This school has educated a couple of generations of Salemites now. It's run by a wonderful family…read morefrom Sri Lanka. Head teacher Shanti, her husband and one of their sons, along with another teacher who was a former parent at the school herself. The kids truly learn.....academics, nature, compassion, character...... It's a wonderful option to have your kids be able to stay enrolled during their "kindergarten" year so as to have a true "full day" kindergarten rather than the typical half-day. Our son has thrived there the past two years and never complains of being "bored" as he used to do. He's learned to read and write and count and more. Once a week they have Japanese culture and language lessons and they grow to love their Japanese teacher. Several times a year they put on programs where all the students sing and dance, learning various cultures, languages, and styles along the way. The interaction of this school and our own efforts have been completely in sync and we will be sad to leave them but are truly grateful for the solid foundation they have helped give our child.

I absolutely love this school. I went here as a child in the 80's and the same family is still…read morerunning it. They have two wonderful teachers and other teacher's aides that help run this amazing Montessori school. They focus on letting the child explore their interests and encourage them in their learning. Your child can start here as early as 2.5 years old if they are 90% potty trained (very few accidents. The cost of this school is less than some other Montessori schools around and the quality of learning and teaching is awesome. My daughter has absorbed so much in the few months she has been there. They offer half day or full day preschool and kindergarten, plus before and after care at a very minimal fee! They do field trips twice a year, and do a craft and show and tell on Fridays. I can't begin to truly express how great this place is!

I am the grandmother of a two-year-old who has been attending Montessori Cares for nearly a year…read more While we are able to provide her full-time care ourselves, we've seen that the environment here is far more beneficial to her overall development. Socially and academically, the growth has been remarkable--especially in her speech, confidence, and ability to express herself. She is learning valuable practical skills, from simple independence at the table to problem-solving with puzzles. She loves reading, responds beautifully to her teachers, and is thriving in a child-centered, self-paced environment. We don't simply see progress--we see confidence, independence, and joy. The Montessori approach, focused on independence and hands-on learning, has truly been a gift to her development. After 27 years at an elementary school, I can say with complete confidence: children thrive when they are allowed to learn at their own pace and according to their individual interests. This is the difference between a child who keeps up--and a child who truly excels...where learning is not just beneficial, it's TRANSFORMATIONAL! We feel a deep sense of peace knowing she is being so well prepared for the future. The "first five" years are critical, and this school is providing an exceptional foundation. Mrs. Khan is extraordinary--attentive, intuitive, and deeply invested in each child. After our granddaughter returned from a hospital stay, she noticed subtle weight loss that others might have missed. That level of care speaks volumes. She truly KNOWS and loves her students. Montessori Cares has exceeded our expectations in every way, and we are deeply grateful for the care, intention, and excellence they provide each and every day.

At the start of the covid-19 lockdowns, my husband and I were impressed with how quickly online…read moreclasses were structured at Montessori Cares. It was a seamless transition as Mrs. Khan was one of the first to start curriculum on Zoom. To be honest it seemed as if she had this as a back-up plan all along. As changes occurred she was in constant communication through email or phone call. I never felt as if we were out of the loop or abandoned, in fact I could hardly keep up. Mrs. Khan was thorough in addressing any of our needs. She offered us all some type of relief; special arrangements for the essential-working parents in need of childcare, also financial adjustments to accommodate the changes and any job loss. Virtual circle time, math and language classes yielded show-and-tells along with homework. The children engaged with their teachers and classmates during extracurriculars such as Music, yoga/meditation, and storytime. We all did our part making this new normal work out for our children. The effort put forth from Mrs. Khan and her team is to be praised. I am very grateful for this school and its wonderful teachers. Thank you for all you do and for the loving patience you have with our kids.

This place is a not a true Montessori school. Teachers are poorly trained if at all, children are…read moredisrespectful and out of control. Overpriced daycare maybe but not a school.

I can't recommend this school enough. My daughter started at MDC when she was 3.5 (she's 5 now) and…read moreit has been a wonderful place for her. She's always been very quiet and reserved with people so starting school was a hard transition for her but I'm grateful we had MDC. Every step of the way her teachers were nurturing and encouraging, creating an environment where she has thrived. Socially she is still reserved but she has grown immensely. She talks in front of her whole class on sharing days! This from a kid who literally wouldn't speak anyone for the first 6 months. Our family members always comment on how far she's come and how confident she is. If she hadn't been in an environment where she felt safe and allowed to explore things at her own pace I don't think we would have had the level of success we have had with her social issues. Her teachers are extraordinary and she adores them. I have experience with another popular preschool in town and the level of compassion and care from the teachers here at MDC is far above. Academically she's on point, if not ahead. She has a late birthday so, as of now, she's not in kindergarten yet but academically she is at the same level as her friends in Kindergarten at a S/K school out south. At MDC she began reading when she was 4 and now, at 5, she is reading compound words and even some long vowels! She knows all letter sounds, several blends, recognizes sight/cvc words, creates her own story books, writes numbers, counts to 100... but beyond that she's loving learning about other cultures, the world, and art. I'm always impressed by the work she comes home with and things she tells me that she has learned at school. I know she didn't learn that from mom & dad! We plan to continue her education here as long as we can.

This school is such a loving and nurturing place for the youngest learners and we feel very…read morefortunate that our children have the opportunity to come here. Their independence and confidence has come along in leaps and bounds. Heather is a highly experienced teacher. It's clear she loves teaching and is gifted at it. She cares deeply about her students in a way only someone who has a calling to teaching could. As parents, we appreciate all the tidbits of knowledge she shares with us that have helped us overcome some of our parenting challenges at home. We are happier parents and have happier children. She also brings her musical talent to school (she is a professional jazz singer) and it's been wonderful to watch our children's love of music blossom as they sing the songs they've learned at school. We would highly recommend this school to other families in the area who are looking for a Montessori school.

My wife and I consider ourselves very lucky to have come across Happy Children's Montessori. Its…read morebeen a blessing to not only have our children attend but has given us, as parents, a valuable experience in being a part of high-performing and demanding school. I came across their location and website with a Google Map search looking for Preschools. The preschool itself makes use of a few rooms of Hillsboro Presbyterian Church. Though its not directly affiliated with the church, the school does share Christian values, by having themes during each month (ex: Respecting others, Self-control, Honesty, Patience, and Kindness). As the title of the school implies, it implements a program based on the work of Maria Montessori. The school also make use of methods based on the book Love & Logic when dealing with issues or areas of conflicts with kids. The kids typically get a lesson on an item of their choosing or something they're encouraged to work on. From there the child works on demonstrating proficiency and is on to their next piece of work. The emphasis is definitely on the child's "work". The kids start a project and can return to it each and everyday until they get it done. They learn how to respect one another, each others' space/work areas, ask for assistance when needed, and how to politely move around. Its not only about work and learning, there's time for play, outdoors in a safe play area, or a large indoor playroom for running around and burning off extra energy. They plant flowers in a garden, have a field day near the end of the year, and hold 2 concerts, 1 before Christmas break and 1 before the end of the school year. They have 1 field trip a year, when they visit a local pumpkin farm or an apple orchard during the fall. We couldn't ask for a more well-rounded preschool and more loving teachers. Heather and Kaycee really are angels to our kids. Guiding them, celebrating their achievements, and making them feel warm and welcome at all times. I will forever be thankful for having come across this school, making the choice to apply/register, and having the opportunity to get our children enrolled. God bless you, and thank you for reading our review.

Would not recommend this school to anyone. And strongly urge anyone considering this school to do…read moreyour research first as they do not follow the standard Montessori teaching practice at all. Staff are not licensed educators, and instead only certified which they received from a quick online course. Classrooms are chaotic, lack structure and guidance and lack any form of teaching. On numerous occasions when picking up my child, I found them wet, cold and being neglected leading to pneumonia. When contacting the school to discuss concerns I encountered directors and staff that were dismissive, would down play my concerns and who were defensive. My experience was both disheartening, and unsettling. Following investigation into this facility I learned that they are NOT a registered school as lead to believe but instead is licensed under a child card day care facility which in my experience is very much how they operate.

Little Friends Montessori has been such a gift to our family. We have been attending for four…read moreyears. I have a child with special need and from the very first day, the staff made us feel completely welcomed, supported, and seen. You can tell they truly care about every child who walks through the door--not just as students, but as little people with their own personalities, strengths, and needs. The teachers are incredibly patient, nurturing, and intentional. They meet kids exactly where they are and help them grow confidently at their own pace. My child comes home excited, proud, and full of stories about what they learned or explored that day--everything from practical life skills to creative projects and hands-on activities. What I appreciate most is the genuine warmth of the community. It feels like an extension of home. They communicate clearly, celebrate milestones big and small, and create an environment where kids feel safe, loved, and encouraged. If you're looking for a place where your child will be understood, supported, and inspired every single day, I can't recommend Little Friends Montessori enough. They've truly made a difference in our lives.

For the 2013 - 2014 school year, Village Montessori provided school day and after care Monday…read morethrough Thursday for my 2 children, 3 years and 5 years Doris provides a safe, loving, learning community in her mixed age Montessori classroom. During the main school day, there are 2 teachers and 16 children, fantastic ratio for children of this age. She has established process and discipline with the children, but does so in such a loving and consistent way. For instance, children are expected to clean up (and once properly instructed) held to a high standard to complete the task. When my children put their minds to something, there is very little they can't do. I've had to learn this just as much as my children. I love the songs my children come home singing. The map of Europe my daughter punched out from construction paper and assembled correctly blew me away. When you visit, notice how calm and focused 16 3 to 5 year olds can be when given this consistent direction, proper instruction and calm, effective redirection. When staying for the full day, older children who have aged out of nap time get additional instruction in "challenging work", which includes language, math and social studies. Sleeping arrangement for younger children is in a separated room on sleeping mats and is kept quiet. Wow, check out the outdoor space! It's an unexpected oasis, and lots of time is spent out there in the nice weather. Doris keeps in touch with a blog and emails after hours when there is something I need to know about my children, either good or bad. It's kinda nice to hear the good parts. The facility is a single family home near Lake Grove used exclusively for the school. It's clean and well maintained and set up for kids to thrive. The school is off for the month of August and all Lake Oswego SD holidays. As both parents in our family work full time, we had to scramble, but for the 2 Augusts for which we have participated, the change in schedule has ended up being a welcome change of pace. Price per quality is wonderful when compared to other Montessori options in the Lake Oswego area. Strong Recommend.

From the owner: Primary Montessori Classroom age 2.5 through 6. Small class size, maximum 16 students with one…read moreteacher and assistant during class time. Home like environment with Montessori trained teacher able to implement knowledge and materials used in traditional Montessori classroom. We follow the child and keep an open dialog with parents as to the child's needs and progress. We allow children to join us that are "not yet fully" potty trained, but should be in appropriate clothing and are willing to try to use the toilet. We have before and aftercare available and have a sibling discount to extend to our parents. Conferences are held twice a year and we have a parent ed night scheduled once a year. Monthly newsletters are available via our blog as well as other pertinent info reg. school procedures. German as a second language is offered and implimented in daily activities. All staff is state certified and maintain the 15 hr. required continuing education in early childhood development.

This place is great. Our daughter went here for years. Even after moving on to public school she…read morekeeps in contact with her preschool friends and teachers.

It is just an awesome place to take your kids. Drive up the lane and you know you have found it…read more Wide open spaces - the goat greets me and then I am met by gracious people that seem like family. My kids beg me to go on weekends! Plus they learn their letters, songs, Spanish and numbers. My oldest is doing addition and subtraction. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Here's the info I wish I had when choosing a preschool…read more While I was dazzled at our tour with some lesson plans that incorporate learning about different cultures, the plans were overshadowed by antiquated teaching and classroom management methods--at best--and shocking lack of developmentally approapropriate strategies, at worst. As an educator, I can tell you with certainty that to call this preschool "montessori" is beyond misleading. The teachers are not montessori teachers. There is some opportunity for choice upon arrival, but that's about it. Not a dealbreaker for me, personally, but something to note. My 3, almost 4 year old, spent a lot of time doing worksheets on his own. We moved to a different preschool after a month and the differences were stark. Little Stars offered no intentional support for student social development. The kids didn't even introduce themselves by name in the first weeks, let alone receive guidane on how to initiate play with others. After 3 weeks at Little Stars, our son knew the name of only ONE student--and it's because that student got in trouble a lot (more on that in a minute). After his very first day at a new school, he was excited to talk about the FIVE students he played with, by name, and relay the ways the teachers taught the kids about community and friendship. At Little Stars, our son continued to come home without much to say. He knew we were excited about starting school. He didn't want to disappoint us. His teachers always commented that she wished the other kids were more like our kid...but whatever messages he was getting, were not positive ones... After a few weeks, he started to talk about the "bad kids"--despite the fact that we've distinguished bad kids from bad choices since the day he was born. I asked why he thought they were bad and he said it is because the teachers write their name on the board and then put lots of frowny faces next to them. (Is this 1975?!?!) I called Little Stars to ask for more context so I could navigate the nightly conversations. I certainly didn't feel better when they assured me they were only publicly shaming 3 of the preschoolers in the class. Apparently, this was a communication plan with families to manage behaviors...Any professional who works with this age group should understand that these methods are proven to be ineffective and even do more harm than good. His teacher was generally sour most days and there is a handful of other disappointments that will only make this longer. In summary, Little Stars is absolutely NOT a place we could keep our child since the goal was a warm environment to develop curiosity, community and love of learning. We've been delighted by two other preschools for my son and daughter where every day is full of learning, but also joy, community, curiosity, physicaly play, nurturing educators, social-emotional development, and nature. You've got to wonder how a place with a decade in business has so few reviews. Wish I had given more weight to that.

What a great place with awesome teachers. My kid started school here about 2 months ago and here's…read morethe things she (just) started doing here just from their encouragement and teaching: add and subtract, write 3 and 4 and sometimes 5 letter words, start reading, Bollywood dance, do regular yoga, and play soccer. (Might I brag here: she's only 4 years old!) Enrichment galore, with very encouraging teachers.

Our two children (ages 3 and 5) have been attending since fall 2019. The staff is so kind and…read moreprovides a warm and supportive educational environment. Since re-opening in May they have remained vigilant in their protocols to prevent the spread of viral illness. At this time the children are not required to wear masks but staff members wear masks as required by current guidelines. The classes are small; the classroom is clean and beautiful and provides a variety of fun and engaging activities. The Montessori method allows for exploratory learning and social growth for children of varied abilities and skill levels. Our kids really enjoy going to Tippytoes Montessori and we are enjoying watching them learn and grow under their guidance.