This is where I went to grade school. While it's been a while, I do have the chance to observe and…read moreinteract with the kids and faculty. I've given Civil War presentations to students here. They are attentive, polite and curious, which speaks well for their teachers. Every spring a teacher, with their class, will stop by and give the neighbors a flower plant for their garden. Also shows that the teachers get their kids to think about their community. I live a half block away and I can always tell when it's recess, so much fun and energy. Some of my younger neighbors have their kids going here. Everyone is pleased with the education their kids are getting here. Teaching is a challenging career. I appreciate the teachers here. I resent folks who bad mouth educators.

The welding program has some of the best instructors I've ever had the privilege to be taught by…read more Awesome equipment also.

This is an amazing preschool that allows children the freedom to choose their own work, while…read moreproviding specialized instruction for their level. Children are able to work beyond their typical age level and explore at their own pace. At the same times, the teachers have special education back grounds so they are able to provide extra help and ideas for students who learn in different styles. Having ages 2.5 - 6 year old inthe same classroom fosters a love of learning and teaching in children. My son gets so much out of learning from children close to his own age rather than an adult. Montessori also prides itself on respecting the student and providing an environment where children learn to self direct and work independantly. Children learn to respect one another and take responsbility for their own learning. Independance is a key factor to Children's House. My 2 year does dishes on a regular basis, can sweep and mop floors, and even clean windows. These are all skills that I would not execpt of a 2 year old and yet Montessori has taught me that children are capable of doing all sorts of things for them selves. "I can do so many thing, all by myself" is sung regularly in the classroom. Contrary to popular thought, Montessori does expect children to learn certain age appropriate lessons. Instead of a typical classroom, the children are given work assignments (3 for example) but they have a choice of which to work and for how long. All that is expected is that at the end of the work period, they have worked on all 3. The children learn to self direct their learning and there is never a child sitting around "not doing anything." If a child is having a tough day, the teachers work hard to help them through it. The school also has Kindermsuik, a Library Reader, and even a Yoga instructor! The kids run their own garden in the spring and fall. They plant and take care of the garden themselves. It truly is a wonderul school. You should check it out!

Cooking a meal with chef Rodney Schultz was one of the most fun and educational things that I…read moreexperienced while visiting Elkhart Lake. If you like to eat and want to learn more about how to cook well, then you need to take a class at the Osthoff Resort Cooking School. Just do it! First of all: How neat is it that there is a hotel in Elkhart Lake that offers cooking classes? It's super cool. Even better: the instructor, Chef Rodney, really knows his stuff. You will learn from an experienced cook who will teach you tips and tricks that you can take home and use in your own kitchen. The cooking class that I signed up for was an Italian cooking class, so we made chicken marsala with mushrooms, asparagus risotto, roasted zucchini, and strawberry cannoli. That's a lot of delicious food! Chef Rodney shepherded us through all of the steps, and kept us on task as we made our way through cooking up the menu. At the end, after almost two hours, we had a delicious meal that we shared among ourselves. I can honestly say that the chicken marsala that I made here at the cooking school was the best chicken dish that I have ever made. Chef Rodney is a delightful person, and I loved taking his cooking class. I could tell that he really loves food and teaching people to love food as much as he does. I left Chef Rodney's class with a belly full of delicious food (that I cooked!) and skills that will make me a better cook at home.