At Montessori East, toddlers spend their day in a calm, child-centered environment that encourages independence and learning through movement, communication, and hands-on activities. They engage in practical tasks like dressing, toileting, and choosing their own activities, which helps them develop motor skills, language, and confidence. Social interaction is fostered through group activities like singing, while materials and activities promote concentration and early learning in a peaceful setting.

A typical day is a couple of hours of morning work, snack, outside play, lunch, nap and more play.

At Montessori East, behavior issues in the Toddler classroom are addressed with a focus on positive guidance, redirection, and natural consequences. For biting, which can be a phase for some children during early development, the school has a specific approach. Teachers immediately remove the child from the group, explaining that biting is not acceptable because it hurts others. The bitten child is comforted and treated, while the biting child is guided toward developing better ways to express themselves.

If a pattern of biting or other aggressive behavior emerges, additional steps are taken, including meetings with parents to discuss solutions, such as sensory tools or evaluations. We use a method called sportscasting to facilitate peaceful conflict resolution. 

Montessori East emphasizes peaceful environments, helping children learn to communicate and interact positively while balancing support for all families involved.

Montessori East supports its teachers through several avenues to ensure they thrive in their roles. Teachers engage in professional development opportunities to continuously grow and refine their skills. The school also holds regular check-ins with staff to provide feedback, discuss progress, and address any concerns.

There is dedicated on-campus time for team meetings, fostering collaboration and sharing of ideas. Additionally, teachers are provided with paid sick leave and bereavement leave, ensuring their well-being is prioritized. Comprehensive training is also part of the teacher support system, ensuring educators are well-prepared for the classroom.

This holistic support system helps teachers feel valued and supported in their work, leading to a positive and effective learning environment for students.

Due to this supportive environment, Montessori East enjoys very little turnover during the course of any given school year. Most lead teachers remain with Montessori East until a major life change or a move away from Nashville. Our classroom assistants average 2 years, our leads around 5 years, and our administrative team has been in place for over ten years. 

All lead Toddler teachers are trained through the North American Montessori Center and our classroom assistants receive training from our Director of Education along with continuing education for all staff. 

No, we do not warm up food at Montessori East. Please send your child’s lunch with items that do not require refrigeration or heating. You can use ice packs to keep food cool or a thermos for warm items, as we are not permitted by state regulations to store children’s food in the school refrigerator. The exception to this is breast milk, which we will keep refrigerated.

All toddlers nap when they are at school.  If a new toddler is not napping before enrollment, they will be offered the Half Day schedule. If your child takes a short nap, they will be given quiet activities to engage in after they wake up, allowing them to help them play quietly until the rest period ends.

If your child tends to nap earlier than scheduled, we will work to adjust their rest time as needed, offering flexibility to meet their individual needs. ion goes here

When a toddler with a pacifier begins at Montessori East, their first day is also the first day the weaning process will begin. We will ensure a gradual transition to make the change more manageable with a long-term goal of leaving the pacifier behind. If you want to begin this process at home in advance, we ask that you do so at least a month before the start of school as two transitions at the same time are harder for children to manage. 

At Montessori East, we work closely with parents to support potty training, typically starting between 20 and 24 months. We look for readiness cues and involve the child in every step of the process (including doing diaper changes while the child is standing up), fostering independence. We use thick training underwear and child-sized toilets, encouraging the child to take an active role in their learning while we provide guidance and support.

If your child isn't walking by 18 months, please reach out to us. To begin in the Toddler program, children must be walking independently. We will work with you to adjust the start date to best support your child’s development. While we strive to be an inclusive environment, it's important to ensure all children receive the appropriate attention they need, so please keep us informed of any developmental needs. This helps us create the best possible learning environment for all students.

Applications for the Toddler program open one school year in advance. You can submit your application between August and December 1 of the year before your child is eligible to enroll.

If you miss the December 1 deadline, your application will not be considered until the following year’s application window opens. If an opening occurs after the applicant pool has been depleted, late applications may be reviewed.

Complete and submit the application between August and December 1, making sure to provide detailed information about your child and their routines. You’ll also need to pay the one-time application fee of $250. In January and February, selected candidates’ parents are invited to observe our classrooms so you get a first hand look at what your child’s experience would be should they be accepted and you decide to enroll. Then, no later than April 1, all acceptance and waiting list letters are emailed to applicant families. 

There is no specific length for the waiting list, but spots are limited, especially for the Toddler program, with only 6-10 openings for new families. Our applicant pool is typically four times the size of our openings.

Yes, mid-year openings may be possible. If your child will turn 18 months during the school year, you can apply for a mid-year start by making a note on your application, which still must be received by the December 1 deadline prior to the school year during which the applicant turns 18 months.

If you are waitlisted, you can reapply for the next year without paying another application fee. However, you must meet the relevant application deadlines for that year.