Tricia Hoeke

Why do my children go to Children’s House Montessori?

Am I extremely knowledgeable about the Montessori philosophy? No.

Am I an expert on Montessori materials? No.

Am I a parent who wants the best educational environment for my kids? Absolutely!

I learned about Children’s House from a family member. I liked the small class sizes and the low student-teacher ratio, but most of all I like that it felt like home the minute we walked in the door.

My oldest child has hated change from the word go. She was never in day care, so preschool at 3-1/2 was a BIG change. She was immediately welcomed by the teacher and several students; she has never once said, “I don’t want to go to school.” She is in first grade now.

My younger child just started in January. He loves it. He only goes 3 days now, and gets mad that he isn’t there on Mondays and Fridays.

So why do I stay? Cookie-cutter preschools and elementary programs have always scared me. Any program that insists that kids color or play music or eat snack at the same time makes me wonder, “What if my kids don’t want to do that right now?” or “What if my kids get done before other kids? Do they have to sit and twiddle their thumbs until everyone finishes?”

The child-directed learning at Children’s House lets kids learn the way they see fit. This is not to say if a child wants to eat snack all day that it’s acceptable. Teachers direct children to new practical life, educational activities.

My kids have learned Spanish, French, and yoga. My daughter, who refused to perform in a ballet recital because of stagefright, sang Christmas carols at the nursing home last year. She performed French songs at the French Café and sang and danced in the Elementary Music Performance.

She read the book she wrote (in kindergarten) at Borders during Author’s Day. She loves telling me how much math she did, how many pages she finished, and how much she loves school. She can’t wait to be Julia Child in the Elementary Wax Museum. She has enjoyed trips to Keystone, the Journey Museum, and Bear Country.

Children’s House teaches kids to mentor other younger kids, to be tomorrow’s leaders. My daughter loves to read to her younger brother, and her dad and me. She tells her brother, “Good Job. You did that well,” when he tries to read to her. She easily introduces herself to new kids; just last night, she informed me she had made a new friend.

I love that Children’s House fuels her inner spirit and allows her to express who she is, rather than forcing her into a cookie cutter mold.

– Tricia Hoeke, mother of Katie and Jacob Hoeke