Belding Elementary is a great school. I have been assigned to Belding for over a year as their…read moreschool nurse. All of the staff is very friendly, and are genuinely invested in their students. I love the special classes that they have for all grades. Every child gets the opportunity to learn Arabic, as well as participate in a dance class that teaches everything from modern dance, to tap, to breakdancing on a weekly basis. If students are having trouble in class, then teachers aides take them to the side to work on their problem areas. This is a small school, but that is perfect to ensure that all students receive the optimum learning experience. Fun note: The garden in front of Belding with the picnic tables is a certified wildlife habitat.

Belding Elementary has been home to my daughter for the past 4 years (having transferred her here…read morefrom a private school starting in 5th grade). The leadership under Principal Yutzy and the time and care that the teachers at the school provide each student is a joy to witness. Students are challenged according to their abilities and are gently prodded to excel. It is almost like an extension of your family when it comes to the care/efforts put forth by the faculty & staff for the students. As a parent I can honestly say that my interactions at the school were more enjoyable and inclusive than they were at the private school. The education provided by all the GREAT TEACHERS over the years helped to enable my daughter to be prepared for that arduous task of Selective Enrollment and it got her into Northside College Prep. If you are debating whether to place your child at this wonderful neighborhood school; take the leap of faith as you will not be disappointed. We will miss Belding, but in our hearts we will ALWAYS BE A BELDING BULLDOG FAMILY!!

An ethnically diverse school on the edge of Albany Park. Their gifted program sets kids up for…read moreacademic success and as the years pass by I see more and more buildings set out on what seemed to be endless stretches of asphalt when I was a kid. The gifted program helped me go to the IB program, and for that I will be forever grateful. Learned to keep some friends from kindergarten and people from this school remain tight with their school chums for the long-term. Great place for kids, no real gang problem

I have happy memories at this elementary school. Yes I was thankfully in the gifted program in…read moremiddle school. I still have good friends from this school. Very diverse and caring teachers, when I attended this school. = )

I have children that go to this school. The other reviewer has an ax to grind or something, but…read morethis school is known in the neighborhood for being tough to get into and that angers some people. This is a great school, the kids are perfectly happy and the programs are great.

We love St. Edward. I am an alum who learned both values and academics needed to succeed in high…read moreschool, college, and graduate school. This community is exactly what our children need. We watch them go off to school full of happiness and eager to learn. We couldn't ask for better environment for our children. Thanks to Ed's for providing a balance of education, community, service, faith, and bringing joy to their students.

Great School! Dedicated faculty, diverse student body, and a wonderful community to be part of…read more Most alumni go on to competitive high schools and prestigious universities. Kids are taught more than normal academics (which are taught very well...they are a Blue Ribbon School), they are also taught leadership, serving others, giving back to their community, and being good people. I highly recommend for any family who want a solid formation and education for their children.

The teachers, staff, and the whole school environment are amazing! We love the morning sessions and…read morethe after-school program. Our daughter is always happy and excited to come home, and the teachers are so loving and caring. We've had an awesome experience at SMS. Seriously, everyone we know has sent their kids there at some point, and we totally recommend it to anyone in the area.

We have sent all 3 of our sons to Sauganash Montessori School and could not be more pleased with…read morethe educational experience that they have each received. The classrooms are bright, beautiful and well-appointed with Montessori learning materials. The teachers and staff are wonderful! We have had to adjust our son's pickup times because of our work schedule, and they are always more than accommodating. Our youngest son is currently at Montessori and is thriving! He has become increasingly more independent and loves school.

I went to elementary school here, kindergarten thru 6th grade. I went to APMA - Albany Park…read moreMulticultural Academy - in junior high. I took off one star because when I returned to Chicago after living in the Philippines for 5 years (I was born in Chicago, but lived with my grandparents in Manila), they put me in a Spanish-speaking kindergarten class. Tagalog isn't Spanish, ok? This was before their Tagalog ESL program, of course, which they now offer. I have to hand it to the teachers working there, though, because Chicago Public schools are tough. Many of the students had to take bilingual programs and ESL classes because their parents recently immigrated to Chicago. Their bilingual programs include Arabic Bosnian/Serbian, Khmer, Spanish, and Vietnamese. And take a look at the different languages served in their ESL program: Albanian, Bengali, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Illongo, Korean, Lao, Malayalam, Romanian, Tagalog, Turkish and Urdu. Yes, it's safe to say that the school is VERY diverse. I had friends whose parents immigrated from Jordan, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Mexico, Greece, India, Pakistan to name a few. Some of you may not want your children to go here (you know who you are...), but it's o.k. I have to give it 4 stars because the teachers deserve it. This school has been around for over 90 years and they've expanded the school an extra 68,000 sq. ft. for new classrooms, a library, computer lab, and science lab. Good for them!

I went to this school as well PR-K to 6th(Pre-K was at a plaza elsewhere on kedzie)…read moreThen I went to APMA Anyway, what I liked was the fact that there was kids from ALL OVER. I am lucky to have met people from so many cultures at a young age. Great school and I still remember how it was before the expansion. I never got to go to recess though :( Stupid new rule

The entire school staff is friendly and very considerate. Ms Panczyk, the school princpal is…read morevery friendly and she talks to every parent as much as possible. The school's standardize test speak for themselves. Each child is taught to highest standards.

From the owner: School Day 8am to 3pm Safe & Comfortable Environment…read moreState of the Art Gymnasium Hot Lunch Available Extensive Art, Music & Athletic Program Enrichment Programs: Introduction to Spanish or Polish Languages Geometry Science Historical Film Perspectives Math Fun and Drama Home Economics and Crocheting Arts and Crafts Reading games Fun Experiments

I worked at WMS two years ago for 5 years total and within that time learned and loved the…read moreMontessori Method applied here. From the wee seedlings to the elementary kids, I watched how these children flourished beyond anything else I've ever experienced during all my hours of student teaching at various schools. First off all, the organization behind every aspect of the school comes from the extensive training and education that the school founders have along with their decades of experience. Yes, decades. Everything offered at WMS is all very carefully considered and all the material there is hand-picked by their wonderful teachers and moderated by the head directress. By hand-picked, I mean hundreds of material is considered before being chosen. The material selected all depended on the season, subject, and mastery of each child in mind. This is no easy task. Secondly, the work is all relative. What your child is doing in the infant and toddlers program (from pouring to sorting) will lay a strong foundation for what they will be doing years later in the preschool and elementary program. I cannot stress enough how many times my jaw dropped when I realized how all of the works are so connected. All of the works encourage independence early on so they can master specific work later on. It all comes full circle. Third, the socialization that happens within the walls of the school is inspired by the work itself because the way the work is designed teaches children patience, compassion and empathy. A lot of the work here teaches children how to contribute to their homes and communities in a positive way. It also helps children find their confidence because they realize they can do so many every day things themselves that it sets them up for success academically - from tying their shoes to doing dishes the practical life work is such an essential part of their learning. The teachers have so much patience and love towards their students. It's really beautiful to observe. They develop connections with each individual child and because of the nature of the Montessori applied here, they have the ability to do that as opposed to teaching every child in the same exact way like most traditional schools. While working there it was pretty common for the children to be far more advanced than their friends and family who were in regular public and private schooling. Because of the method, they had the ability to cognitively identify and grasp things much easier in a safe and encouraging environment - all at their own pace. I look back on my time working here with a lot of fondness. As teachers, we took a lot of pride in the work we put into our kids. We provided them with quality education, but above all else a lot of encouragement to explore and play - all important parts of this method. We let our children lead and that is what makes this place so special. They all eventually became leaders in their own right. If you have any questions, reach out and book a tour! They're always really informative and it's a real peace of mind seeing the beautiful space your children will grow in before enrolling them there.

My review will be slightly different from the rest of the reviewers…read more Most of the reviews are from the perspective of parents who have or had children attend here. I will give you the perspective from a former alumni that graduated from here over 2 decades ago. While many of the teachers have come and gone, the leadership has remained steady with the founders since '93. I went to Wonder Montessori in the mid 90s, a few years after they opened, and I can honestly say it was the one of the most important educational experiences of my life. Of course, I did not realize it then, but reflecting back I can clearly point to my experience here to clearly shape the person I am today. Every detail was examined, and every individual considered. I am sure Wonder Montessori's mastery of the montessori method has improved in the years since. I can remember learning to use the computer here, learning about planets and plants and science in general. Singing songs in multiple languages. Even mundane life skills like washing the dishes, oh and of course - I learned to tie my shoes here. Even more importantly social skills on how to properly interact with your peers was developed, and if someone has been wronged we were guided to resolutions, often with apologies to the wronged party. Conflict mediation is an underrated skill. Parents, it is easy to forget how profoundly influential these formative years are for a child. In terms of social development and satisfying their intellectual and creative endeavors - positive and enriching experiences in these areas now will only compound in the years to come. Your children will be more confident, more independent, and more intellectually curious. Characteristics that will hopefully stay with them for the rest of their lives As for myself, what happened to me? While everyone's path in life is different, many years after here I attended an engineering college and studied electrical engineering, achieved moderate success as an entrepreneur and in my other professional endeavors. My final vote of confidence? I will be sending my kids here when they are ready.