At Meadows Montessori in Oakland, New Jersey, learning is a joyful way of life. Serving children ages 3 to 6, Meadows nurtures each student’s natural curiosity through hands-on exploration, engaging enrichment programs, and meaningful connections with faculty and with each other. From mindful art and gardening to foreign language and carpentry, students are empowered to shape their world with creativity and care. Grounded in the Montessori philosophy and supported by their AMS membership, Meadows Montessori is building confident and compassionate lifelong learners.
A Community Built With Intention
What makes your school community unique?
Our students truly love to learn. You see it in the way they greet new materials with eager hands and open minds, in the conversations they initiate about what they’re exploring, and in the joy they take in teaching each other. That spark is something we protect, nurture, and celebrate.
Our enrichment programs are woven naturally into the day. Children learn chess to develop strategy and patience, take piano and vocal music lessons to express creativity, and explore gardening to develop responsibility and care for the earth. We’ve also introduced mindful art, foreign language, and even basic carpentry, because we believe in teaching children how to shape the world around them in thoughtful, beautiful ways.
What truly anchors our school, though, are the intentional relationships we build with each child. We spend time getting to know who they are, not just academically, but emotionally and socially. We pay close attention to their personalities, their likes and dislikes, what sparks their curiosity, and what helps them feel seen and safe. This deep knowing allows us to guide each student in a way that’s meaningful and personalized. In doing so, we cultivate not only learners, but confident, compassionate human beings.
What is your school most proud of?
Without a doubt, what we’re most proud of is the community we’ve built, a true Meadows family.
Every child who walks through our doors changes and is changed by our community. And that transformation stays with them. It shows up in how they carry themselves in the world, how they treat others, how they face challenges with calm confidence and empathy. The Meadows experience becomes a part of who they are.
Can you share a favorite school tradition or community ritual?
One of our most beloved, and recently most talked-about, traditions has been our annual Science Fair. It’s become a highlight of the year, and not just for the students, but for the entire school community.
There’s something truly magical about watching our young scientists take ownership of their learning. They carefully select an experiment that excites them, they test it, question it, practice it, and prepare to present it, not just to their classmates, but to an audience of parents, siblings, teachers, and friends. It’s more than just science, it’s confidence building, public speaking, and joyful discovery all in one.
On the day of the fair, the air is buzzing with excitement. Children beam with pride as they explain the steps of a baking soda volcano, the results of a sink-and-float test, or the structure of a handmade model of the solar system. They’re not just performing experiments, they’re owning their voice, their process, and their curiosity.
This tradition has become a celebration of not only what they know, but who they are becoming: thinkers, doers, leaders. And watching them shine in that moment is a reminder of why we do what we do.
Growing the Movement With More Open Doors
What does Montessori mean to your school today as well as in the future?
Today, Montessori is the heartbeat of everything we do at Meadows. It’s in the way we greet each child with respect and warmth, in the way our classrooms hum with calm, purposeful energy, and in the way we trust our students to lead their own learning. Montessori, for us, is not just a method, it’s a mindset. A belief that children are capable, curious, and full of potential when given the right environment, the right tools, and the right kind of trust.
Looking ahead, Montessori is our guidepost for the future. We see it as the answer to many of the challenges our world is facing. In a time when children are overstimulated, over-tested, and often overlooked, the Montessori philosophy offers a counterbalance rooted in peace, purpose, and whole-child development. We want to continue to grow and evolve while staying grounded in that foundation.
Our future vision includes expanding access to Montessori education, bringing this beautiful, intentional method to more families who may not have thought it was within reach. We want to grow our program in ways that remain deeply personalized and community-centered, while adapting to the changing needs of today’s children and families.
How has your AMS membership supported your school’s growth or community?
Being a member of the American Montessori Society has been an incredible source of support, inspiration, and credibility for our school as we’ve grown. When we were just starting out, AMS gave us a framework to build from, offering guidance, professional standards, and a sense that we were part of something much bigger than ourselves. Knowing that we could lean on an organization with decades of Montessori expertise gave us the confidence to grow thoughtfully and with intention.
Beyond that, our AMS membership has helped us build trust with our families and our community. It shows that we are not only committed to Montessori education in name, but in practice, that we uphold values of excellence, equity, and child centered learning. Parents often tell us they feel proud knowing we are part of the AMS network; it signals that we are connected to a legacy of authentic Montessori schools across the country and around the world.
The professional development, research, and shared resources we receive through AMS have also been instrumental in helping us reflect, refine, and evolve. Whether it’s access to webinars, publications, or a community of educators who truly “get it,” AMS keeps us inspired and informed as we continue to grow.
But perhaps most importantly, AMS has helped us remember that we’re not alone on this journey. We’re part of a movement, and that connection has been invaluable, especially during challenging times. It reminds us why we do what we do, and it keeps our vision strong.
AMS School Membership links Montessori schools of every size to shared resources, professional learning, and a network of peers who celebrate successes and tackle challenges together. Whether you’re renewing or joining for the first time, membership keeps your school’s ideas and questions in ongoing conversation with colleagues across the globe. Learn more about school membership here.