Visitors to our Toddler environments find children joyfully engaged in purposeful work within beautiful, peaceful spaces. This is where a lifetime love of learning is first nurtured at Corvallis Montessori School.
The Absorbent Mind
Dr. Maria Montessori described the first plane of development as a time when the child possesses a truly absorbent mind. During these formative years, young children effortlessly absorb language, mathematical concepts, physical coordination, and social behaviors directly from their surrounding environment.
Our Three Toddler Communities
To support this rapid period of growth, we offer three distinct, nurturing toddler classrooms tailored to specific developmental windows.
- The Ponderosa Classroom (15 to 30 Months): Designed for our youngest toddlers, this intimate, mixed-age community has a maximum of 12 children, supported by one Montessori Guide and two assistants.
- The Toddler Transition Communities — Willow & Hazelnut (Ages 2 to 3): Specifically designed for older toddlers, our Willow and Hazelnut classrooms feature a maximum of 10 students, led by one Guide and one full-time assistant.
A Note for Prospective Families: Many families seek out care around the two-year mark, at which point our Ponderosa classroom is typically full. The Willow and Hazelnut transition classes offer a wonderful entry point for these older toddlers to begin their Montessori journey. Because space in our Toddler Program is highly sought after, we strongly recommend applying about one year in advance.
A Specially Prepared Environment
Across all three classrooms, our environments feature furniture and materials specially scaled for small bodies and hands. This meticulously prepared space allows children to comfortably experience the joys of community life through age-appropriate activities, giving them the freedom to move and choose work independently.
Exercises of Practical Life & Exploration
Students in our Toddler Program attend daily, engaging in familiar, purposeful activities they see adults perform at home. They freely choose from appealing, self-correcting materials across our core curriculum areas:
- Practical Life: Real-world skills like preparing food, setting the table, and washing dishes, alongside self-care milestones like dressing, feeding, and toileting that foster true independence.
- Sensorial Exploration: Materials designed to help children clarify, classify, and understand the physical world around them.
- Language & Coordinated Movement: Activities that enrich vocabulary, support self-expression, and refine gross and fine motor skills.
- The Arts: Creative opportunities integrated naturally into the daily rhythm.
Grace, Courtesy, and the True Nature of Childhood
Our parents deeply value the close communication and support they receive from our classroom guides, building a strong foundation of trust and confidence as their children mature.
While modern culture often expects toddlers to be inherently rambunctious or disorganized, visitors to our Toddler Program are frequently amazed by the peaceful atmosphere. Here, you will see young children concentrating deeply, moving calmly, and practicing spontaneous acts of grace and courtesy. This deep focus and kindness is the true nature of childhood when supported by a Montessori environment. We think you’ll be delighted by how easily and cheerfully your child adapts to life in our classroom communities.
“The child’s first instinct is to carry out his actions by himself, without anyone else’s help, and his first conscious effort is towards self-liberation.” — Dr. Maria Montessori
The Outdoor Prepared Environment: Nature & Movement
Nature is central to the Montessori philosophy, serving as a natural extension of our classroom. Our toddlers, along with all students school-wide, enjoy access to their own dedicated garden space. In this outdoor environment, children connect with the natural world through purposeful work—digging, watering plants, weeding, and observing life cycles firsthand.
To support their robust physical development, daily exploration in our play park provides essential opportunities for gross motor refinement, strength, and spatial awareness. Through both the garden and the park, children develop a deep appreciation for the world around them while building confidence in their physical capabilities.
- Class Size: Limited to 10–12 toddlers.
- Waitlist Note: We recommend inquiring one year in advance.