Ivybrook Academy Indian Land

10/14/2026

Play is the work of the child. -Maria Montessori

10/12/2026

The transition into preschool is a transition for the whole family.

We approach the parent relationship with the same intentionality we bring to the classroom. That means keeping families informed not just about what children are doing, but about why, and what it means for their development.

When a parent understands that their child's insistence on pouring their own water is a Montessori independence milestone, that changes how they respond at home. When a family can see their child's project documentation on the classroom wall, the school day becomes a shared experience, not a gap in the day they have to fill in with questions at pickup.

We build that connection on purpose, because a child whose home and school are aligned has a significant advantage.

10/10/2026

Our incredible set up team was hard at work this week to get us ready to bring families in our doors next week! We can’t WAIT to share our new school with you!

10/07/2026

Please vote for us in the Town of Fort Mill's Scarecrow Crawl happening NOW! Likes = votes & you must click the actual photo on their page (not this post!) for your vote to count!!

#126 Ivy Crow
Created by: Ivybrook Academy

10/05/2026

Reading readiness begins long before a child can identify a single letter.

It begins when an educator pauses during a read-aloud to ask what a child thinks will happen next. It begins when a child learns to hear the difference between rhyming words. It begins in the daily rhythm of conversation, storytelling, and language that gives words meaning before they ever appear on a page.

At Ivybrook, early literacy is woven into every part of the school day. Our small-group, leveled literacy instruction meets each child where they are developmentally, so no child is pushed past their readiness or held back from it.

The goal is not early readers. It is confident, joyful ones.

10/03/2026

Be sure to go check out “Ivy Crow” at the Fort Mill Scarecrow Crawl, right in front of the playground, & tag us in your selfies!

09/30/2026

Our team is together this week learning, preparing, and putting all the finishing touches in place before we welcome our very first students to Ivybrook Academy Indian Land in just a couple short weeks!

We have dreamed about this school for so long, and we cannot WAIT to open our doors and begin making memories with our new Ivybrook families & the sweetest team of educators we could have ever imagined.

The countdown is ON!

09/28/2026

Early childhood research consistently supports what educators observe firsthand: children learn differently outside.

The outdoor environment offers natural opportunities for gross motor development, risk assessment, scientific observation, and collaborative problem-solving. These are not incidental. We build them into how we use outdoor time.

A child who sorts leaves by shape is practicing classification. A child who builds a dam in a puddle is exploring engineering. A child who notices a bird's nest and wants to know more is practicing the same inquiry cycle that drives every great discovery.

We take the learning outside because the world is one of the best classrooms available.

09/21/2026

Most preschool-age children ask dozens of questions every day. The way adults respond to those questions shapes how children think.

At Ivybrook Academy, our educators respond to curiosity with curiosity. Rather than providing answers, they ask questions that push thinking deeper. Rather than correcting, they invite investigation.

This is one of the foundational principles of the Reggio Emilia approach: the educator as a collaborator in learning, not a dispenser of information.

When children experience their questions being taken seriously, they develop the confidence to keep asking them. That is where critical thinking begins.

09/19/2026

Coffee & Construction was a hit! Thank you wonderwagonplay & chinicoffeeco for helping make it a success.

We can’t wait to welcome families to our brand new campus in a few short weeks!