Welcome to the Toddler 2 Room!

The Toddler 2 Room is for children ages 18-24 months to 30-36 months.

The Toddler 2 Montessori Program is designed to facilitate your child's developing needs. The prepared Montessori environment encourages your child's coordination and development of fine and gross motor skills, language development, and independence in your toddler.

This program serves your child in his/her natural desire to gain mastery of their environment by offering opportunities that encourage the child to learn in a methodical way that maximizes absorption. Routine parent-teacher conferences are held to discuss your child's progress.

We teach children in a methodical, step-by-step way to facilitate cognition and learning. Our classroom offers several interest areas, including a reading area, manipulative, art, housekeeping, blocks, a water/rice/sand table, and a nature table.

Our program includes:

  • Listening and learning during circle time

  • Push toys

  • Crayons, markers, easel, and finger painting

  • Ball playing

  • Bike riding

  • Problem-solving

  • Weekly movement classes, offered by Power Tots (optional)

Daily Activities

Art

The children have an opportunity daily to experience various free art projects, easel painting, finger painting, watercolors, crayons, and markers on blank paper. In addition, we offer thematic-based art projects which assist in developing fine motor skills.

Montessori

During Montessori time, your toddler will experience practical life lessons such as spooning, pouring, pinching, twisting, and care of the environment. These lessons include folding, dusting, washing, and setting the table.

Throughout each day, we teach toddlers social grace lessons such as greeting, saying please and thank you, shaking hands, and how to excuse themselves. Personal care lessons on blowing their nose, using the toilet, putting on and taking off their hats and shoes, and many other lessons, are integrated into the daily routine.

Circle Time

We have several group gathering times each day. During these circle times, we talk about the weather, sing songs, learn poems, read books, count, and role-play. These times are designed to lengthen your toddler's attention span and teach new concepts.

Free Play

Children are allowed to choose their "work" (a Montessori term). We use free play to introduce the equipment to new children in our classroom. They are taught how to use the material and return it to the shelf.

Toddler 2 Teachers

Parent Meetings

Parent meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month from 1:00 – 2:00 pm. These meetings allow parents to gather informally and discuss their child’s development. The Lead Teacher will provide information about upcoming events and occasional workshops, such as toilet training, promoting self-help skills, and discipline.

If your child has been in the room for over six months, the teacher will schedule a parent/teacher conference with you.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/Teacher conferences are held in the spring and fall. At conference time, you can expect to receive an updated copy of your child’s Portage Guide and an opportunity to discuss your child’s developmental progress. A sign-up sheet will be posted for these half-hour appointments. However, if you have any concerns regarding your child’s development, a meeting can be held at any time throughout the year. We are here to support you and your family in any way possible.

Field Trips

We typically take two field trips per year, which require parent help with transportation and supervision of children. Detailed information will be provided to parents regarding the plans and responsibilities of parents for each trip. These annual trips normally occur in the summer (zoo trip) and fall (pumpkin patch trip).

We also enjoy weekly walking trips to nearby museums, exhibits, parks, concerts, and the duck pond. We are very lucky to have an array of rich cultural experiences in our neighborhood and appreciate any information you might have about special activities in our area.

Toddler 2 Room Schedule

8:00 School Open

8:30 - 9:45 Montessori Work Cycle

9:45 - 10:00 Morning Snack

10:00 - 10:45 Group Time

11:00 - 11:45 Outdoor Time

12:00 - 12:30 Lunch

12:30 - 12:45 Clean-up/Transition to nap

12:45 - 3:00 Naptime

3:00 - 3:15 Afternoon Snack

3:30 - 4:15 Outdoor Time

4:30-5:30 Art

5:30 School Closed

Note: Potty time is offered to children every hour or hour-and-a-half to encourage independence and potty learning.

Arriving & Departing

The teachers will sign your child in and out each day via the Brightwheel app. If your child is expected to be absent or late, please indicate this to your child’s teacher or telephone us by 9:00 am so we can plan accordingly.

Please remember to have your child walk into our classroom in the mornings. They should be encouraged to hang their coats and sweaters on the hooks in their cubbies. You may want to bring a photo of your child to tape in their cubby as a helpful way for them to identify where it is located.

Snacks

Teachers offer children a morning and afternoon snack consisting of milk, water, and one of the approved snacks provided by the Good Food Company. Children remaining in the classroom shortly before closing are offered an additional snack.

Lunch Time

To develop independence, children in the Toddler Twos Room are encouraged to use forks, spoons, and open cups for drinking. We also use napkins instead of bibs, again, to encourage their self-help skills. Lunchtime may seem quiet compared to other classrooms because the children are extremely interested in mastering these new tools. Please let us know if there are any changes in your child’s diet. 

What to Bring

Please make sure everything is clearly labeled.  Each child has designated areas for his/her belongings. If we need to change your child's clothing, the dirty clothing will be tied in a plastic bag and placed in your cubby to be picked up at the end of the day. Please make sure all clothing fits and is appropriate for the weather. Please refrain from bringing in clothing or other items that you would not want to get stained or lost. Also, note that Small Savers is a peanut-free Center, so please refrain from bringing any nut products into the center or any of its classrooms.

Supplies

  • Clothing – Please provide changes of clothing with all items clearly labeled. Your toddler will explore many new activities where clothing will be exposed to water, paint, and toileting.

  • Picture – We tape your child’s picture in their cubby to help them identify their space.

  • Blanket – Your child will need a blanket for nap time. We send blankets home each Friday for laundering.

  • Nap time – Children in the Toddler Twos Room do not use bottles, sippy cups, or pacifiers at nap time. Stuffed animals are welcome for nap time comfort.

Birthdays

We encourage birthday celebrations. They are very important to everyone. On or near your child’s birthday, you may choose to bring a treat to share for an afternoon snack (4:00 pm). Please be sure it is relatively nutritious. We appreciate efforts to keep the celebration simple yet fun for the children and usually sing the birthdays song or tell a story. Please consult with the Lead Teacher regarding guidelines for classroom birthday parties.

NO PEANUTS, NUTS, OR CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS ARE ALLOWED. PLEASE BRING ITEMS IN THAT HAVE A CLEAR AND READABLE INGREDIENTS LABEL.

Transitions to the Primary/Preschool Room

Children in the Toddler 2 Room transition into the Preschool Room at 33 – 36 months. We use their progress on the Portage guide, the pace of development, and monthly team meetings as a method of gauging a transition date. You can expect notice of an approximate transition date and an appointment with your Toddler II and Preschool Head Teachers within 30 – 60 days before it occurs.

We normally take a couple of days to totally transition children in the Preschool Classroom and closely monitor their emotional indicators, offering added support and nurturance as needed or lengthening the number of transition days if necessary. We do our best to ensure smooth transitions for all children recognizing that every change in a child’s life is an adjustment for the entire family. Please feel free to ask questions or express your concerns whenever necessary.

Transitional Objects: We welcome transitional objects (stuffed animals or blankets) for children to meet their emotional needs for security and reassurance. During naptime and occasional moments of distress, we know these items bring reassurance and encourage sleep. We appreciate parents’ help in washing these on a routine basis and assuring that they are available, especially during transition time.

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