Redland Montessori

Jenny Cook _{on Google}

May 21st, 2014

Our daughter, Ruby, has been attending Redland Montessori since September 2013. It has been her first experience in school, and she loves everything about her school! My mom is a Montessori preschool teacher in another state, so I am familiar with the Montessori methods and philosophy. It's the kind of educational foundation we wanted for our daughter. Living in Oregon City limited our options, however. There are many Montessori schools within the Portland city limits, but not very many in Clackamas county and in Oregon City, where we live. We were thrilled to discover that there was a small, home-based Montessori school only 15 minutes away from our house in downtown Oregon City, and even more impressed with the tuition, which is lower than the nearest competitors that we found as we researched other schools.
Before I visited, I must admit that I wondered if the school was going to be a little less than professional, since it was being run out of someone's home. I couldn't have been more wrong, though. The schoolroom is large, beautifully decorated, and furnished with high quality Montessori materials. The "homey" feeling is an asset, not a detraction. Additionally, there is a large backyard area which affords plenty of space for outdoor activities and playtime. Ruby loves visiting the chickens who are in their coop. If your child likes animals, they will love getting to know the very friendly animals in residence.
Betsy Black, the director and lead guide (the Montessori term for a teacher), has a wonderful, caring, and gentle spirit and way. She does such a great job of modeling how to do things and how to say things in a way that young children will understand. I love that every school day ends with a "thankful circle" where each child is invited to say something they are thankful for. Ruby talks often of her "friends, Betsy and London." In fact, she wants both London (another student) AND Betsy to come to her birthday party this year!
Ruby has always been an independent girl who enjoys trying new things, but one of her weaker areas was completing tasks. She often liked to start things but then would wander away from them. Since she's been at Redland Montessori, she has really learned to complete the "cycle of activity," which means not only getting everything ready to do the complete task but also putting it away or cleaning it up when the task is finished. For example, most of the time at home if Ruby gets out some coloring pages and markers, she will also put them away when she is done without being asked and will even remember to push in her chair! This mom is grateful! I know we largely have Betsy's patient modeling to thank for that.
In short, we are so pleased with Redland Montessori. We look forward to sending our sons there when they are the right age. If you have any further questions, feel free to get in touch with me via my Google + page.