This is our first year at Tree of Life, and we truly believe it is a "diamond in the rough." Not…read moreonly is the school more affordable than most early childcare providers (and certainly less costly than any other Montessori programs in the area which are known to be quite expensive), but the quality of education is top notch.
Prior to enrolling here, our son attended a language immersion school. The first year, he had an amazing teacher and made great progress socially and academically. The next two years, however, he began to regress due to high teacher turnover, inconsistent instruction, and a 13:1 student-teacher ratio that wasn't conducive to much individualized attention.
The 6:1 class size at Tree of Life has allowed my son to get lots of 1:1 time with his teacher. In addition, the mixed-age classroom, which is a staple of Montessori education, has provided my son with the chance to learn from older students. Moreover, the student-led, choice-based instructional approach, which is also a key feature in Montessori classrooms, has provided my son with ample opportunity to explore his interests while developing independence, confidence, fine motor skills, and intellectual curiosity.
A mathematician and Montessori certified educator, Marla understands the stages of child development, and the value of high rigor and hands-on kinesthetic learning. Her classroom management style is firm but fair, and her guidance has informed some of the ways my wife and I support our son at home.
Marla has a genuine appreciation for multi-cultural education. She regularly teaches about other cultural traditions like Holi, Kwanzaa, and the Chinese New Year, and invites special guests (including parents) to enrich the classroom experience by sharing their unique talents and traditions.
Marla sends an update (both written and via FB group) on what was taught each week and what is forthcoming, is very responsive to email and text messages, and takes multiple measures to ensure her classroom is clean and safe (i.e., locked door, classroom cameras, optional masking, temperature checks, etc.)
If an affordable Montessori education, in a small, in-home setting, with a highly skilled and caring teacher is an ideal learning environment for your child; and if an 8:30-4pm pickup works with your schedule, I'd HIGHLY RECOMMEND Tree of Life Montessori. It's a wonderful place!