Our family has been involved with Spell Well Montessori for 9 years. Our oldest two children started in 1st grade and pre-K and attended until we transitioned them into public intermediate school (5th/6th grade). We currently have children in 2nd grade, pre-K, and toddler care at Spell Well.
We have loved our experience at Spell Well and highly recommend it. Class sizes are small, especially compared to public schools in the area. Spell Well uses a Montessori class structure in early grades by combining multiple years together so that children can learn and apply peer leadership principles. In higher grades, the model begins to transition to more of a traditional school model. The teachers are great and model the school's motto of giving children knowledge with love. They provide regular, consistent feedback on progress throughout the year (usually quarterly), are available for parent-teacher conferences during the day, and are available by email. Staff, teachers, and the owner/headmistress, Ms. Nilo, are very responsive and helpful.
Spell Well does a wonderful job of teaching children how to learn for themselves and to enjoy learning. It also promotes self-directed learning, tailors learning to each child, and develops leadership and peer-teaching skills. Our oldest two children learned skills and habits that have helped them succeed in junior high and high school academically, physically, and socially. The school has grown over the past decade but remains small enough that everyone knows your child(ren) and they know all their classmates, as well as most of the children in adjacent grades.
Spell Well includes dance, theater, yoga, and foreign language (Spanish and Chinese) instruction along with traditional academic courses in its curriculum and offers opportunities for physical education through TOTS (Teams of Tomorrow preschool sports), Tae Kwon Do, and PE classes, as well as recess time. Spell Well typically presents a holiday singing program at the end of the first semester, a theater presentation in the early spring, and an end-of-year celebration with Kindergarten graduation and singing and dancing presentations similar to a recital.
Spell Well has an optional hot lunch program, two cafeterias with kitchens for heating lunch from home, and covered outdoor picnic tables for eating outside when the weather is nice.
Spell Well also has an amazing summer program - usually 10-12 weeks with water activities, play learning (cooking, art, etc.), visits from the museum and/or zoo, and field trips. Spell Well generally follows the Klein ISD calendar with a few extra weeks of school added.
If you're looking for a true (certified) Montessori learning experience, smaller classes, more individualized learning, and a more comprehensive curriculum, Spell Well provides all of that and more! read more
