Believe it or not, chores are incredibly beneficial for children. However, there is a lot to consider before assigning chores to your children. For example, you might wonder what kind of chores to give them, how to divide the tasks fairly, and how to motivate your...
If we have learned anything in the age of "social distancing" it is how deeply we crave and need the society of others and how that ubiquitous term defines the challenge we have all been facing. Over these past months, Montclare has placed a high...
In 2013 as an elementary school Principal, prior to becoming the Director of Montclare Children's School, I was asked to lead the faculty in taking curricular instruction from the traditional classroom model to a blended learning model. In the book, Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning Through the i2Flex Classroom...
Being a two-year-old is not easy! So many feelings and, typically, insufficient vocabulary to match. It can, indeed, be terrible being two. Helping young children identify and name their emotions is something we do beginning in our 2s program. It allows children to become more comfortable...
December, 2019 will be the third consecutive year that Montlare joins millions of people around the world to participate 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 early...
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....
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...
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...