My daughter started at Twin Oak Montessori School when she was 3 years and 10 months old and has now graduated at 5 years old. Our family moved to the US from another country, and her English level was very basic. I was worried about her adaptation without knowing the language. I'm so happy that I found Twin Oak because, over this period, she has quickly become fluent in English, made many friends, and looks forward to coming to school every day. The wonderful people from the school helped my daughter adapt to a new culture so easily. All the teachers, especially Miss Chuti and Miss Alina, have been incredibly kind and friendly to Nika. They really love children, and this is incredibly valuable to me. My heart always swells with happiness when I see my daughter smiling and happy after school. I love the educational program, which includes many topics such as science, math, new vocabulary, creative projects, and physical exercises like bicycling, splash days, and dance. Additionally, I appreciate how they support parents and lift my mood every morning when I drop off my kids. I'm so grateful to the Team! Sofia, mom of Nika read more

Twin Oaks Montessori School - Dragonfly Dance at Graduation - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Austin, Texas

I love the Twin Oaks Montessori experience for my child. She joined at 18 months and just turned 3. She loves going to Twin Oaks every day, loves her teachers, and loves her friends. They may be more traditional (no screens, no digital communication), but I actually enjoy that. I don't need photos of her everyday. I can tell she's learning and engaged by the things she tells and shows us at home and how happy she is to see her teachers and friends each day at drop-off. I appreciate that the teachers are spending their time with my child actually teaching and guiding. My daughter knows her numbers, colors, shapes - even a song that names all the planets. She gets exposed to foreign languages (Spanish, French, Japanese, ASL), music, yoga, other cultures and countries, and so much more. There are some older reviews that mention coloring sheets, but we haven't experienced that. One of the teachers who has been there for roughly 2 years is an artist herself and helps the children with a guided (every child makes their version of the same image) or self-expressive (every child creates what they would like) each week. We even have some framed up in our child's room. I highly recommend Twin Oaks. read more

Proud to be a Twin Oaks family! We moved to Austin from out-of-state this past June and Ms. Alina and Ms. Jaira could not have made our son's transition to Twin Oaks smoother. Not only did they hold a space for him to start, but they called me every day during the first week to check in and ease me through his transition. Now our son walks right in every morning - so confident and excited to start his day. When we pick him up, he comes out with crafts, new words, new songs and new skills. He's genuinely thriving and so clearly loves the Montessori approach as well as his enthusiastic guides. I have to mention my favorite part though... Every morning, Ms. Jaira gives our boy the biggest of hugs and is genuinely so excited to see him and all of the other littles in his class. I've visited several daycares over the years and this kind of love and genuine joy in teachers is hard to come by. We know we have something special with Twin Oaks and encourage any family who is interested to check them out. Thank you Twin Oaks - we love you! read more

Over the past several years that our daughter has attended Twin Oaks (18 mo. - 5 years), we have been so impressed by the love, energy, and creativity the teachers bring in caring for the children. She has learned so much, from the functional to the academic. She regularly comes home to unveil new skills like writing letters, cutting fruit with a knife, and reciting songs about the planets and continents. The teachers have also worked with her to develop positive character traits like autonomy, patience, and self-control. Ms. Alina, who joined relatively recently as the new director, has elevated the school even further. She has introduced delightfully inventive art projects, a weekly "wheels day" in which the children bring their bikes or scooters to school, and other educational, fun activities. The grounds (and particularly playground) may look like they haven't been renovated since the school's opening in the 1980s, but beneath the shade of old-growth pecan trees, the quaint, low-fi vibe provides a wonderful environment for children to flourish in. read more

We were looking forward to sending our two kids, ages 4 and 1.5, to Twin Oaks after a recommendation from a friend who sent their children there about 10 years ago. However, we were very disappointed in our experience and left after several months. The largest issue was communication between teachers/administration and parents -- there was very little communication about what the kids were doing every day, how our individual children were faring, and any issues or changes that were happening at the school. When we asked for more information and parent-teacher communication, we were met with no changes to their status quo. In addition, the daily activities were not stimulating or varied enough for our older child. The only art-making available to kids on a daily basis was in the form of coloring sheets and crayons, where the teachers told the kids what color to use for what image. Again, when we communicated that we'd like to see more room for creativity, we did not see any changes occurring. We were also told that there would be a music element to the curriculum which was not there. read more

Proud to be a part of the Twin Oaks family! My daughter , who is now 3.5yr old has been attending Twin Oaks since she was 18mo old and she loves it. We started sending her there right in the middle of the pandemic and like many others worried about Covid all the time. However the teachers at the school were diligent about cleanliness which helped immensely. We have met some fun parents & kids and love hanging out with the TO fam at birthdays. She comes home a happy kid who has had a wonderful day at school. All the new things she learns, the teachers, her friends and all the creative projects - it's wonderful to see her becoming her own person. Her teachers love her immensely and are very patient with her. It's also very convenient that the school offer Soccer and dance classes on site! She loves them!! read more

It was the best decision we made by listening to our child . Our son joined school when he was 22 months old. He used to be a mommy's kid only and never socialized with anyone . I took him to several schools , and he liked this one. He is almost 2 months under 3 and he loves his school . He waits for me to drop him everyday . The teachers are very friendly and his teacher Ms Kiyomi is best for him. She understands how every child is unique and follow the Montessori way . I do not need the pictures everyday , all I want his happiness and smiles we got that . I recommend this school to anyone who wants to go to a traditional Montessori school like how we did when we were kids . Ms Alina , Ms Yaeira and the support staff everyone is great . read more

Our toddler has been going to Twin Oaks for several months now and we are very impressed by the staff! His teach Miss Jaira is an absolute delight and our son is excited for school every day, so much that he walks right in the door without saying goodbye! We love that he has a teacher/guide who knows and connects with him so that he can feel welcome, comfortable, and learn. He is proud to show us his artwork and especially loves splash pad days. It feels like a small, local, family community and we are very grateful to have this Montessori school in the neighborhood :) read more

The Twin Oaks Montessori family will be missed! My son started around two years old (ages 2-5) and loved going to school, his teachers, and friends. He has also grown immensely in terms of independence, curiosity, and love for learning (being more than prepared for Kindergarten), all thanks to the nurturing environment and dedicated staff at Twin Oaks. read more

My daughter has been at Twin Oaks for the past three years (ages 2-5), and we love this school. The best part about Twin Oaks is the caring, positive teachers. We've been especially happy since Ms. Alina took over as the director, as she has done a lot to develop the programming and cultivate a very happy atmosphere. My daughter has made very close friends and has learned so much in her three years. She is always excited to go to school, and I have the peace of mind that she is in good, caring hands; for that I am so grateful. read more

My daughter was at Twin Oaks for a year and while we always found it to be a loving and safe environment, ultimately we switched schools for a couple of reasons. The art projects the students do are very limited in creativity. The majority of the work is done by the teachers with a small amount of input from the kids. Mostly they color on print-outs with crayons. We brought the lack of creativity up with the teachers, but didn't see any change. We also found it difficult to communicate with the director. A few months ago we realized the school does not recycle (which in and of itself is not aligned with our values) so we took their recyclables home for 3 months while emailing the director several times about how to set up their own recycling service. Unfortunately we never heard back from her at all and they still do not recycle. The teachers here are truly lovely people, but ultimately we need a school that responds to our feedback. read more

Twin Oaks is a wonderful, wonderful school. I can't recommend it enough. Our daughter has been there over two years after trying another daycare/pre-k and the experience is night and day. The teachers simply LOVE the students and give them very individualized attention. My daughter has a very special attachment to the school and her teachers. We've seen her progress so much. The facilities are a little older, but don't let that put you off. The experience is like nothing else. read more

When we moved into our house, I was 3-months pregnant with our first child. We noticed a Montessori school at the end of our street and halfway-joked "Wouldn't that be funny if this school worked out for our children?" Flash-forward to 5 years later... our daughter has been attending Twin Oaks Montessori for 4+ years and our son has been there for 2.5+ years. We have been so happy with the school and could not recommend it more. It's a true gem in our community! The school has been open for 35+ years. In fact, one of my colleagues with college-aged children sent their kids to TOM 20+ years ago and had nothing but positive things to say about the school even back then. Before my daughter was old enough to attend TOM, she attended a daycare nearby. I was always so disturbed by how loud it was, how dirty the kids were and how I felt like my child was just associated with a "checkmark" or a task. When we toured TOM, I noticed how the children were so well behaved and how the atmosphere was so serene. Within days after she started at TOM, our active, independent and curious girl had adjusted so well. She found her perfect environment to thrive in and she has been on a forward trajectory ever since. Our son is 18 months younger than our daughter. They both started at TOM between 15-18 months of age. While our son and daughter, like most siblings, are both very different in many aspects, TOM has appropriately guided each one of them and tended to those differences as far as their learning and development. Both of our children have done so well with the early, foundational childhood skills TOM has helped them develop, and they both have a great base for their future education. We couldn't be happier with how well-rounded their education has been. Environment: Three classrooms: Star (toddler), Rainbow (2-3 year old) and Sunshine (pre-K/K). Ages of the children range from 18m - 6y. Each class has a certified Montessori guide and an assistant (i.e. two teachers per class). Very low turnover of teachers. Staff is multicultural. Two playgrounds outside (one for the Star class and one for the Rainbow/Sunshine class). Curriculum: Traditional Montessori "works" and individual early learning activities (including but not limited to coloring, puzzles, blocks, traditional toys, worksheets, etc.). Curriculum topics: counting, colors, alphabet, opposites, matching, geography, culture, community helpers, animals, weather, lifecycles of plants/animals, music, yoga, Spanish, sign language, etc. Lots of outside playtime. Group learning includes inside games/songs, language classes, music classes, yoga classes, art activities, storytime etc. Traditional circle time commences at 9am daily. Soccer Shots, dance classes from Layla's Dance Academy, and tennis classes used to occur weekly (for an extra fee) pre-COVID. Logistics: Open daily except for AISD holidays - closed on New Year's Day, MLK Day, President's Day, Spring Break, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, TG week, Xmas break. Hours are 8:30a-6p and for an extra fee, children can arrive as early as 7:30a for families who need extended coverage. Summer hours are the same and include additional activities like 4th of July Parade and Splash Days. Special Events: Year-round celebration of cultural holidays. International Night in December. Parent-Teacher Conferences 2-3x a year. Gardening Days. TOM is not as high-tech as some other schools (i.e. online payment, e-mail communication, etc.), so if that really matters to you, TOM may not be right for you and your family. The school utilizes signs on the school doors and monthly newsletters as their main mode of communication. However, the teachers are always available by phone anytime. Tuition payments are expected at the beginning of the month via check. My family and I have been so incredibly impressed with TOM's COVID precautions. After Spring Break 2020, the school remained closed for approx. 2 more months and then re-opened with smaller class sizes, frequent cleaning of surfaces, all staff wearing masks and aprons at all times, and parents dropping off children outside. Instead of school-provided snacks, children brought their own snacks with their lunch in their own bag. There were ABSOLUTELY NO COVID cases or exposures at all during the time of pandemic operation. That's quite an achievement! And this just goes to show how all the TOM families and staff are respectful of each other and work together as a team to ensure the best outcomes for the kiddos. TOM feels like a second home for my children, and we trust all the staff 100%. They have all become like family, and they treat our children (and us!) with such respect, love and care. We have been so extremely happy with our time and experience at TOM. As our children are preparing for the next phase in their education, we will always look back at our years at Twin Oaks Montessori very fondly. read more

the best teachers are here! lovely place for your kid. my daughter didn't know the language when we moved , but now she is much better than me also she socialized very well. teachers were so nice to her, we are so thankful that we came here two years ago. Absolutely recommend. Olga P. read more

My eldest was at twin oaks from 3-6 years of age and he is now 10. When it came to schooling and care for our second child, there was no question where we'd go. My daughter started Twin Oaks at 19 months. She is now 22 months. In these 3 short months, my daughter's communication skills and overall development have improved exponentially! She has always been a happy baby. Now she is a happier toddler because she is more confident in the way she expresses herself. The expertise and care of the teachers here is second to none. read more

My boys have been at Twin Oaks over the last 4 years. We have been extremely happy with their education and their social skills that they've developed. As we took our oldest to kindergarten this year, we feel that his social skills are extremely advanced vs other kids his age. He's extremely self-sufficient thanks to the Montessori learnings he's picked up. The teachers respond when you have any concerns. We've had a couple incidents where we had concerns about our kid and we've seen extreme care taken and awareness of our child's needs. The teachers and Ms Bona have been outstanding. We highly recommend putting your child here. read more

Twin Oaks is a wonderful school my four year old son has attended since he was 20 months old. The staff has the perfect blend of warmth and love while also fostering the children's independence. My son has learned a ton but nothing is heavy handed the kids spend lots of time outside being kids. Plus, the staff is extremely respectful of parents and the challenges they face by being flexible. The consistency they've provided me over the last year with the birth of my second child has been invaluable. I love this school and feel very happy with it. read more

Twin Oaks Montessori School - Thanksgiving Celebration - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Austin, Texas

So happy we found Twin Oaks Montessori. Our recent transition from a stellar small town Montessori school, my with my 3yo daughters school has been extremely easy and delightful, meeting my expectations. The school operates flawlessly, with many years(35!) experience they've got it down. Nurturing. No turnover of staff at all after 3 months. The guides are all experienced. Fees are normal. Mostly Convenient. They are old school in ways of communication and not technological. As it turns out...it's actually kind of nice once you acclimate to everything in your hand, and not just another email. And best of all!... the little one enjoys going, and is always content and happy when we pick her up. read more

My daughter, now three years old, has been happily attending Twin Oaks since she was 18 months old. I have watched her language, social skills, manners and learning skills bloom under the guidance of the entire Twin Oaks staff. Additionally, the mixed age classes are wonderful. My daughter benefits from both the older students, who act as mentors, and the younger students, as this allows her to help others learn and grow. When I found them I did my research with the state and they have never, not once, had a serious incident/accident or violation. The class ratios are on point and the campus inside and out is always clean and safe. Ms. Bona, Ms. Nila and all the teachers treat the children like family and share responsibilities with the children. This allows the children to know and have bonds with all teachers. I also love the fact that they don't feel the need to waste valuable time with the students by taking pictures for apps that parents use to feel more involved. There is no focus on hand holding with parents by indulging their constant focus on photos and other nonsense. (my mother is a teacher who is forced to do this for her parents and it takes about 30% of her time everyday, that's time away from real teaching and guidance, she wishes she could work someplace like Twin Oaks). I know that my daughter and her peers have the full attention of the teachers. I have never once seen a staff member on their phone/device. To sum it up I am extremely please with our experience with Twin Oaks and am confident my daughter will be ready for school when its time. read more

i am only updating my earlier review to let the universe know that my baby boy just started Kindergarden, and so we had to say goodbye to Twin Oaks Montessori. We will really miss the love the entire staff and all the teachers showed him (and us) over the years. the owner (Ms. Surangi) and the Director (Ms. Bona) have proved themselves over and over again to us, being responsive to questions and criticisms and needs brought to their attention. Ms. Bona, whose class my son was in, was almost an auntie to my boy, if not a second momma. yes, we will miss them greatly, but i feel like they have prepared my son in myriad ways for the big adventure that is the rest of his life! (ok, so he's already complained that noone in his class seems to know how to line up correctly or write their names already, that counts, right? ;)) love this place, highly recommend! read more

Excellent school. They do all the right things where it matters the most. It's important to realize that not every school is for every parent. If you want your child to be in a disciplined environment that allows them to learn, this place is perfect for you. If you want your child to be a "free spirit" and play all day, then I'm not sure why you'd even bother looking at a Montessori school in the first place. The few one star reviews don't have any merit if you read them, and it's sad that someone (Joanna Z) feels justified to give this place 1 star because there's a mop in the bathroom (good heavens!) and there has been a little (not high) turnover, which is not uncommon in most childcare places. Also, Joanna implied and assumed that there is some sort of nefarious scheme going on because a parent handed a teacher cash? Did she ask why this happened? No, but if she did, she'd know it was for... a sleep mat!!!! Call the cops! And this is why it's important to read and question reviews. I'm dying to read a news story where a child was injured by a mop. read more

My son started the Star classroom in January this year. Very frightening to find care for your little one. I went by the Yelp reviews then toured myself, and I liked the interaction, the involvement and the calmness of the school. I am very anti chain daycare centers as they are overpopulated, have high turnover rates, and I feel like my child is just a number. I like both of the teachers in his class, and the other teachers from the older classes always say hello to my son and asked about him when he was sick. I think there is a misconception with the teachers yelling as it is a difference in culture possibly? I love the schedule, the organization, and the independence they are teaching my son. He has learned so much in just the few months being there-cleaning up after himself, speaking more words, comes home and tells me the sounds of animals he sees in books. His teachers are very kind to him, patient when he started, and very informative about his days. I absolutely adore my son and would never leave him somewhere I did not feel he was safe or not being taken care of. I also like the center's structure as it is a house, not a big building. At first I was worried about packing his lunches everyday but it's nice monitoring what he eats. He gets outside time in the morning around 9 and then again after nap. He loves the playground-it's huge for his age! He has got sick a couple times since being there, but that's the joy of school. This place isn't for everyone like just like everything else in life. I originally wanted one of those free spirited schools but the more I read into it-walking around in just diapers outside, no scheduled nap time, eating with hands, I decided to turn away. How I know my son is ok? He doesn't have huge tantrums at drop offs, he will whine here and there, but most of the time he's ok. He is also having fun when I pick him up. And that makes me ok, well, very happy. This review is not to try and reel more parents in, this is simply my opinion of the school. read more

My family and I have been in Montessori schools for almost 10 years. And we have been to four programs in three different states. Twin Oaks Montessori is by far the most superior Montessori program I have had the honor of having my children in. My youngest daughter within a week was making intellectual and emotional strides. I am so grateful for this program and would highly recommend them to anyone read more

We love the staff and students at Twin Oaks. Our daughter has been at TO since she was 18 months and she is getting ready to start Kinder in the fall! The school is small, the teachers very experienced and diverse, and the focus is truly on the children. You wont see fancy ipad screens, just old fashion tried and true teaching methods and lots of love and support. We think the Montessori method has really helped our daughter excel and we know that she is more than prepared for Kinder because of TO. We also have also found a great community of parents and a great social network for our daughter. read more

I feel so confident about my daughter going to kindergarten next year because of the skills and confidence she's gained while at Twin Oaks. Zoey has been there since she was 18 months old and I'm blown away by the things she's learned. I've watched her become stronger and stronger with spelling, writing, problem solving, and working out "problems" with her friends. While those are things you might expect your 5-year old to come home learning, she also often surprises me from the back seat with bits of history, parts of the flower, world geography, music, and math. We are so thankful we found Twin Oaks and we will greatly miss our time there. Thank you to all of the staff, but especially Ms. Bona, Ms. Nila and Ms. Sumita, who I know cared for Zoey as if she were their own. read more

See all

My almost 5-year-old daughter has been at Twin Oaks since she was 1.5, so I have almost 3.5 years of experience at Twin Oaks. This review is a long time coming! My girl is happy to go to school and is thriving there. It is a relief to know that she is so well loved and taken care of while at school all day. The teachers are all amazing‼ The most important thing is that there is a loving and emotionally supportive environment, and TO has that covered 100%. In addition to that, she has learned a lot. She learns everything from facts (days of the week, months of the year, planets, continents) to manners to how plants grow and the seasons, and I know kindergarten will be a breeze because of how prepared she will be from her experiences at TO. There is a lot of community involvement at TO - they hold an Open House, gardening day, holiday program, etc. It is a happy medium as far as Montessori schools go, imo - they provide a Montessori mindset and incorporate Montessori themes without being so strict about applying Montessori theory that the transition to public school will be difficult for the kiddos. There has been some turnover in the last 3.5 years (mostly for the youngest class) but much less than I would have expected. I am very happy with TO and give it my most enthusiastic recommendation! read more

Great school! The teachers and administration are very kind and loving. My son loved the school!!!

I am a grandmother with extensive experience in Montessori Education. Twin Oaks Montessori is an amazing Montessori school. It is led by Ms.Widyaratne who has worked and studied Dr. Montessori Education for over 40 years. Oaks for 35 years. There are many schools that call themselves Montessori but whom are not. Following Dr. Montessori's philosophy, Twin Oaks is a Children's House. It is peaceful and quiet because the children are absorbed in their work. Peace, love of learning, respect and manners are instilled and reflected in the eyes of each child. The child-teacher ratio is small and the Guide must be Montessori certified. They present lessons and "follow the child" for each is different. Therefore the teachers are trained to observe and understand through the eyes of the child. Every child at Twin Oaks is loved and respected. I am honored and blessed to have my granddaughter attend this school and watch her blossom. 1 Tim read more

I am so thankful to the wonderful teachers at Twin Oaks! I knew that I wanted to send my little boy to Montessori and this one is perfect for him. The area is safe. The school is clean and a wonderful learning environment. The teachers are gems! Patient and kind, warm and thoughtful. My son is loving going to school and is learning so much. I couldn't be happier with our choice to go to Twin Oaks Montessori! read more

Our daughter Melody has been attending Twin Oaks Montessori for the past 5 months after starting at 18 months and we could not be more pleased with her care and progress. It is remarkable how near vocabulary has grown and the things she has learned in these past 5 months to the point that everyone assumes she's almost 3 years old rather than close to turning 2. Every week she come home with a project she's created and proudly tells us "I made this" while describing it in full detail. She recently did a unit on community helpers which included a cost by the local fire truck, a doctor, and the police man and she has been so excited to see them now as we drive around the city. Most importantly the staff truly love her and care for her as their own and the community of other parents have been so welcoming. I can not recommend Twin Oaks Montessori highly enough!! We are thrilled to have our daughter is such an amazing place that allows her the freedom to learn and develop at her own pace while fostering her natural creativity and curiosity! read more

I am surprised to see so many 5 starts reviews here. Being a new parent and with little comparison with other preschools in the area, we sent my daughter to Twin Oaks. The teachers are nice but the facility is so old; the toys are very limited and dirty; the playground is so small. I noticed that my daughter wore other kids' diaper. She was not happy at twin oaks. She cried three months straight and got sick every other week. We decided to withdrew her and she is very happy at a church preschool. Her new teachers truly love her and she really enjoys her new school. My suggestions for other parents is that there are many great preschools outside. Please give your kids a chance to get better care and education. read more

Our family loves Twin Oaks. When we first moved to Austin, adjusting to Montessori took a little time for me and my kids, but I wanted to give it a try after reading all of the amazing psychological studies supporting Montessori education. For the first 2 months, my son was upset when I dropped him, and I almost pulled him out because of it, but the teachers were very patient with him. I deciding to give it more time because I used to teach at well-respected a daycare just up the street, and the teachers there were completely different from the teachers at Twin Oaks who were very calm, patient, and talked to the children with respect instead of sing-songy baby-talk. The classrooms at Twin Oaks are also so much calmer and more tranquil than a daycare or even the church preschool we had come from in Dallas, which is great for my daughter who can quickly get overwhelmed by a lot of people and noise. The thing that really set Twin Oaks apart from the other schools was that every day, it was always apparent that the teachers loved my children and they loved what they did. When touring other schools, I would catch teachers yelling over crowds of rowdy kids, looking frazzled. At Twin Oaks, however, I would round the corner and catch teachers smiling and cuddling my daughter or whispering affirming words to my son. What's more, my son was reading books and writing words at 4 years old without any intervention on my part because the Montessori method moves each child along at their own pace. At the same time, my timid daughter is 2 and a half, but she's still scared of going in the potty, so they haven't pushed her. My kids have also learned structure, how to self-discipline, clean up after themselves, and a host of other life skills. Some things here may seem strange to parents who are used to traditional school and aren't familiar with educational psychology -- some of the crafts are clearly done mostly by the teachers for the littlest ones, but it illustrates that the teachers are using what educational psychologists call "scaffolding" instead of just having the kids complete only what they can do completely independently. If you go to the parent-teacher night, you see that each lesson is carefully planned and thought out for its cognitive benefits, even for the babies. It's a low-tech school, so you won't get any emails, only paper notes. I admit they're a bit conservative about taking the kids outside if its a bit cold -- probably because most of the teachers are from warmer countries -- but they make up for that with opportunities like yoga, gymnastics, and soccer. There do seem to be lots of rules that take a while to figure out, but at the same time, that structure has carried over to our home with great results, and I think my kids feel more secure because of it. I also love the families at Twin Oaks. Everyone is so friendly, they seem to share our our progressive values, and there is a good amount of diversity. I also love that if I drop my daughter in pajamas because she's been a terror that morning, there aren't going to be perfectly dressed families judging me like we had experienced in Dallas. All-in-all, this school is as good as it gets, and we are so glad we stuck it out through the first couple of months while my son adjusted to the Montessori method. read more

Selecting a preschool for your child is a very difficult and individual decision. Not every school will be right for every child, I know many friends who love schools that I know my daughter would be miserable at, and vice versa. This is the third daycare I've sent my daughter to, and after finding Twin Oaks when she was 17 months, we knew we'd found the right fit and have been happy there ever since, even as she's getting ready to go to kindergarten this year. She's been in all three of the classes, and I've found that each class is very well suited to the developmental age they serve. While I can't speak to the staff in the Star Room, as they're new faces to me, the guides and assistants in the Rainbow Room and Sunshine Room are consistently so kind and nurturing, while running the class with the authority required to keep so many kids happy and safe and learning. Having been at TO for three years now, we've seen families come and go and I have seen patterns as to who is happy here and who is not. Hope this helps, it is by no means comprehensive. Twin Oaks may be the right school for you if: -Your child prefers order over chaos, thrives with routines. -Your child enjoys academic activities, and is happy with a good amount of "sitting still activities" throughout the day (ie - they're doing a task that is mentally engaging but not running around) -Your child is accustomed to authority figures making expectations clear and consequences of misbehavior known. -You value challenging experiences and can observe with patience while your child works through challenging, even frustrating or "scary" to them situations (like a new classroom where they don't know anyone and haven't figured out all the rules yet). -You don't require a lot of "frills" - like online portals, nanny cams, and organic meal delivery -You place a high value on multicultural experiences and education Twin Oaks may not be the right school for you if: -Your child is very high energy and needs to spend a good part of the day running around outside to be happy -Your child struggles with impulse control and following directions (more than is typical for the age, of course all 2-5 year old kids deal with this to some degree) -Your child is particularly sensitive and has heightened responses to correction -You want to have a high degree of control over what your child is doing, eating, learning, wearing, sleeping, etc, while they are at daycare. To wrap this up, here is a short "highlight reel" of our time with Twin Oaks Montessori: -Annual International Nights - all the kids dressed up, singing songs, playing together, and sharing a homemade meal with the great families that make up Twin Oaks -Gardening Days, when the families join together with the staff to make the grounds beautiful together and teach our kids about cultivating a garden -The wonderful friends we've made (both my child and my spouse and I), who have a wide range of backgrounds but have a shared set of values -Dropping off my daughter, and having Ms Bona come out and tell me how much she enjoys having my daughter in her class, what a great helper she is, and giving her a big hug and a sticker. Her face lit up with pride. -Parent teacher conferences - hearing from the teachers about how my kid is blossoming in ways I don't always get to see at home (or do, but am so glad others see it in her too!) -My daughter, at 4, is starting to read and doing basic arithmetic and telling me all about lesser known holidays and how the heart works. And she LOVES it and is so proud of herself! She feels SMART and CAPABLE and LOVED and I couldn't ask for anything more as she gets ready to go into the public school system. I will miss Twin Oaks dearly. read more

I've been meaning to write a review on Twin Oaks Montessori for several weeks now. Each time I begin writing, I immediately stop -- finding it hard to put into words what this amazing place and the amazing people who work there have done for my daughter over the last two years. Twin Oaks does an unbelievable job of balancing teaching important life skills, providing secure daily routines and giving lots of unconditional love. The teachers there have taught me how to be a better parent. They've taught my daughter how to be proud of the things she excels at while simultaneously gently pushing her to step out of her comfort zone. My daughter has two homes; she spends half the time at her dad's and half the time with me. For her, Twin Oaks is the constant in her everyday. While that's hard for me to even think about as a parent, I am so thankful that she has Twin Oaks and the teachers there to always welcome her with open arms, expect her to be her best and prepare her for the world in a completely thoughtful and purposeful way. You will know from the moment you walk into the little school building that they are focused less on the glitz and glam of what some daycares will sell you and more on the individual children who spend so much time in their care. You won't be able to see your kid on a webcam when they are at Twin Oaks but you will be able to feel like you have left her with family. read more

I can't say enough great things about Twin Oaks. My sister and I both have sent our kids here. We've had really great experiences with all of the teachers and they really love the children. My son has had such a positive experience so far and we plan on keeping him here. Twin Oaks is much like a family and the owner and director's doors are always open. I really feel like Twin Oaks is teaching my son rather than just looking after him. They have lessons even for the littlest kids in the program, but they make them fun and give the kids lots of love. Kids this age are so eager to learn and the teachers here really understand that and work with them to grow through their Montessori lessons, music, art, yoga and playtime. It's comforting as a parent to know that my son spends his days with people who genuinely care about him. read more

Love Twin Oaks! I sent my little boy here on the recommendation of another Twin Oaks parent, and I'm so glad I listened. When my son started, he was completely unused to a daycare/preschool setting and had a lot of problems adjusting. The teachers were so sweet with him and really made a huge effort to help him adjust and learn to be part of the group. They do a wonderful job of being caring while also fostering independence. The Montessori system can be weird if you're not used to it--the kids play with their toys on little cloth mats lined up in a row, for instance--but kids thrive on that structure. The teachers are always happy to explain their techniques, and my son's teacher was very helpful. They also have parent-teacher conferences, which was awesome--we learned a lot of in depth information about how our kid was developing and what we could do at home to support his learning. The bottom line, though, is that this place is all about the kids, and the kids LOVE it. read more

I was a student at Twin Oaks Montessori a little over 10 years ago, but I still get upset when I smell anything resembling the odor of the room (she used a room spray or something). From what I remember and what my parents have told me the teachers were nice, but Ms. Bona was very controlling and harsh. I can't remember my teacher's face, but I can remember her's clearly. I remember Ms. Bona yelling at me when I peed myself one day and my teacher being very nice as she calmed me down. We would have nap-time and she would punish you if you weren't sleeping by making you do math problems way to complex for a kindergartener and make you feel stupid for asking for help. Ms. Bona definitely had favorites, and maybe there experiences were good, but I wasn't one, and my parents still deeply regret sending me there. read more

We have two children at Twin Oaks now with our youngest to start in August. All of our children have started their childcare at a traditional daycare before attending Twin Oaks. So far with the older two, we've seen huge developmental progress shortly upon entering Montessori, and we anticipate the same with #3. The teachers are excellent. There was a spell of a little turnover at one point, but the core/lead teachers remained intact. Turnover isn't anything new to our family as we experienced it at the traditional daycare as well. Our kids have learned so much, and they enjoy telling us about their weekly lessons (they send home folders with handouts and activities that we can go through with our kids). There is a healthy mix of playtime and learning. The kids are in a structured environment, and I am amazed at how well-behaved a classroom of kids can be when at home I can't keep ours quiet or attentive! The monthly tuition is reasonable too, especially in comparison to other places in the area that don't offer as much from an educational perspective :) read more

Please don't let the 5 star rating full you. I heard of a parent talking about the principle told her to write a 5 star review on yelp. I made this mistake and I feel very bad for sending my child there. The facility is shabby, the bathroom always had a long mop leaning against the corner and it worries me it could fall down and hit a child. The turnover of the teachers is extremely high. When we toured the school, my husband saw the manager Indian lady exchanged cash with a parent. Not sure what it was about. Every time when I picked up my child in the afternoon, I could hear her crying as soon as I walked inside the school. We didn't let our child stay there long. Lesson learned and just want to share our horrible experience. read more

My son started at Twin Oaks when he was three and my daughter started even earlier. They are 4 and 5 now. We love this little school. They let us start off with half days until we were more comfortable letting our little ones stay full days. Our kids never want to leave so we switched to full days after only a couple months. They are very flexible. Even though every time I'm at the school the kids are playing, they have learned so much. Both my 4 and 5 year old kids are writing their name and doing math problems. I was a Montessori preschooler myself so it's neat to see them using the same tools I remember. We've also been very happy with the multicultural teachers and kids and curriculum at Twin Oaks. There is a real emphasis on global community with Montessori that I love. There are several opportunities to volunteer if you want to be more involved with the school. They also have several fun school parties and the annual International Night performance which brings the families together. My son has a vision impairment along with light sensitivity and the staff has been wonderful about keeping up with his hat and glasses. He gets the extra help he needs without being singled out. I toured a lot of Montessori preschools when I decided it was time to send the kids to school and I'm so glad I chose this little gem. read more