Montessori Homeschool Programs
We offer content specific and personalized learning for homeschoolers through our Montessori Schoolhouse, STEAM Project Labs, Lunch Club, and drop in Day Camp days!
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What Each Program Has
Working with state and Montessori-certified educators gives students access to the best of both worlds. As state-certified educators, we bring specific knowledge of best approaches for special education, literacy, and content learning for kindergarten to eighth grade. As Montessorians, we understand the best ways to maintain an environment that fosters self-determination, curiosity, wonder, empathy, and personal responsibility for children.
All of our programs operate as a one-room, multi-age Schoolhouse. Including members ages 5 to 12 allows us to truly celebrate diversity and all forms of learning.
- Older children naturally help younger children, and this extends to others who may need it.
- Younger children ask for help from older children and, by experiencing their support, understand how to help others themselves.
- Children with learning differences and children who are academically gifted can find materials and peers to develop skills that may not be available in a single-grade-level classroom.
- The same kids are able to find same-age and same-interest friends on the playground and for shared art, music, and other experiences.
All programs at Dandelion Learning Collaborative are designed to empower children to actively engage with each other and with academic content while also developing personal skills and knowledge that will serve them as students, citizens, and their best selves in the future.
Self-directed and Montessori practices are evident in all of our programs. We believe that children are natural learners driven by intrinsic motivation and best nurtured with autonomy and choice in multi-age classrooms that are intentionally prepared to preserve and encourage exploration, curiosity, wonder, playfulness, planning, individuality, and community.
Our Montessori Schoolhouse
Montessori Schoolhouse is our touchstone program for ages 5-12, providing social, academic, and personal opportunities in a traditional Montessori rhythm. It includes both structured and autonomous time for work and play and incorporates brief group times for planning, sharing, and work such as cleaning up the room together.
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Our STEAM Lab
Our STEAM Project Lab provides more focused, shared lesson time. Students in these groups still benefit from community building, autonomy, and respectful discipline; however, they invest more time in shared lessons and common projects. To ensure that children’s interests are honored, teachers work with the students to select topics and prepare lessons. These groups also engage in planned Montessori work cycles, time for play together, and personal projects and work.
STEAM Project Labs are for students who enjoy traditional classroom instruction as well as project-based learning. Project Labs begin with questioning, moving from play to experimentation and design. Children develop research and design skills as they interact with our topics and classmates in teams. Then we move on to an open work cycle with all K-8 content available.
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Our Day Camps
Our Day Camps are offered on select Fridays during the Academic Year and in two special summer sessions in June through August. Members enroll their kids in these camps often just because they love them – but also as an easy fit when you need your child to have an additional day in Schoolhouse. If you’re considering joining us, these camps are a great way to experience the Dandelion Learning Community and see if it’s a good fit!
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Lunch Club
Lunch Club provides a daily anchor for communication and connection for all Dandelion children and families. This hour of the day allows for easy transitions, birthday celebrations, conversations with teachers, and connection with others in our playspace and while sharing a meal.
Lunch Club meets from 12-1 each day and can be added to either the morning or afternoon session. In nature is the place where we see kids connect best; outside of extreme weather, we are primarily outdoors during this hour. This supervised and supported recess gives families scheduling flexibility and children time outdoors that truly belongs to them and their friends! We often see field games, jump rope, playground play, mud kitchen, and garden action as well as imaginative play and building with loose parts during this time.
Yes, we accept Academic Year enrollment in up to 6 half-day sessions! Members may join any combination of Montessori, STEAM, and Lunch Club programs. For those registering for two sessions or two full days, we recommend selecting Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday programs. For those registering for 4 half-day sessions, we recommend all mornings or all afternoons.
Because we rely on tuition as our primary funding, you will notice that our contracts for Montessori Schoolhouse and STEAM programs are for August-June. We also know that children and families don’t only make changes to match the Academic Calendar. We are happy to make plans for adjustments and additions to schedules as needed throughout the Academic Year. Additions are easy to make right away. We ask for a 30-day notice of any withdrawal.
The Montessori and self-directed approach is designed to work with children’s natural path to learning and celebrate the gifts of childhood. By and large, we see kids fall into an easy rhythm with us quickly. Our educators have experience working not only in Montessori settings but also in traditional public and private schools and will guide your child to acclimate however they feel comfortable to start. Our approach is highly personalized, and all children, regardless of previous experience, are supported in learning at their own pace and comfort.
Our programs are diverse in all ways – most uniquely and most importantly, with groups that include all elementary ages. We provide access to all learning k-8 to all kids, and this style of grouping gives everyone a chance to both teach and learn together. Our Montessori Schoolhouse Programs and Day Camps are designed for and include members ages 5-12, and our STEAM Project Labs are for ages 7-12.
Our programs function like a relaxed, single-room school environment where children aged 5 to 12 interact with one another. This setup is fantastic as it truly honors various kinds of individuality. Older children instinctively support the younger ones, creating a natural bond. The younger ones admire their older peers for guidance, leading to a harmonious changing. Also, children labeled as “younger” or “older” within their grade level have the opportunity to form friendships across age groups, avoiding the limitations of a fixed age range. Those with diverse learning preferences or exceptional talents can discover tailored resources and companions to assist them in learning skills that may not be offered in a conventional single-grade setting.
Additionally, they have the opportunity to connect with peers of the same age who share similar interests through recreational activities and projects such as art and music. The consistent presence of the same teachers, alongside a blend of ages, allows for deeper connections as everyone matures. This fosters the development of meaningful friendships that endure beyond the summer, not simply disappearing when it’s time to advance to the next grade.
Most groups have between 12-16 members and all are capped at 24 participants with three adults. All groups have at least 1 adult for every 8 children and there are always at least two staff members on site.
