Meet the Infant teacher Crystal and Toddler teacher April-Kay! Every Thursday 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

We have openings for children ages six weeks to four years, Monday through Friday. The schedule includes AM, PM snacks and Lunch.

Montessori Day 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM ($1060/month Infant, $1050/month Pre-Primary, $795/month Primary)

Extended Day 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM ($1400/month Infant and Pre-Primary, $1060/month Primary)

**We accept Employment Related Day Care (DHS)**

 

A video of our infant classroom: Infant Classroom Video Tour

We are a child led program which follows the individual needs of each child's natural and unique developmental path. We are the only Infant Montessori School in Eugene.

 

Infant Classroom
The Infant Classroom has non-walkers to walking children ages six weeks to eighteen months old. The classroom resembles a nest or home to allow the infants a comfortable transition between the home and school. There are four areas in the Infant Classroom, they include Physical Care, Movement, Feeding and Eating, and Sleep.

Physical Care: includes the infant and not done to the infant to build collaboration between teachers and infants. Changing tables are recommended to be waist high, deep enough so the infant can lie down see the teacher and to make eye contact for conversations. The teacher explains what they are doing before starting, names body parts and starts to build trust with the infant. We never leave an infant unattended while on the changing table.

Movement: an infant will always be able to freely move, unconstrained. Teachers provide a safe area to allow this, with visual and audio feedback from adults and themselves, to allow imitations of movements. Myelinization is assisting the infant’s ability to begin voluntary movement. This movement area is away from older children and provides other opportunities to be in various parts of the school. These areas, have a mirror with a view of the infant’s surroundings and self. Objects are placed nearby to encourage movement towards, reaching and grasping. Above the infant a mobile will be hung. Visual mobiles are twelve inches from the infant’s eyes. Light and moved by natural air flow, changed frequently, beautiful with bold and contrasting colors. Once an infant is intentionally reaching, objects will be hung, added with elastic to help the child pull the objects closer to them. The teachers understand development and how to foster these environments with the young infants. A low shelf is accessible to the infant, near the mat, with materials that encourage movement, teething and slow rolling balls. A bar is above another mirror and allows the infant to begin pulling up, to give visual feedback. Stationery and study items are in the classroom to encourage other ways to pull up, once an infant is completely mobile, upright, we remove the mat.

Feeding and Eating: builds an intimate relationship that can be rewarding one on one time with the infant to connect and be free from distractions. When feeding all focus is on the infant in a comfortable environment to both teacher and baby. This space includes a chair and/or cushion. Eating will transition to a table and chair called a weaning table. The table and chair are weighted to prevent sliding. A tablecloth with dish, fork, cup and spoon are outlined. The chair has a broader base and side arms; the height is specific to ensure the infant doesn’t fall out. Teachers sit near or across from the infant, with a tray containing all parts of a meal beside them, the infant is exposed to the food and holds it, but this is not a full meal. This is introduced between five and eight months, under the direction of the families until the infants eat the parts of the whole meal.

Sleep: needs to accommodate the infant so they can always see the environment around them while the infants are awake. Floor beds allow the infants to move on and off the bed as they need.

 

The Infant teacher will stay with the children from when they are enrolled in the school until they transition to the Pre-Primary Classroom. The Infant teacher has one assistant and an Infant closer. The closer stays with the children until they are three years old. The classroom is rated to have thirteen children, there are eight children with one teacher for every four children.

Our teachers have received training in Oregon's Safe Sleep requirements, First Aid and CPR for infants, children and adults, how to handle food and Health & Safety in Child Care.

 

We use an online tracking system called Transparent Classroom it connects the Montessori classroom with the home. Families receive daily updates about Infant's meals, snacks, naps and diaper changes. Once a infant is sitting stably, we introduce sitting on the toilet with every diaper change. Infants are welcome to refuse a turn and the change proceeds according to their wishes.