EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITYBy Kathryn Fairbanks

WALDORF SCHOOLLocated near Spokane Falls Community College, Windsong School is on a 72 acre expanse just above the Spokane River. The school’s setting gives children a breathtaking view to immerse themselves in but is also only 5 miles away from downtown Spokane. minutes from downtown Spokane.

FACTSAll teachers must have a B.A. or B.S. from an accredited school and certification from a Waldorf Teacher Education Program

Waldorf offers both traditional grade classrooms and mixed age classrooms

Tuition: $5,865 per year

CURRICULUMThe focus each morning is the main lesson, where reading, writing, math, history, geography and science are taught. Though the curriculum is integrated, students focus on one subject at a time more intensely in ‘block’ rotations, and then recap their learning in a future block so as to integrate their learning more deeply

Children also write and illustrate their own textbooks

REFLECTIONS Excellent learning communityClose personal connection with students and parentsExtra certification requiredBeautiful campus

PARKVIEW EARLY LEARNING CENTERLocated on N Division Street in Spokane, Parkview Early Learning Center provides full-time and part-time childcare from 5:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday-Friday

FACTSParkview ELC cares for 70-100 children ranging from infant to 13 years of age

NAEYC accredited All care providers must be certified

CURRICULUM Each age group is cared for by a certified educator at a 10:1 student teacher ratio

Curriculum is taken at a “child centered approach” Each class: Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K, and School Age has their own unique lessons specifically designed for their abilities and age group

Field Trips happen often, most recently they have gone to a fire station and the dam

Children are taught life skills as well, such as cooking and baking with supervision

REFLECTIONSSmall classroom sizesGreat hands on activitiesClose relationship with parents and studentsExciting extracurricular activities

MONTESSORI SCHOOLLocated on North Wall, Spokane, North Spokane Montessori is a Montessori certified school that exclusively takes preschool and kindergarten age children

FACTSMontessori teachers must have their B.A. or B.S. and Montessori School certification.

To be a Montessori teacher, it is not required that you majored in Education

Depending on age, tuition varies between $3,000-$7,000 per year

CURRICULUMNorth Spokane Montessori School has one lead teacher and three assistant teachers

Curriculum includes monthly educational themes; November is Children of the Mayflower/Compass Making and Map Reading

Morning curriculum involves independent work while the afternoon is time for group sharing and discussing what you’ve learned

REFLECTIONSSmall classroom sizesTeachers work together with curriculum writers and program supervisors to create the most immersive and interesting curriculum for their students

Unique teaching styles