 2 years, and we moved out of state otherwise we would not have left the school. From the first day, we were welcomed as a family and felt at home in the community. Our son made lovely friends there, had outstanding teachers, and we never had a moment's hesitation that he was in capable hands all day. We didn't know much about the Montessori Philosophy prior to joining the school, but quickly discovered how much we loved it for our son. And we loved that he had plenty of time playing outside, planting in the garden, helping prepare snacks, and cleaning up. I could list so many things that we loved about this school, but instead I recommend that you just check it out for yourself. We trusted SLMS with our son for two years, and we often remark on how we couldn't have made a better decision. read more

My husband and I are truly thankful to the teachers and directors for their value and dedication. I especially love the fact that they have smaller scale (two classrooms) which creates more closer family-like environment! Our biggest concern was our son's separation anxiety which is perfectly normal for kids at his age. Amazingly he was happy to go to his classroom in three days. I think it was the combination of right transition methodology and the exciting environment they create. Our son's behavior changed slowly over time. He learns table manner, cleaning up after he is done and socializing skills through structured settings. Thank you for creating a safe environment. read more

We have had our daughter enrolled at SLMS for a little over 2 years, and we could not be more pleased with this facility. The primary and assistant teachers in both classrooms are dedicated, caring and experienced professionals, and I truly believe they care about the kids they hold in their care. When I pick up my child from school or drop her off in the morning, I get to hear a nice story about something she is learning or something funny she said or did. It's great. Further, there is always someone (in a physical and non-physical way) from the administration available to discuss any issues or concerns --- in addition to the primary teacher for the classroom. I feel the materials presented for my child are really helping her learn, and I am witness to her educational development on a daily basis. If you are not familiar with the Montessori method of learning/teaching, children are grouped together in age ranges (e.g., ages 3-6 in the primary classroom). So, younger kids are able to learn from the older kids (sort of like an older sibling) and gradually develop their level of material based on their individual performance. I think having 3 adults governing the classroom also helps. I appreciate their teacher to student ratio. Further, they also have music and yoga programs, which I like because it exposes my child to extracurricular activities that I may not have time to enroll her in because I work full-time. As far as the facility in concerned, I love love love that they have their own playground. The kids get outdoors at least twice a day (weather-permitting) and I am grateful that they are not being carted off to a public park in mass groups like some other places who do not have the luxury of having an onsite outdoor space. They also use the outdoor space for holding events like their grand opening for their garden and other parent-included activities. I'm also a big fan of the organic menu. After our 2nd child was born (and before knowing what we were going to do for childcare), I went on some tours of other facilities in the area. In doing so, my feelings towards the facility we have selected for our older child were reaffirmed. It really made me realize how lucky we were to have gotten a spot in the school when we did. We plan on enrolling our 2nd child as soon as he is old enough to attend. read more

We recently moved out of state so had to leave SLMS but our son had a wonderful two years there and we could not have asked for more. The teachers in both the pre-primary and primary classrooms were amazing and truly helped shape our son's mind as well as his heart to be grateful, respectful and courteous. They also taught me how to be a better parent just through observation. They are an inspirational group and we always had complete confidence and admiration for how our son was learning and developing all around. It is a true Montessori experience and we hope to have found something very similar near our new home. I would highly recommend this school to anyone. read more

Our twin son's last day at SLMS is tomorrow, after 2 years in the school. Our family has had a great experience with SLMS, the place has wonderful, caring, knowledgeable teachers, beautiful classrooms, a great outdoor playground, and a well run administration. It's a true Montessori school and the boys have thrived. We leave many good friends and experiences behind and will dearly miss the school. read more

Communication with this school and the director was terrible. They are prejudice and do not treat all of the demographics, correctly. They totally disregarded all of my concerns for my child and inconvenienced me and my work schedule by pushing my child's enrollment and then withdrawing her acceptance because I was a concerned parent on how they handled their business. If you are black do not enroll your kids in this school. read more

The communication between staff at this school is lacking, which is an important element working with young children and families. Classroom educators appeared overwhelmed and under-supported in student transitions and other classroom policies. Teachers weren't on the same page; conflicting responses from classroom teachers on issues that we tried to address. We had a significant issue that we felt was belittled and administration did not work with us as a family to resolve the issue. The solution was decided upon without consultation or conferencing. Not a good fit; support seems to have declined as previous reviews are positive. read more

Our daughter started SLMS just over a month ago and we would highly recommend this school. We moved from Colorado where she had been attending another Montessori school, and while that was a great experience, too--SLMS is an exceptional example of a Montessori environment. The thought and care that goes into all aspects of the classroom and administration is above and beyond. Her teachers are fantastic and loving and calm. It is always clear to us that our daughter is being well cared for and her curiosity for learning is nurtured every day. They even offer an organic catered lunch, which has been a fun way to introduce our daughter to some new foods she hadn't yet tried. PLUS, I have to say that the cozy, residential neighborhood that surrounds the school (don't let the front of the building give you the wrong impression) is excellent. All dead-end streets, no through traffic, always a very safe feeling location. Very easy drop-off and pick-up. Oh, and the new classrooms (built from the ground up) and private outdoor play area, complete with resident bunny and vegetable gardens, are all beautiful. read more

My daughter attends the Montessori school and truly enjoys her days there. She is in the full-time program and seems to be blossoming in the system. The school had all the prerequisites when we looked into pre-schools in the area - safe, good location, and wonderful staff. read more

This is an excellent school. Both of our daughters transitioned in from other learning environments and took to the place immediately. The teachers are top-notch, caring, and willing to discuss our kids anytime we need. We are very happy that SLMS has become a part of our neighborhood. read more

After researching schools and day cares for our son to attend, we came across South Loop Montessori by chance. After researching the values that Montessori education establishes in a child's character - grace, courtesy, and respect - as well as the ability for children to discover work on their own sold me on SLMS and their full time program. They also provide their students with a wonderful outdoor environment, organic lunches, and quality practical life skills. His social interaction, linguistic abilities, and observation skills have increased tenfold since being enrolled in SLMS My husband and I are extremely pleased and thankful for the education and love our son receives daily from the staff, and we would highly recommend SLMS to any family throughout Chicago. read more

We can't be happier with his school. I leaves him there everyday with an ease of mind that he will be safe and happy. The Owners and the teachers are wonderful people and very nice and responsive. The little outside play ground they have at school makes it perfect for outside activity like playing, gardening, and water day. He learns about practical life everyday. I recommend South loop Montessori School to everyone who is looking for a perfect educational and caring environment. read more

We love South Loop Montessori School for its finest teachers, excellent management and perfect location. Our younger daughter just started pre-primary class 3 months ago, while her sister had already transitioned to primary class. Every morning we drop them off knowing that they will be in the good hands, and in the afternoon we know we will pick up two very happy girls, probably with more knowledge in their little heads. We like the close relationship between teachers and students, that teachers know your kids and communicate with you even through emails. The academic program is excellent too. The class rooms are thoughtfully divided to a few areas with each one focused on a major skill set and equipped with tons of little projects that kids love to dive in and learn while playing. Kids have the full attention of teachers at any moment, who are ready to help out just briefly or hand by hand throughout the whole project. From our parent teacher conferences, we know teachers exactly know the strength and improvement areas of our kids and help them out with a focus. That probably explains why we noticed our kids grow out of our expectation from time to time. read more

There are quite a few pre-schools in the South Loop. The main reasons we chose South Loop Montessori School are as follows: · The Montessori philosophy of the "whole child" is well thought-out. It allows kids to flourish intellectually, emotionally and physically. It encourages kids to learn to acquire practical skills (e.g., participate in food preparation, eat with glass plates, and go potty independently), solve problems independently (e.g., do numbers games and puzzles), and develop social skills (e.g., self-respect and respect for others). · The teachers are very knowledgeable about Montessori methods and are sincerely committed to putting those methods into practice every day. The school doesn't treat Montessori education as window dressing. The school even invites the educational expert to train teachers regularly and hosts educational sessions for parents on parenting skills. The teachers and staff are diligent and dedicated. If kids need help in certain areas, they are committed to working with kids and parents, including trying to find causes of the problem, and anything that could be done to help. They handle it very professionally and knowledgeably. · The outdoor playground is enclosed within school grounds, which is very safe and convenient. They do outdoor play almost daily when weather permits. They also teach kids to plant the garden and catch worms in their own garden, which teaches kids to be close to nature. Very often during pick-up time, you can see that quite a few kids don't even want to leave school, which is the best evidence of the school's success in providing a good environment for the kids. read more

SLMS is a wonderful place. Our daughter loves to go to school on a daily basis to see her teachers, the directors, and of course all of her friends! My husband, daughter, and I moved from SD a year ago and it was incredibly important to us to find a safe and educational environment for our daughter where we could feel a part of a community. SLMS staff are educated, kind, engaging, and professional. Our daughter has learned about geography, gardening, cooking and is encouraged to freely explore the Montessori environment. Our family highly recommends this school! read more

Do yourself a favor by not putting your kid in here. They promise the moon, but under deliver. Our kid was here for an year and the development was scant. Do not go by the smooth talk and the promises made during your orientation. Our son feel sick and all they cared was the tuition. That would have been fine if at least the developmental aspects were taken of. We switched henceforth and the progress has been great. read more

Our daughter started going to SLMS when she was about 6 months old (1 year ago). She just recently transitioned into the Toddler Classroom from the Infant Classroom led by Nancy. We are just so thankful for the care, attention, and time she gave our daughter. Nancy always made sure that our daughter was learning new skills and harnessing her curiosity and energy. Even now, during our daughter's second full week in the Toddler Classroom, Nancy still makes it clear how much she cares for our child and her development. Throughout our first year at SLMS, Nancy has been a steady and reassuring presence for our daughter and for us. We are so thankful that she had the chance to be in such a loving, caring, and challenging environment from the very start read more

If the caliber of a school is assessed during times of adversity, the pandemic experience of 2020 has underscored South Loop Montessori School's (SLMS) exemplary marks! We were a SLMS family in 2019 (pre-pandemic) and into mid-2020, and our son had a wonderful experience in the school's pre-primary and primary classrooms. The administrators are communicative, responsive and very engaged, and the teachers are the heart and soul of the school. The only reason we left was because our son was admitted to a private school elsewhere in the city, but if it had not been for that we absolutely planned to stay enrolled through kindergarten and possibly beyond. We were so pleased with our experience at SLMS that we referred two families, and will continue to advocate for the school. Madhi has done a fine job building SLMS into a respected and trusted school in the South Loop community, and we wish him and his team the very best as the school continues to grow and evolve read more

Our son has gone to SLMS for over 2 years and we are very happy with his growth and happiness. The staff really cares about the children and encourage them to do their best. They also have a wonderful outdoor area and great hours. If you are looking for a daycare, preschool or elementary and live in the South Loop area look no further. read more

My daughter attended SLMS for almost 2 years. I give this school and its amazing teachers my highest recommendation. The lead teacher in my daughter's classroom, Kylee, is the textbook definition of a loving, highly skilled and dedicated professional Montessori educator. Observing the way she and the other teachers work together with the students in the classroom is almost like watching a world class orchestra make music together; there is a rhythm and purpose to their every gesture and interaction with the children, and they implement their methods with the upmost professionalism while creating a loving, fun environment. My daughter learned and progressed so much during her time there; it was truly a wonder to behold and I am so grateful to Kylee and her team. The facilities are gorgeous too--super clean with lots of wood and sunlight streaming through the windows, and they now have a huge newly remodeled playground (about to reopen any day now if not already). The owners, Madhi and Samir, are always helpful and truly care about their school being the best it can be for the students. And the families at SLMS are fantastic--my daughter met many wonderful friends and we were invited to birthday parties many weekends throughout the year. If you are considering Montessori education for your child (and I hope you are), definitely schedule a visit with South Loop Montessori and check out all that they have to offer. You will be glad you did. read more

My son attended SLMS for almost 3 years and as a parent, you strive to find compassionate learning environments like this institution! From the one-on-one attention between teacher and student to the professionalism of the administration, we couldn't have asked for more! The SLMS administration and staff genuinely strive to create an authentic Montessori atmosphere for the child, as well as being incredibly accommodating to the family's needs. As a military family, we truly appreciated this! Since moving out of state, my son's continued academic development is remarkable as he is testing at 3rd grade math and reading levels. My husband and I attribute our son's academic growth to SLMS and its educators, especially the lead teacher in the primary classroom! Thank you for instilling such a genuine curiosity for learning in my son! read more

Having spent my early childhood years (through 3rd grade) in Montessori school, I sought the same experience for my daughter. We enrolled her at SLMS the day she turned 2 in the pre-primary classroom (after having spent her first two years at home with a nanny). What a difference?!? Within a few months we saw so many practical life skill progressions such as sitting at a table and eating with friends, sharing, taking turns, drinking with a cup, sitting in a group and listening to instruction, and eating/using utensils on her own. In addition, she was recognizing and reciting letters and their associated sounds. We attribute this not only to the Montessori philosophy, but also to the unique way SLMS implements this philosophy in everything they do. From classroom setup and daily activities to education and training of their staff and even parents, SLMS lives and breathes Montessori and welcomes and encourages its families to do the same. We have now been at SLMS for over a year and our daughter has seamlessly transitioned to the primary classroom where we continue to witness her immense development and growth. During this time, we have had the good fortune of experiencing the current SLMS expansion and couldn't be more thrilled with the new facilities and investment the school is making to further enhance our family's experience. Unfortunately, due to a move to the suburbs, we will be leaving the SLMS community shortly. It is perhaps the most bitter part of our bittersweet move. Our daughter will be attending a Montessori school in the suburbs as our SLMS experience has assured us that is the absolute best experience we can provide for her. A big THANK YOU to SLMS, we will miss you! read more

Outstanding program. Our daughter has been there almost two years and she has flourished. I have taken advantage of parent volunteer opportunities to see first hand the excellent environment and care put into every child. Communication has been excellent. The teachers really know our girl and they have even asked me if she has had changes to her schedule because they could notice she was a little off. They have taken great care with our special instructions on her need for diligent sun protection during playground time because of her fair complexion. Her teachers have taught her how to make choices and how to understand the results of those choices as well as how to put words to feelings so she can start to self regulate. She knows and writes letters and uses glass plates at lunch at only four years old! This school is amazing and we will be looking to put her little sister into the program as well. This is a school where she learns important life skills that will help her to be a successful adult in the future. read more

My daughters have been attending SLMS for 1 1/2 years and I am very happy with the school, particularly the administration and current teachers. I find them to be particularly adept at transitioning new children to the school as well as from the pre-primary (2 year olds) to the primary (ages 3+) classroom (a very gradual month-long process). My main reasons for choosing this school were for the following: small class sizes, teacher-student ratio, focus on grace, courtesy and the community, teaching self-care skills (can be a challenge with toddlers), reinforcing how to care for ones belongings and for their emphasis on the environment (they compost, recycle and have a garden). The administration is very receptive to parent concerns and are always available by phone, email and are on site. They know every child's name and always update me with what the girls have been doing in class or on the playground that day (they have their own playground), and even attend every single field trip. The lead and assistant teachers are wonderful, thoughtful and friendly. They have parent-teacher conferences twice yearly and I am impressed with the detail of the written assessments which were introduced recently in the primary class. The lead teacher is very enthusiastic and accessible in terms of communication and the children love her. I also find this to be a very involved and nice parent community. Most important, however, I am impressed with how my children have progressed over the years in different areas: "mealtime conversation skills" (the children sit with a different lunch partner each day to promote this), their public speaking (through show and tell), their drawings and letters (I find this to be a strength of the school) and through the many unique songs they learn at school. read more