Wildflower Montessori School — Local services in Cambridge

Our oldest daughter just completed her 3rd year at Wildflower. I cannot say enough good things about this school. Maria Montessori's philosophy is grounded in a respect and appreciation for children's innate desire to learn and actively participate in the work of their home and community. There are many Montessori schools and they often differ in the way they implement her methods. Prior to Wildflower my daughter attended a different local Montessori school. The way the teachers at Wildflower operationalize her educational approach is exceptional - we are eternally grateful for their intentional approachn.They prepare themselves every day spiritually to receive the children, they treat them with respect and wonder, they set up the environment so their natural curiosity and desire for mastery leads them to develop their skills in: sweeping, doing dishes, making tea for visitors, exploring language materials and reading, math materials, developing fine and gross motor skills doing art, pouring, planting seeds, watering plants, navigating social dynamics in a courteous and respectful way, the list goes on. Children are observed mastering all these various skills at their own pace with "lessons" presented by teachers or friends. If a child doesn't gravitate to a specific section the teachers reflect on how to present it in a way that is engaging to the particular child always thoughtful of where they are in their skill development. One of the main reasons we would not want to move away is because of...

I have had my oldest son in the warm embrace of Wildflower for the past three years. This is a new school but the teachers come with decades of experience and serious Montessori training. I have been blown away by my son's development over these preschool years, and he leaves at 6 years now reading and writing, and with perceptible math skills. His deep interest in the natural world - science and creepy crawly things - was embraced by the teachers and fostered with materials and activities in the classroom. By the end of this past year, he was giving lessons to the other students on the life cycle of a butterfly much to his own pride. The artist-in-residence program opened up so many creative activities - from painting to music. And all with experience of seeing a real artist in action. Not only has this school been a gift to our son, it has also been a gift to our family. The community of parents are the warmest, most loving, most interesting group of people we have met in Cambridge. This crew became the center of our social life quickly. From the Fridays at Walden Pond, to the best family potlucks, to the endless offer of support and help through all of our struggles as parents of young children. The best teachers, the most beautiful classroom, real Montessori, and a great family community. What more could you ask for? A...

Though I’m sure every parent thinks the school they have chosen for their child is the best, here are just two reasons (of many!) why Wildflower has knocked our socks off.

The teachers. Our daughter was very shy, an observer who waded in slowly and was highly sensitive to sound. The teachers—intuitive, sensitive, and lovingly firm—have managed to both value her sensitive nature and encourage her to stand up for herself and verbalize when she is uncomfortable about something. They truly believe that education should be child-led and that the child’s experience of learning should be joyous. We’ve been so impressed with the commitment the teachers have to the method of Montessori. Every seemingly simple “work” the student does—from washing a table to stacking blocks—lead to the development of muscles or skill sets that are the building blocks for future learning.

The community. Monthly parent education nights and community days have given the families time to get to know each other. We share our woes and concerns and laugh together. On school holidays, we’ve made soap for the classroom, planted a local garden and filled backpacks with supplies for homeless kids. And sometimes we just get together and the kids play. This is the seamless movement between school and home that is one of the principles of Wildflower. We’re thrilled...