We do not teach children. We prepare an environment that lets them teach themselves.
Our approach is rooted in the Montessori method developed by Maria Montessori in the early twentieth century, with influences from the Reggio Emilia approach that emerged in northern Italy after the second world war. Both share a foundational respect for the child as a capable, self-directed learner.
The four principles that shape every classroom.
The prepared environment
Every classroom is set up with intent. Materials are arranged on low shelves, sized for children, ordered from simple to complex. Children can reach what they need without asking. Independence begins with access.
The mixed-age community
Classrooms span three years. The youngest children learn from the oldest. The oldest children consolidate their knowledge by teaching it. The middle children are quietly the most contented group in the room.
The uninterrupted work cycle
Children get three hours each morning to choose their work and stay with it. Deep concentration cannot exist without time. Without that time, children appear scattered. With it, they appear remarkable.
The role of the educator
Educators observe more than they intervene. They give brief, precise lessons when a child is ready, then step back. The work is done by the child. The skill is in knowing when to introduce, when to wait, and when to leave alone.
What this looks like, in practice.
A two-year-old pours her own water at snack. She spills, wipes the spill with a small cloth that lives nearby for that purpose, and returns to her work. Nobody made a fuss. Nobody had to.
A four-year-old works on a multiplication chain with golden beads on a long mat for forty-five minutes. He has done this work seven times before. The eighth time, something clicks. He looks up at his educator and says I see it. His educator nods. That is enough.
A five-year-old gives a lesson to a three-year-old on how to sweep with the small broom. Both are fully serious. The three-year-old will give the same lesson, two years from now, to a different child. This is how a community sustains itself.
The best way to know if Oakbridge is the right fit is to come and see it.
Tours run weekday mornings at 10:00 AM and afternoons at 2:00 PM, with select Saturdays available by appointment. They take about 45 minutes and include time in each of our classrooms.