The Children'S Workshop Montessori School

My two children (now in their young twenties) attended the Workshop when they were in pre-K and K. In the years since their time there, our family has talked on countless occasions about their transformative experiences in this wonderful school. After just a few hours each day, my boys came home with more knowledge, foundational experiences, and skills than I could ever have imagined. Sometimes they'd come home excitedly describing to me some great painters of the Renaissance period; other times they'd be proud to have graduated to the next reading level. In the close-knit environment of the Workshop, they made dear friends (several remain friends to this day), and every teacher knew every student extremely well. In the world of pre-schools, there can be very loose programming, very strict programming, and other varieties of vibes and school cultures. What we loved so much about the Workshop was that the founder, Kate Birtwell, ran a tight ship with rules and expectations about behavior, but one that was filled with warmth, compassion, and a group of teachers (including Kate and her daughter—the current director, Jill) who so clearly wanted to be there. Interactions my children had over their combined years there are still relevant to them to this day. I communicate regularly with one of the wonderful (now retired) teachers (Linda) who made such a difference in my boys' lives. And my younger son had a special bond with Jill, who was able to teach him in a way that made him excited to get up and go to school. To this day, the Children's Workshop stands out as the best choice we could possibly have made to give our kids an incredible introduction to school. It was a phenomenal place, and years later we still drive by and get overwhelmed by the good memories. Thank you Kate Birtwell for founding this special place, thank you to the teachers we still miss, and thank you Jill for continuing the legacy.

We had a wonderful experience at the Children's Workshop, and I’m so grateful for the care and education our two girls received here. The teachers are patient, attentive, and truly dedicated to each child’s growth as an individual. They create a calm, nurturing environment where children feel safe, respected, and excited to learn. They encourage independence, confidence, and a genuine love of learning. My girls developed strong social skills, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility, all while learning at their own pace. Communication with staff was always clear and supportive, and it was obvious how much they genuinely care about the children. This school has played such a positive role in my children’s early years, and we will always appreciate the strong foundation it gave them. I would highly recommend the Children's Workshop to any family looking for a caring, enriching, and child-centered learning environment.

We absolutely love the Children’s Workshop. Our children adore their teachers and truly see it as a second family. The teachers are kind, thoughtful, and incredibly attentive, and they do a wonderful job nurturing each child’s individual personality and interests, something that means everything when you have multiples. Communication is excellent, and we’re always grateful for the small, meaningful observations they share about our children’s growth. Our kids attend both the morning program and after-school enrichment and are thriving. They love coming home to teach us new songs and tell us about their days. The teachers are so creative and all holidays are celebrated with history and fun! We wouldn’t consider sending them anywhere else and plan to stay all three years. Highly recommended!!

We feel so fortunate to have found the Children’s Workshop Montessori. The education, guidance, and attention to detail have helped to build our son’s confidence and curiosity in ways we are able to experience every day. The love for his school has us considering next steps in our son’s educational journey around the importance and value of small classrooms, understanding the individual child, and the special collaboration with teachers. The extended day programming is an opportunity to have your child participate in Musical Theater/Movement, Odyssey of the Mind, Spanish, and Art through Literature. It is exceptional programming in engagement and creativity on all fronts. We would recommend The Children's Workshop Montessori to any family looking for a similar experience.

We are incredibly lucky to have a school like Children’s Workshop here in Marblehead. It is everything you expect from a great preschool: warm, beautiful, enriching, and supportive. But it is so much more. After three years at the Workshop, our children were reading fluently, writing in their journals, and practicing multiplication and division skills. It wasn’t just that they were doing all of this at such a young age, but also that they were taking so much pleasure in the process. Their experiences, always customized and developmentally appropriate, became the foundation for a love of learning that has lasted ever since. They couldn’t wait to go to school each morning, and they came home each afternoon talking nonstop about everything from composers to types of birds and flowers, historical figures, painters, great thinkers, geography, government, and so much more. They learned to give public presentations, to shake hands and make eye contact, to practice good table manners, to be kind to friends, to clean up after themselves, and even to speak Spanish. And there was also plenty of time for independent play and outdoor activities. Children’s Workshop is an incredibly special community, for students and families alike. Our children, now in their teens and early twenties, benefitted tremendously from their preschool experiences, and we are so grateful to all of the Workshop teachers over the years. This school has been a gift to our family.