How We Teach

True North Montessori teaches in a momentous way that caters to each and every child individually based on their interest, temperament, and where they are developmentally.

The true success stories are rooted in the environments where I am able to have some one on one time with the child, so that I can draw on my observations toward their curriculum, and be granted the opportunity to form a connection. The connection is the most and foremost important factor when I approach my teaching methods. The more safe and secure they feel with me as a caregiver, the more likely they are able to build upon trust for exploration. It will take a few sessions to truly grasp who they are and what engages them the most. Furthermore, a lot of the activities during the initial meet and greet will be accommodated through child play. Once I am able to grasp the child’s likes/dislikes, I create a curriculum that I will be specialized to meet their needs. The three fundamentals in terms of exploration are sensory, language, and movement. Depending on where they are/what that strong suit may look like, I build a structured/unstructured curriculum around it. A lot of my teachings are through sensory related activities that allow the child to explore + complete tasks inside/outside the home!

I have confidence in the fact that raising a child takes a village.

It is extremely important to me that I am not working for the caregivers, but with them. I will include my suggestions/inputs, but really want the caregivers to be included in their child’s development. After each session, I will turn in a summary of what we are doing/the developmental objective. Everything is strength based! Additionally, we really lean in on what is working, the informative 2 hour session will include a full report of techniques/advice/resources, and the opportunity to communicate if another session is needed.

Let’s all come together to help guide our children toward their own True North.

Why is nature important during brain/nervous system development?

When taking in new information 0-6 mo, nature provides a means of recording tremendous amounts of information without overwhelming the system
Gathering sensory information from the environment stimulates the brain cells

What Is Montessori?

Montessori is an educational approach founded by Maria Montessori. It is based on child guided activities and discoveries. I believe in setting up an intentional environment that is designed to meet the developmental needs of a child. The following looks like setting up activities that match the child’s interest, while holding space for exploration of other available activities. The unstructured structure approach enables engagement in experiences and influences the child to learn at their own pace. Being able to take control and responsibility of their learning is a way to promote the first building block of self efficacy, which will forever be useful throughout their journey of growing into adulthood. The philosophy implements natural psychological development and intrinsic motivation as the founding factor of the learning process.

Learning Objectives

Trusting Relationships
Autonomy
Coping Skills
Mindfulness/5 Senses
Emotional Regulation
Self Esteem
Listening To Our Bodies/Intuitive Eating
Beginners Sign Language/Language Development

Nature
Art Expression
Music (Instruments, Singing, Dancing)
Free Play
Independent Play
Reading
Movement
Tools For Exploration (Language, Numbers, Color, etc.)

What is the nervous system?

The nervous system is a structural foundation that controls, regulates, and channels communicative signals within the body. Moreover, it is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Research shows that the following is the foundation for what we think/feel, and how our body responds. It allows us to do things such as speak, breathe, walk, swallow, and learn. However, It also is the controlling factor that suggests how our body reacts to a perceived threat. Childhood is the most critical period of nervous system and brain development. 90% of our brain development happens by the age of five. The neurological pathways are both structured and strengthened through our five senses and how we attach meaning to make sense of the experience. In order for the brain to develop in a healthy way, it is extremely important to establish a safe environment and safe (predictable) caregivers.

Ways to ensure a healthy responsive nervous system

what people are saying

McKenzie is absolutely incredible with our toddler and one year old. She built trust with them almost immediately. She seamlessly interweaves playtime with thoughtful nurturing and development for each of our children tailored to their specific developmental needs. Her passion and knowledge are evident in every interaction with our kids and everything from her word choice to her playing style is intentional and focused on fostering independence and critical thinking.

After just one day with McKenzie, we saw McKenzie's influence in both of our children. We saw a remarkable leap in out 15-month old in her use of sign language and words after just one day, and that carried over into our 15-month old being better able to learn and develop well after one day with McKenzie. Watching and listening to McKenzie interact with our children was helpful for us as parents, too - we learned strategies and methods to implement and carry forward.

We had a wonderful experience with McKenzie babysitting our infant and toddler boys. She was easy to communicate with and I appreciated her professionalism. She was a warm sturdy leader with the kids. Our experience was stress free and I felt reassured that our boys had the best care while were out.

McKenzie did an amazing job with our little one! We were concerned about their separation anxiety, but she came in to both help + give tips to ensure our little guy could build upon confidence to meet developmental milestones. We were amazed by the difference in his development after all of her help. He was using sign language to help get his meets met (which also led to his language development), had an increase in self esteem (He was able to explore and then come back to me for comfort), and he was able to recognize all of the letters of the alphabet before the age of 2. I would recommend her to anybody!

McKenzie is wonderful. My son really struggled with depression at the age of 11. However, after just five days of working with her..he was coming out of his room and beginning to excel in school again. I can definitely tell she is in the psychology field.

McKenzie helped us out with our little girl a few years ago. It was crazy to see the changes in such a short period of time. Who knew that a child could learn so much through play!? Our baby girl was able to count to 10 by the age of 17 mo. She was a pleasure to work with.

I recognized McKenzie’s effortless ability to work with children after a very short period of time. My four year old really struggled with his big feelings in a preschool setting. Although I reached out to the other teachers a countless amount of times to practice the techniques his therapist had given him, nothing really happened. That wasn’t until McKenzie came into the picture. She really took her time and gave him her undivided attention. I saw her on the camera as she sat with him, nurtured him, and gave him tools to help label what he was feeling. She was a blessing for our family. It was the kind of care I never thought was possible in a preschool setting.

You’ll be able to see McKenzie’s skills right away. Just the language use and the way she approaches different situations gives you the reassurance that she knows what she is doing.

Get a Free Consultation

Get to know us with a free consultation! We’ll discuss your childcare needs and goals during this 15-30 minute session, held via Zoom, Facetime, or phone call. Let’s work together to provide the best care for your child.