Why a Montessori Cooperative?
Supporting one another through grace, courtesy and respect is critical in any authentic Montessori classroom. We seek to extend these values beyond the walls of our classroom as a cooperative learning community, where education and development of the adults happens alongside that of the children.
What is Montessori?
The Montessori Philosophy of early childhood education was derived from the work of Maria Montessori in Italy in the early 20th century. Maria Montessori was one of the first women in Italy to receive a medical degree and her work in this field eventually led her to study pedagogy and educational theory. Applying her background in the scientific method of observation and experimentation in her work with children, Montessori began to advance a new form of early childhood education.
This new style of education focused on the child and moved the teacher into the background. While the child/teacher relationship is vital in any form of education, Montessori found that children learn more fully and deeply when they are allowed to initiate their learning and its pace. The teacher, in the Montessori method, is a well-prepared guide available to assist the child further in development and understanding. Montessori education continues to be relevant today, as a proven framework for nurturing and respecting children, their natural curiosity, and their love of learning.
Preschool Cooperatives
The co-op preschools model offer learning environments to children ages birth to 6 years and their grown-ups. Although every school is structured differently, the approach is marked by a willingness to work with others, a focus on play-based or child-lead curriculum and parent-family involvement.
Our Philosophy
We know that children learn more fully and deeply when they are allowed to initiate learning at their own pace. Authentic Montessori in practice fosters each child’s independence, self-care, care for others and the environment through grace and courtesy. The teacher, in the Montessori method, is a well prepared guide available to assist the child further in development and understanding. With these foundations in place, children can bloom into compassionate global citizens.
A day in the life
Each morning our community is welcomed to classrooms tailor-made for children and their particular plane of development. Starting with an uninterupted morning work cycle involving sensorial, math, geography, practical life or other work of their choosing. Moving outside after both the morning and afternoon work cycles invigorate children of every age. Snacks are available throughout the day, and everyone will enjoy a packed lunch for group meal at midday. For those needing it, a nap time will follow.
Our Tiered Tuition Model
Everbloom is devoted to all families and children and we have purposefully structured our funding model to reflect our beliefs in the importance of equitable access to quality early education. Each classroom has a designated number of spots per income tier and preference will be granted to those families seeking a 5-day schedule for their infant-toddler aged children. Tuition rates listed are for a traditional academic calendar from late August to early June. Summer rates and schedule options will be announced not later than the first quarter of the upcoming school year.
Our Classrooms
Everbloom currently supports five different classroom environments, consisting of four different age groupings. In our Infant Room we care for children from approximately 3 to 15 months. In our Young Toddler and Toddler environments we support children roughly 15 to 36 months and in our Children’s House we work with children from 2.5 to 6 years old. Classroom grouping by age in months is an estimate of developmental readiness. Classroom placement may vary and will be made at the discretion of our guides.
Our standard day runs from approximately 8:30am to 3:30pm, with affordable options for extended care offered before and after. As part of our commitment to high-fidelity Montessori learning, each classroom provides an uninterrupted work period. This time is fundamental to the Montessori environment, in order to give children the opportunity to work through various tasks and responsibilities at their own pace.
“This uninterrupted work period is vitally important, as it provides the time necessary to build coordination, concentration, independence and order, and it is when the assimilation of information is able to occur.” - The American Montessori Society
To best preserve this, we do not offer half-day schedules but understand some families may not wish to utilize a full day of care. Tuition rates listed are for a traditional academic calendar from late August to early June. Fall 2023-24 enrollment, and tuition rates are now available on our Enrollment page, with summer rates and schedule options for enrolled families to be announced. Please join our mailing list for the latest on enrollment, open houses and other opportunities at Everbloom!
Our prepared and sensitive teachers are not only delivering a child-centered curriculum, they have a valued voice in leading the direction and growth of our community.
Launching Everbloom Montessori Cooperative is a passion project that has been a long time coming—driven by necessity and pushed from a dream into reality through the strained circumstances of a global pandemic. With a hope for the future and a vision of nurturing our youngest members of society into the compassionate global citizens this world needs, we are thrilled to have opened our doors for the fall 2021-22 school year.
Emily Jacobson
Director of Education
& AMS-certified
Infant-Toddler Guide
Emily is a 25 year veteran of Early Childhood Education, primarily spent as lead of the Infant-Toddler program at Stepping Stones Montessori School.
Much of Emily’s focus in the classroom is to create a loving, trusted bond with her students. She also cares deeply about nurturing and empowering other educators in this important work of supporting families during critical early years.
Annie Cloyd
Program Director
& AMS-certified
Infant-Toddler Guide
Annie holds a M.A.T. in Secondary Education and came to Montessori in 2012 as an assistant in the infant room at Stepping Stones Montessori School. She completed her studies for Infant/Toddler Certification from the American Montessori Society in 2020.
Annie loves working with infants and toddlers, and has a passion for working with new parents as a support to them as they move into a new and momentous life experience.
Kate Robinson
Board of Directors
& Lead Parent Coordinator
Kate is a Design Strategist and Partner at Further Degree, a Strategy Innovation studio in Grand Rapids, MI. She has 10+ years of experience in the startup, business and non-profit space and has taken a particular interest in Montessori Philosophy since having children in 2017. Kate also served on the board of West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science in Walker, MI from 2014-2020
“The teacher, when [they] begin work in our schools, must have a kind of faith that the child will reveal [themself] through work.”
- Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
Interested in getting involved? We have an incredible team in place and are looking forward to bringing other equally passionate and capable professionals into the mix. We are also currently seeking candidates to join our Board of Directors and as well as volunteers to participate in committee work. Reach out for more information!
Our space
We have two lovely facilities, totaling over 8,000sf facility near the intersection of Burton and Breton in SE Grand Rapids, with a beautiful outdoor space and easy access to the greater Grand Rapids metro area. We’re a short walk from three major bus lines (#5, #6, #24), and conveniently located near many other amenities including grocery, retail, pediatric, and other professional offices.