Our daughter has been going to Elemental Arts for the last two years and we have been really happy with her development there. The school is a little oasis of calm industry. It is very well organized and the kids are always actively engaged in one activity or another. The kids, even the little ones, are expected to be able to do a lot for themselves including putting on and taking off their coats, taking out and putting away the activities and games, going to the bathroom, eating lunch etc. and they all seem to be able to do these tasks without adult help. The children are given a lot of autonomy in deciding which particular activities or work stations they wish to involve themselves in as well as choosing which other child they wish to play with at any particular time. However, this all takes place under the ever attentive eyes of Barbara and her assistants. Barbara is really very talented with children. While she allows every child to make a lot of decisions, she watchfully ensures that the children are being kind, respectful and helpful to each other and that they allow each other to "work" calmly and effectively throughout the day. And she sure succeeds. The children are unbelievably well behaved at school and they learn how to work in a calm organized and cooperative way that will, I expect, serve them very well throughout the rest of their education and lives.
Barbara is a very special teacher. She truly understands young children in a way that most people don't. Our daughter has thrived in this Montessori and we couldn't be happier at how ready she is for Kindergarten in the fall read more