I brought my son for a nature tots. Upon arrival we were greeted by Angie, the facilitator who was incredible . The children are encouraged to have complete autonomy in choosing how they would like to explore the spaces. Angie was very attentive, always making sure the stations were refilled and mindful with all of the different play areas that she set up for the space. It's a very cute space and a great introduction to start thinking if perhaps you'd like to send your child to Coco Plum nature school for schooling someday . I gave it a four stars because it is smaller and slightly less time as some of the other facilities offered in the area which are priced at the same amount. And the mud kitchen was too high for the children to use no stepstool provided for them to reach. Tables for the crafts were also regular sized, which could work for older children, but smaller table sets with seats for children could potentially be better. However, it makes sense why they don't have these things as the school starts at kindergarten and the nature taught is a once a month occurrence. Overall, it was a fun morning and we will still return. read more

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Enrolling my son in Kindergarten at Cocoplum has been a fantastic decision. He's genuinely excited about learning and continues to amaze me with his grasp of sciences and math. This is a stark contrast to his previous experience in a VPK program, which closely followed the traditional Florida public school system and left him dreading school. At Cocoplum, the kids enjoy 1-2 weekly trips, have daily al fresco lunches, and participate in interactive games and peer-to-peer learning for math, sciences, and reading. This unique approach has fostered my son's independence, thoughtfulness, and confidence. He's not only curious but also eager to share what he's learned. I also want to highlight the incredible leadership at the school, which is founded and run by two remarkable women. Melanie, the executive director, exudes a pleasant demeanor and brings a calming energy that the kids adore. Fernanda, the other founder, focuses on the curriculum, taking the time to genuinely listen to the children and connect with them on their level. Her approach encourages various forms of creative play and learning; she's like the Latina Miss. Frizzle! Being Mexican, Fernanda also incorporates a significant amount of Spanish in the classrooms, which is important to me since I speak Spanish at home. The teachers are wonderful and trained in the Conscious Discipline method. In teaching, they are observant and facilitate learning by tapping into each child's curiosity. An example from the other day: In Kindergarten, the kids were read a funny book. They were so excited by it that they took it upon themselves to rewrite the words and phrases from the book. When I was a kid, we were forced to write out sentences from books, but in my son's class, the kids WANT TO :) ! A few times a week, the teachers share anecdotes and photos on an app, which are linked to various learning objectives. While the school is play-based and creative, they do assess levels of competence across various subjects on a quarterly basis. This is something only the parents see and not the students, unlike traditional schools where kids are shown their report cards. It brings me great comfort knowing that my child is in incredibly capable hands and surrounded by kind and caring children and adults, eliminating the need for me to constantly hover over him. Truly, it's a fantastic school. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the small class sizes, which is a huge plus! read more

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Cocoplum is an awesome private school, founded with incredible intentions and wonderful philosophies about open play and diversity. I think of this school as 'the elementary school that comes next after Sunflower Creative Arts' preschool program ends.' Cocoplum is my first choice for a school for my kids, but at this time, what I can afford is summer camp!** Thank you to the excellent staff at Cocoplum for taking care of my kids during summer camp. I wanted my kids to have a taste of what Cocoplum is like, as I have the past 2 summers at Sunflower. Now my kids are too old for Sunflower, so we moved over the Cocoplum. Signing up was easy online, with great and clear communication. For safety reasons, I will only send my kids to summer camps where the staff is comprised of adults who are vetted through a school system, and where my kids are cared for in a secure space (not going on trips to various places). My kids were happy every single day, and so tired out from activities that they reverted back to napping daily! They learned to sew, came home with plants, and in general were inspired and engaged, as well as safe. **Just want to note that Cocoplum's prices are completely in line with the costs of other private schools locally. read more

My son loves this school! He's happy to go every day and I'm so glad that we found a place for him to thrive that isn't a standard school where he is judged by his grades and forced to learn along with peers in such a structured and boxed in atmosphere. At this school, he is learning at his own pace and enjoying the process. The teachers and faculty have been wonderful. Being immersed in nature and learning through hands on experiences like field trips multiple times a month to places like art galleries, museums & nature trails.. this is a perfect fit for us! read more

I couldn't be more satisfied. Over the past year at Cocoplum, I've witnessed positive changes in my child. He has become more confident, centered, and self-driven. The school's philosophy seems to play a crucial role in fostering these skills. The teachers and staff are attentive, patient, and create a child-centric environment. This allows the kids the freedom to explore new and intriguing ideas. The children also benefit from mixed ages grouping (not all the time) where they have the opportunity to learn from one another. It's truly refreshing to see my son return home enthusiastic about his day and eagerly anticipating the next. Academically, I couldn't be more pleased. I like that the education is geared toward the individual and based on competency. The classroom sizes are small and intimate. I find myself wishing I had a similar experience growing up, and I feel fortunate that my son and soon his two younger siblings will benefit from this exceptional educational philosophy. 100% recommend! read more

We love cocoplum! After much searching and thoughtfulness, we chose Cocoplum. we are more than happy with our choice.

My son and daughter attend Cocoplum Nature School and it is absolutely magical! They spend 4-5 hours each day outside, they're learning through hands-on, inquiry-based approaches, and they take short field trips 1-2 times per week. The children engage in daily mindfulness, empowering learning invitations, and an exceptional social-emotional support. With a Ph.D. in K-12 Curriculum and Instruction and a 15-year career in the education arena, I am absolutely certain that Cocoplum Nature School is a model for what elementary schools should look like! read more