Taking the Beginning Steps Together for North Canton's Future

This class signifies a warm, comfortable, cozy place for children. This is where our children take their first steps in exploring the world around them, they are discovering and adapting to life. All facilities in our school are created with safety and engagement for children of all ages in mind. Everything here is designed to ensure that our youngest children are successful in the period of the most significant development - the first year of their lives, with the help of Montessori activities and an aesthetic environment. By exploring the Montessori environment twice a week, children develop motor skills in addition to forming logical cause-and-effect relationships. We are focused on creating a safe space where our youngest children can develop their independence.

At Best Buddies, our youngest Children are welcomed with warmth and kindness from when they arrive at school. Teachers and staff support children as they say goodbye and step into their school, ready for an exciting day ahead.

After the morning greeting, students head into the classroom to join their friends and explore the many wonders that await them. Every shelf is carefully curated for the children based on their age, interests, and physical and social-emotional needs. Toddlers learn by doing, touching, seeing, and listening, and our classrooms are designed for this exact purpose. Beautiful materials are displayed throughout the classroom, inviting little hands to explore; to open, touch, take apart, and then put back together. The enriching environment is as much a teacher as the adults in the classroom. The feeling of belonging is a fundamental part of every student's success and well-being. Every lesson encourages the connection between children, peers, and teachers. While laying the foundation for learning, students master their environment, work independently, collaborate in small groups, and work together in a classroom. The curriculum for toddlers is designed to support children's independence giving them the tools to be successful. Children build their coordination and focus on carrying out daily living tasks. Students have individualized curriculums that are tracked by teachers as they are presented with new materials or concepts. As students work with these activities, teachers use their observations and data to plan each student individually or within small paired groups.

Circle time or community meetings provide opportunities for the class to come together as a community. Teachers begin these gatherings by leading children through songs, finger-play activities, and stories. Songs and stories will often lead to conversations about various themes, such as changes in the season or different social-emotional experiences that support the overall development of children's communication and expression.

Good morning, how are you?” is how every Best Buddies student is welcomed to school each day. After the morning greeting, students head into the school to put their belongings away and join their friends in the classroom. The day starts with mindfulness exercises to prepare children’s mind and body for the upcoming day of learning and discovery. Students have individualized curriculums which are tracked by teachers as they are presented with new materials or concepts. As students work with these activities, teachers use their observations and data to further plan for each student individually or within small paired groups.

The feeling of belonging is a fundamental part of every student’s success and well-being. Every lesson has an element encouraging connection between students, whether it’s working on projects together or participating in group discussions. The Montessori classroom gives students many different working environments – working independently, collaborating in small groups, and working together as a classroom. At times, the process can be very hands-on, requiring communication and movement, and other times the work requires staying quiet, being fully focused and attentive. Students manage their work time by making choices in all curricular areas that peak their interest. Our time-tested classic curriculum of practical life, sensorial materials, math, language, science, culture, and art enables children to learn and improve their cognitive and normative skills in a multiplicity of core development areas. Our classrooms are fully equipped with primary educational materials that meaningfully shape and sculpt the child’s psycho-neurological functioning.

Teachers support young students to think and act independently even as they learn to explore the world at their own pace and in their own way.

Teachers will guide students toward various activities when they have mastered one concept and are ready to build on their experience. Students are given the freedom to organize their day around their goals. The student's choice will include work he/she would like to complete for the day. During this time, children can also take "breaks" to re-energize and refocus by having snacks, reading, mindfulness meditation, practicing origami, chatting with a friend or just sitting quietly.

Health and wellness are important elements in the everyday routine of Best Buddies. Our primary students set the table to make every meal feel like one at home with family and friends, allowing for bonding and forming connections. Children bring food from home, the menu incorporates a wide variety of meals combining many international cuisines. Each meal includes a balance of nutrients, vegetables, and healthy grains and also tastes delicious!