My daughter just completed her first year of school in the Great Beginnings Toddler program and we…read morecan not wait for September! She actually asked me to go to school again today- What a loving environment to learn in. I was so nervous with her first school and I'm so happy we chose Great Beginnings Montessori! From the learning style to her overall manners and all that she has accomplished this past year, we are in awe. The teachers and sense of community the school offers far surpasses others. Proud to be part of GBMS

To put it simply: this is a truly special place. My 3 year old twins started in the infant class,…read morethen went to Toddler, and began Primary (pre-school) in September 2019. Honestly, as a new mom, I had no idea what kind of expectation I could or should have for early education. The Montessori School shocked me with what I could expect of an "out-of-home" environment - it truly raises the bar. The investment every teacher puts into each child is amazing, the setting is so peaceful, and my kids are thrilled to go to school and do their "work" every day. The teachers are also highly educated (degrees in education and special certification in Montessori). There are 2 Toddler classes with about 10-13 students and 3 primary classes with about 15-25 students. There are also Lower and Upper Elementary levels which go through 6th grade. Each class has a Head Instructor and an Assistant. I saw a review critiquing diversity which was confusing to me because there is a high degree of diversity in both the staff and student body. I'd encourage every parent to visit and observe a classroom - it's incredible to see such young children being so independent, and the teachers and environment are purpose-built to encourage self-sufficiency and to engage young minds.

Getting a child into a Montessori program requires enormous trust, and it is much easier when your…read morekid is a toddler or a preschooler. By the time elementary school rolls around, people start to have doubts. No grades? No tests? 3-year cycle? Kids get to choose what to work on? How do I know if my child is doing better here than in other schools? We came from another Montessori program into 2nd year of Lower Elementary at TMS. What unfolded in front of us over the years was nothing short of amazing: strong supportive parent community, classrooms that inspire creativity, experienced dedicated teachers; rich, often above grade level curriculum; projects/events that made us wish we went to Montessori school ourselves. Digging deeper, we found that behind warm, nurturing and seemingly fluid classroom experience there is a rigorous system that ensures each student excels. When someone who left the school half way through the cycle tells you that the program didn't deliver, take it with a grain of salt - they didn't want to wait for the pieces of the puzzle to come together. Those who saw it happen become its staunch supporters. A note on diversity: international teaching staff and families across the world (you may hear as many as four different languages spoken in the parent room at the same time) make this school special. No diversity stats will show you that.

We have now been at RMS going on 2 years with a second child entering next year and we are so happy…read moreand grateful to have found it. We looked into every Montessori w/in a 25 mile radius (Wilton, Ridgefield, Danbury, Newtown, Washington) and the Toddler/Primary programs here are second to none. The school is not too big, so you feel you're part of a family. There is something so special here and you feel it as a parent the moment you walk in, but your child experiences it, too. We saw this during observations and we're experiencing it now as parents. It's important to know several things about Montessori schools. 1. Not all are created equal and each is independently owned/run. This means some adhere more or less to Montessori values/principles. RMS is a beautiful balance, adhering to the principles while making room for modern needs and allowing each child to grow but also, to be. 2. As in any school setting, the teachers make or break it. The Teachers in every room/program here are beyond plugged in, nurturing, warm and caring. AND, they work very collaboratively while still minding their individual programs. This means a holistic approach for your child as they grow through the years. My daughter embraces each of them and speaks so highly of them outside of school. She looks up to them but doesn't view them as simply 'adults' or teachers. These are her guides and she is so thankful for her relationships with each one of them. I did see a review from several years ago mentioning 25 students to a class/teacher. Not only is that not the Montessori method, but it has never been the ratio at this school (nor do I believe it's allowed by the state in these settings, but I could be wrong). For interested parents: In each Toddler room (2), you're looking at about 10-12 kids with 2-3 teachers/class (depending on enrollment each year) so usually a 1:4ish ratio and the Primary room (used to be 2, is now 1 large room broken up into 2 sections to follow core Montessori method) you're looking at about 30-36 kids total with 4 Teachers and the class is somewhat split into 3s/4s Section and then 5s Section w/2 teachers focused on each at any time. You're still at a 1:8 ratio roughly, so not sure where the 1:25 ratio came from. In any case, we're active and present and have seen this school from all angles and truly, couldn't be happier. The physical space itself is also beautiful, pristine and built for kids (bathrooms in the Toddler room, bathrooms right outside the Primary class). The biggest issue we're facing is what comes after RMS as we've yet to find anything in the area that is suited to follow. We hope others will take the time to come see for themselves what makes this school, the teachers, the program and the students so [truly] magical. These years should be spent exploring through play, not rigid curriculum, and RMS has made good on that every step of the way while still exposing these littles to the world around them in a way that engages them and lays a foundation for a true love of learning. Thanks you, RMS

I was recommended Ridgefield Montessori School by a friend when my son was just a baby. I am so…read morehappy she did! My son went to the school from when he was 1 years old when they used to have an infant room all the way until Kindergarten. My son is now in public school and misses RMS very much. It was like a family to him and the relationships he made there were wonderful. We loved how independent and creative he became all due to the Montessori way of teaching. He is currently thriving now in public school because of the foundation he was taught. They also have very flexible hours for working parents which was very useful. He loved the after school activities like cooking and science. He would beg to stay late. The staff and teachers are the best! You won't regret your decision to send your children here!

We moved here from a big city and a large, established Montessori school. When we were thinking…read moreabout moving to Poughkeepsie, finding an accredited Montessori school was at the top of our list. We were so relieved to find that Maria Montessori's mission is carried out here at Hawk Meadow. Our children transitioned seamlessly into the classrooms, as they are truly Montessori environments. The teachers, administration and staff are intelligent, caring and passionate about Montessori style learning. The small class sizes offer plenty of individualized lessons and encourage a strong relationship among students and teachers, and our children are thriving. The wooded campus is a great place for children of all ages to learn and grow. We are so glad we found a home at Hawk Meadow!

Best decision we ever made. We were so unsure of which Kindergarten to send our son. We live in…read morethe Arlington School District and were not happy with the public school we were zoned for and I was not keen on going the Parochial route. Our son is full of energy and incredibly inquisitive. His preschool misunderstood him. He would come home saying that he was "bad" and that he always made wrong decisions. He was 4 at the time. My father mentioned Montessori and I am forever grateful to him. This school is all about the children. . It is clear as day. Nothing but excitement when he comes home. I was so impressed with the parent teacher night that I immediately enrolled my three year old as well. The teachers love them and my children love their teachers. Erin and Barbara the heads of the school know what they are doing.

I've been taking Spanish classes with Karen for about 5 months now and she is an absolute pleasure…read moreto work with. She tailors classes to fit and focus on my level and she makes the whole experience useful by encouraging us me to learn by speaking and correcting errors along the way. She's very kind and an excellent instructor! 10/10 Highly recommend!

In search of a customized approach to learning Italian I discovered The Language School in…read moreRidgefield CT. My experience has been beyond perfect ! The Director listened to my needs and matched me up perfectly with a native speaking Italian teacher . She was able to determine the perfect pace to help me get off to a great start learning Italian. Who would have thought I would have found this quality of instruction right here in town . If you want to get a great start to learning a new language or improving on a language you are already somewhat acquainted with The Language School is most likely the place to come !

My son went to Montessori Minds a few years back and it was a FANTASTIC experience for our whole…read morefamily. The school itself is clean and bright with plenty of room for the children to explore, learn, and play. Jackie Krumm and her caring, attentive staff take every opportunity to make the learning environment stimulating, fun, and creative and are always thinking up new ways to keep the kids interested and engaged. Our son loved the school and the staff so much that there were times that he wouldn't want to leave when we came to pick him up because he was having too much fun! Bottom line, if you're looking for a preschool for your child where they can learn and grow in a safe and loving environment, Montessori Minds Preschool is the place for you!

I had 2 kids in MCR, and both loved the school. Picking them up at the end of the day, I would hear…read morestories about all the exciting things they did: what they learned, what books they read, what song they practiced, what games they played outside with their friends, what art project they worked on after school and so forth. Our experienced teachers really knew kids' personalities, their likes an dislikes. They kept close track of their progress in each aspect of Montessori curriculum and customized learning for them when needed. The school is a very safe and nurturing place with talented staff (after-school program is one of the best I've seen) and rich traditions. By the way, their celebrations are simply amazing! They remain among our most precious memories from that time.

My son started going to Montessori Children's Room (MCR) at 19 months and we loved this school, and…read morehe seemed to as well. When he was about to turn three this past September, he moved into the 3, 4 and 5 year old class. That is when they noticed he had a hard time sitting still and focusing. He was about to age out of EI (Early Intervention) and start CPSE (Committee on Preschool Education), which would mean the therapists that were approved (Speech, SEIT and OT) could work with him in his classroom environment. However, MCR does NOT allow ANY therapists in this school to work with children who have been approved to receive it. So, we were left with no other choice, and had to scramble to find a new school in the middle of October of 2018. Not an easy task considering that most were already full by that point. Luckily we found a school that my son adores. It is a play based, loving and nurturing environment, that is so in tune with nature and outdoor play. I guess everything happens for a reason, and we were very fortunate to end up where we are now. MCR does wonderful things with the students, my son learned a lot in his time there. Their holiday show and graduation are amazing as well, along with their camp. That said, Montessori is not for every child, especially a child that requires therapy of any sort. What bothered me about our experience is how they didn't give me any feedback of his behavior in the baby class (NK) prior to moving up. We did have parent teacher conferences twice in the school year, but they never spoke about how he was disruptive, couldn't focus or sit still. Had I known this was going to be an issue, we could have looked for other schools before he started in the toddler class. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth, as we felt forced out of there in a way. In closing, I debated on whether or not to write a review about my experience with this school. However, I recently learned the same thing is happening with another child there, so I wanted to give other parents a heads up before you consider going to this school.

After many happy years at our previous school, many changes were made that put our daughter (and…read moreus) in an extremely difficult position - constant bullying, overcrowded classrooms, lack of admin support - so I'd been looking for a better option. We knew some staff who had left when things started to go south a few years earlier. So when we learned they were now at FWM, we made an appointment to visit. Long story short, within a few weeks we had transferred our daughter to Fraser Woods and are relieved to share that she is not only happy and healthy, she's thriving again! I'm not exaggerating when I say this school and the community that's in place here may have saved her life. Everyone she's connected with to-date - from the Head of School to other admins and staff, teachers, assistants, families and her schoolmates - has been unwaveringly supportive and helpful. To a person, they have been consistently honest, straightforward, kind, and have helped to guide our daughter out of a very serious episode of depression and anxiety. It's been years since she's been excited to go to school, but FWM made it happen again (as a middle schooler! I didn't think that was possible!). She's made some great friends from lovely families, and is excelling in sports and academics again. We are incredibly grateful to have been accepted so quickly and completely by this community, and to see our daughter rediscover the confident, happy kid she'd been before. While we haven't been at the school long, it's clear this is a great fit for her, and for our family. We cannot recommend Fraser Woods enough! Don't take my word for it though, go see for yourself and you'll understand why I feel this way.

As a parent, I believe communication and consistency are key, especially in a Montessori…read moreenvironment. Unfortunately, my experience at this school has been disappointing. The staff are quick to report minor issues such as a 3-year-old not lining up, refusing to nap, or not taking turns -- all of which are completely age-appropriate behaviors for toddlers who are still learning. However, when more serious incidents happen -- like my child being excluded from outdoor play, not eating in his classroom with friends but instead being taken to eat alone in the support student office, or being pushed or bitten by another child -- I was not informed unless I specifically asked. In one case, my son came home with a bite mark on his finger that left a visible trace, and no one mentioned it until I brought it up. These are things that deeply affect a child emotionally and physically, and parents deserve to be informed right away. What's even more concerning is that staff were using fear-based tactics with my son. He told me that when he didn't "listen," they would threaten to take him to a lady whose name starts with "G," someone who works in the student support office. He described her as "not nice," and he would get scared every time they took him to her office. No child should feel fear in a place that is supposed to be nurturing and safe. One day, my son also told me that an assistant shook his arm while she was holding his hand, just because he wanted to keep playing on the slide when it was time to line up. That's not the kind of gentle and respectful interaction I would expect from trained caregivers (That I didn't think they're all Montessori trained), especially in a Montessori setting. Young children deserve to be treated with patience and care, not handled roughly. To make matters worse, there's a constant rotation of assistants. Toddlers need consistency to feel secure and develop healthy relationships, but they were being asked to adjust to new caregivers every few weeks, which only added to their confusion and stress. I do not recommend this school at all. There are so many other details that I cannot share, as they were shared with me by staff members working there. But based on my experience, I cannot say that it is a safe or supportive environment for young children.

I have been fortunate to have my three daughters at the school for several years. I am very happy…read morewith their progress, the teachers, the facilities and the staff. I can see the positive effect the Montessori education is having on them and how much more advanced they are compared to students at other schools.

From the owner: The Children's Tree Montessori School was founded in 1995 to provide children and their parents an…read morealternative to public school education. We offer a nurturing, child-centered environment where children can develop independence, respect-for themselves, others and the world we live in, and a lifelong love of learning. The Children's Tree is the only Nationally Montessori Accredited school on the Connecticut Shoreline with toddler (1-3) primary (preschool & kindergarten ages 3-6) and elementary (grade 1-6) programs. Students come from all over - Old Saybrook, Clinton, Westbrook, Chester, Old Lyme, East Lyme, Branford, Essex, Waterford, and Middletown, to name a few. We are proud to offer every student an individualized educational plan, which is based on their interests and needs.Students at the Children's Tree benefit from small classes, which are guided by teachers and aides who are Montessori certified. Our school is more than just a building and teachers though--it is a community made up of all the different families who believe in a better form of educating our children. We will be holding an Open Houses on Saturday February 8th and March 7th from 9:00-12:00.