Ivybrook Academy Mount Pleasant

Preschool for toddlers at Ivybrook Academy looks like this.

For our youngest learners, the work of preschool is sensory and physical. They are pouring water between containers, learning to put on their own shoes, and discovering that one tool makes a mark different from another.

Every later academic skill, from handwriting to mathematical reasoning, starts here, with the hands.

This week wasn’t really about snacks… 🍎

It was about curiosity.

Children voted on what ingredients to include in their trail mix, strengthening early math, communication, and decision-making skills.

They explored textures through puffy paint ice cream art, practiced fine motor skills while slicing and shaping play dough, and transformed our dramatic play spaces into imaginative kitchens and cafés.

Every invitation encouraged children to wonder, create, collaborate, and discover in their own unique way.

At our Montessori and Reggio-inspired preschool, even a simple summer camp theme becomes an opportunity for meaningful, child-led learning.

Because sometimes the sweetest part of Snack Attack isn’t the snack at all—it’s everything children learn along the way. 💛

Preschool readiness is not just about your child. It is about you, too.

Most parents underestimate the emotional shift of this milestone. Sending a child to school for the first time is a major transition for the entire family.

Signs you are ready:

‣ You have processed that the first few drop-offs may be hard but your child will find their new routine
‣ You trust your child to have experiences you won't witness
‣ You are clear about what you want them to gain (not just supervised)
‣ You are excited to see your child at pickup, bubbling with excitement about their own day

Touring a preschool is one of the best ways to know if you're ready. You learn as much about yourself as you do about the school.

2 camps left! It’s been a fun-filled summer with lots of smiling faces! ☀️☀️🌺💦

What does a blended Montessori and Reggio Emilia curriculum actually look like?

Montessori builds independence. Children choose their own work from carefully prepared materials. They develop focus, fine motor skills, and self-direction at their own pace.

Reggio Emilia builds collaboration. Children investigate ideas together through long-term projects, creative expression, and an environment designed to inspire curiosity.

At Ivybrook Academy, we blend both, along with Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences, to create an individualized curriculum that meets each child where they are.

The result is a child who can work independently and collaboratively, think creatively and critically, and approach kindergarten with confidence.

Montessori curriculum benefits that parents tend to notice first.

‣ Independence that looks like confidence

Children practice doing real tasks in a real classroom: choosing work, finishing it, and resetting their space. Over time, that becomes “I can do hard things.”

‣ Strong attention and follow-through

Montessori work cycles are designed to build sustained concentration, which is one reason families often describe Montessori classrooms as calm and purposeful.

‣ Hands-on learning that sticks

Montessori materials are intentionally tactile and sequential, helping children “feel” concepts before they’re asked to perform them abstractly.

At Ivybrook Academy, Montessori is one part of a blended curriculum that includes the Reggio Emilia approach, creating the foundation on which our students grow into capable, curious learners.

The Reggio Emilia approach starts with one belief: children are competent, capable, and curious learners.

This approach supports early childhood development through projects, collaboration, documentation, and a thoughtfully designed environment that deepens learning.

As part of our blended curriculum, Reggio looks like:

‣ Group projects that build collaboration, communication, and shared problem-solving

‣ Parent and community involvement woven into the learning experience

‣ Extensive documentation of the learning process, displayed at child-height and shared with families

When children are given the respect and space to explore their ideas, there is no limit to what they can discover.

Keep their routine going this summer! ☀️

Don't let the summer slide disrupt your child's focus, routines, and social confidence!

Our preschool summer camps are specifically designed for the developmental needs of children ages 2-6.

By blending the independence of Montessori with the collaborative discovery of Reggio Emilia, we keep young minds engaged all summer long.

Your child will enjoy hands-on STEAM learning, creative art, and joyful socialization, all while having fun!