FFTC’s Guide to Twin Cities Preschools

Montessori:

• Child Garden Montessori School
  “What we want most for our children is that they become passionate about their own learning, and that they have the tools and skills necessary for them to pursue educational experiences as they grow and develop.”
  For ages 6 weeks-6 years | 1601 Laurel Ave, Minneapolis

Waldorf:

• City of Lakes Waldorf
  “Our historic, urban campus is located in the thriving Eat Street neighborhood just south of downtown Minneapolis, a short walk from Fair Oaks Park, the Children’s Theater, and the world-renowned Minneapolis Institute of Arts.”
  School is developed for Toddler-8th grade with a thriving preschool program | 2344 Nicollet Ave. S, Minneapolis

Nature Immersion:

• The Forest School of Minnesota
  “I committed our entire learning day to Nature Immersion fifteen years ago, when I was hearing more and more children protesting about being outside, or not wanting to walk, thus missing so much of the experience of innate learning provided by playing and exploring in nature.”
  Year Round Enrollment  | Minneapolis
• Green Earth Preschool
  “Green Earth Preschool draws from the strengths of our most treasured approaches to early childhood education from previous centuries, such as Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia.”
  2-Day, 3-Day, 5-Day Schedules | 4115 26th Ave. S
• Linden Hills Nature School
  An outdoor immersion forest school in Linden Hills.  Classes available for ages 2.5-6 | Blocks from Lake Harriet

Music:

• MacPhail at New Horizons
  “Preschoolers will be introduced to a variety of string and brass instruments, exploring many new musical concepts as they reach developmental milestones!” | Locations at Laurel Village, Marquette, and Uptown

Language:

• French American School of Minneapolis
  “From the age of 33 months to four years old, our école maternelle focuses on introducing the French language and fostering familiarity with the learning process. By introducing a foreign language at such a young age, students are able to absorb meaning simultaneously.” | 9400 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park
• Spanish Tierra Encantada
  “At Tierra Encantada we focus on the growth of the whole child and believe children learn best by doing. Students are immersed in a natural dual-language learning environment with teaching, songs, games, and conversation all occurring in Spanish. Children learn a second language similar to how they learn their native language through immersion.” | 411 E 38th St, Minneapolis

Montessori:

• Choo Choo Montessori
  “The essence of Montessori education is based on a scientific method that is practical and has been tested for over 100 years. Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy is to see children as they really are and to educate them for life by providing a supportive environment. This is created through activities that enhance their sense of order, concentration, co-ordination, independence, good manners, and awareness of color, sound, shape, texture, and language.” | 2617 Duluth Street, Maplewood, MN 55109
• Cathedral Hill Montessori
  “Our mission is to create a safe, beautiful and independent learning environment for young children; to educate families and the community about the Montessori philosophy; to instill in children a lifelong love of learning, respect and service toward humanity, and an appreciation and care of the environment.” | 325 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55102
• Kinderhaus Montessori
  “The Montessori educational environment at Kinderhaus is small creative and focused on a child’s personal development. Your child learns by exploring their interests but interacting within trusted montessori activity areas all while being guided by a veteran team of teachers. The benefits you’ll see in your child will astound you. You’ll see greater confidence creativity maturity and a thirst for continuous lifelong learning.” | 3115 Victoria St N, Roseville MN 55113

Waldorf:

• MN Waldorf School

  Serving children starting at 33 months, and offering 2, 3, and 5 day schedules, as well as full and half day options. Nature and play-based curriculum focused on nurturing the wonder of childhood and laying the foundation for academic achievement. Beautiful St. Paul campus minutes from both downtown areas. | 70 East County Road B, St. Paul, MN  55117

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Minnesota Waldorf School
Open House
Saturday, April 14, 2018.

Preschool and Kindergarten from 10-11:30
Group tour of the school from 11:30-12
First Grade open from 12-1:30
Children welcome but space is limited.
RSVP to enrollment@mnwaldorf.org or 651-487-6700 x202

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Music:

• MacPhail at New Horizon Academy
  “Preschoolers will be introduced to a variety of string and brass instruments, exploring many new musical concepts as they reach developmental milestones!”| Locations Downtown and in Highland Park

Language:

• Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion
  ” We are on a mission to make the world smaller one child at a time. It might sound like a lofty goal but we believe that by teaching a child another language and culture, we open his or her eyes to the world around them. We learn ways we are different and ways we are the same. We start to understand each other a little bit more.” | 435 Hamline Ave S, St. Paul & 1194  Randolph Ave., St. Paul

El Dia de Los Ninos

April 28, 2018 | 9 am-Noon | 1194  Randolph Ave., St. Paul
FREE
El Dia de Los Ninos is a Mexican holiday that celebrates the importance of children in our lives. Try cultural crafts, family yoga, a bilingual circle time sampler, two Spanish music & movement classes (9:30 & 11:30), a community service project, and a special Circo (circus-themed) dance presentation performed by current preschool students.

Montessori

• The Musical Montessori | Shoreview
  “A unique blend of montessori and music!”
• Step  by Step Montessori | Maple Grove
  “Our mission is to nurture the potential of the whole child and cultivate the emotional, social, and educational growth of our children from infancy through elementary.”

Waldorf (like)

• Goddard School | Brooklyn Park and Plymouth
  “In 1988, entrepreneur Anthony A. Martino established The Goddard School preschool franchise to deliver a high-quality, play-based learning program to families all over the United States.” 

Nature

• Brooklyn Park Nature Preschool
  “Using our nature-based curriculum, our students spend a significant amount of time outside every day in large and small groups learning and exploring with nature.  In our indoor classroom we have created an environment that feels like home and we use items made from natural materials as much as possible.”

Music:

• The Musical Montessori | Shoreview
  See Above
• MacPhail at New Horizons | Maple Grove, Champlin
  “Preschoolers will be introduced to a variety of string and brass instruments, exploring many new musical concepts as they reach developmental milestones!”

Language:

• Spanish Casa de Corazon | Maple Grove
  “By enrolling your children in our full day bilingual preschool, our Minneapolis and greater Twin Cities team will ensure that your children will grow and learn in a setting that focuses on cultural appreciation as an integral part of preparation for kindergarten.”

Language:

• Spanish Tierra Encantada • Eagan
  “We are a warm, community-oriented Spanish Immersion Daycare and Preschool that has an international view of education. We focus on the growth of the whole child and believe children learn best by doing. We strive to be environmentally friendly by offering cloth diapering for children in our care and providing wholesome, organic foods cooked fresh daily in our commercial kitchen on-site.”

Waldorf:

• Goddard School
  “In 1988, entrepreneur Anthony A. Martino established The Goddard School preschool franchise to deliver a high-quality, play-based learning program to families all over the United States.” 
  

Balanced Learning Approach:

• Primrose School  | Cottage Grove
  “Balanced Learning is research-informed and combines the best thinking of renowned early learning philosophers like Montessori, Piaget, Gesell and Vygotsky along with modern wisdom from the latest child development studies.”

Nature:

• Dodge Nature Preschool | West St. Paul
  “Children discover the wonders of nature and play on the Model Farm where barnyard animals provide stimulating opportunities for learning and growth. Programs on beekeeping, honey making, maple syruping – as well as tasting apples picked right off the tree – encourage children to explore how their lives are part of the world of nature.”

Music:

• MacPhail at New Horizons | Eagan, Lakeville, Apple Valley, Bloomington
  “Preschoolers will be introduced to a variety of string and brass instruments, exploring many new musical concepts as they reach developmental milestones!”

Faith Based:

• God’s Discovery Kids |Rosemount
  “Our mission is to provide a fun, safe and distinctive Christian preschool setting that is developmentally appropriate for three, four and five-year-olds.”

Language:

• Spanish Casa de Corazon | Edina
  “By enrolling your children in our full day bilingual preschool, our Minneapolis and greater Twin Cities team will ensure that your children will grow and learn in a setting that focuses on cultural appreciation as an integral part of preparation for kindergarten.”
• Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion | Hopkins
  ” We are on a mission to make the world smaller one child at a time. It might sound like a lofty goal but we believe that by teaching a child another language and culture, we open his or her eyes to the world around them. We learn ways we are different and ways we are the same. We start to understand each other a little bit more.”

Montessori:

• Step  by Step Montessori | Plymouth
  “Our mission is to nurture the potential of the whole child and cultivate the emotional, social, and educational growth of our children from infancy through elementary.”
  

Nature:

• MN Landscape Arboretum Peapods for Preschoolers (Family Classes) | Chanhassen
  “Explore the natural world with your preschooler.”

Music:

• MacPhail at New Horizons | Eden Prairie, Edina, Plymouth, St Louis Park, Chanhassen
  “Preschoolers will be introduced to a variety of string and brass instruments, exploring many new musical concepts as they reach developmental milestones!”

Faith Based:

• Christian Wooddale Academy | Eden Prairie
  “Wooddale Academy provides a balanced program of creative play, structured learning time, and physical activity.”
• Beth El Aleph Preschool | St. Louis Park
  “Children will learn to understand themselves and their sense of belonging to the local and global community through immersion in Jewish spirituality, language, culture and heritage.”

Reader Recommended:

• Faithful Beginnings | Shakopee
  “We LOVE Faithful Beginnings Preschool at Shakopee Area Catholic School!” – Lisa.

Nature:

• Children’s Country Day School  | Mendota Heights
  “We are situated on a 7 acre model farm, overlooking picturesque St. Paul.  Children’s Country Day School has been providing quality early childhood education for over 40 years.”

Music:

• MacPhail at New Horizons | Maplewood, Roseville, Woodbury
  “Preschoolers will be introduced to a variety of string and brass instruments, exploring many new musical concepts as they reach developmental milestones!”