At Montclare Children’s School we are always looking for ways to inspire, motivate and, most importantly, prepare our students for future learning. My colleague, Jenny Bruce, and I attended the FETC conference last year in Orlando, FL. Interested in introducing coding and addressing 21st Century...
As winter brings a cold chill and we retreat to warmer thoughts, a new chapter in movement begins: it is the perfect time for imagination yoga mat play. The children begin our class by sitting on their "magic carpet," as we fly on our mats to...
Article by Cathy Makropoulos, Director, Montclare Children’s School for 2019 issue of Parents League Review Constructing a robust early childhood education program requires engineering similar to that needed to build a fine, sound house. In education as in architecture, a clear creative vision is essential if something enduring is to...
Montclare joined the tens of millions of people around the world participating in The Hour of Code, prompting many discussions about what it means to be a 21st-century student and educator. More specifically, what does a 21st-century learner look like in an early childhood classroom?...
I recently spent a glorious, extended holiday weekend in three of my favorite summer locales. I started in the country, lazing in a hammock and wading in the Housatonic in CT. The 4th was spent on a downtown roof deck, grilling hot dogs and watching the fireworks over the Hudson. The following...
Children’s music. Is that like children’s food? In most cultures around the world, there is no such thing as food specifically for children....
FOOD AND GARDEN SCIENCE At Montclare, we are proud to be working with Ingredient Happy to better connect children to the food they eat through hands-on seed-to-table learning and planting in our rooftop garden. Starting with Seeds Our child-centric Food & Garden Science curriculum is designed to help...
Now, more than ever in my life, I find myself searching for a way to make a difference. I think about the state of the world and the many opportunities to respond. I choose to focus on the things that I can control and the...
As a preschool teacher, I often find myself bearing witness to incredible moments of discovery. It's always my goal to help foster these moments by presenting students with meaningful materials and information, encouraging them to ask questions and creating an environment of trust and respect....
Standing at the door for morning arrival or afternoon dismissal is often a favorite part of my day at work. Montclare administrators all take turns greeting our families and monitoring the many arrivals and dismissals for the very practical purpose of safety (those little ones...