Where Children Thrive

We provide thoughtful, intentional, community-focused Montessori early childhood education for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners, serving families across Aurora, Naperville, Oswego, Plainfield, Montgomery, and surrounding communities.

Start the Conversation
A woman and three children sitting on the floor in a classroom, engaging in a playful activity. The children are making funny faces, while the woman is smiling with her eyes closed. The background shows shelves with educational supplies.

OUR APPROACH

Growing Together, From the Start

Montessori Children’s Garden in Aurora, IL is a community that builds relationships with our students and invests in our families to prepare the child for life. Our staff is genuinely driven to partner with families and guide each child so they thrive with confidence. 

This is all possible due to a mutual effort to create an environment that is loving, peaceful, encouraging, and supportive.

MONTESSORI EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN 2-6 YEARS OLD

Year-Round Programs to Help Your Child Become Their Best Self

We believe the best learning happens in an environment built on respect, consistency, and joy. Our year-round Montessori programs for Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Kindergarteners are designed to meet each child where they are, and guide them toward who they're becoming.

A young girl with light brown hair pouring a liquid into a mixing bowl in a classroom or craft room.

Toddler

Plant the Seeds for Your Child’s Learning

Toddlers are curious, capable, and eager to explore. MCG's toddler program meets them right where they are, helping them build independence, confidence, and a love of learning through hands-on discovery in a warm, nurturing environment.

  • Focus Areas

    • Adjusting to a new normal at school

    • Focus on autonomy, self-confidence, and independence

    • Potty training and toilet learning

    • Feeding themselves

    • Cleaning up after play and snack time

    • Putting on their coat and shoes

    • Organizing the classroom

    • Problem solving and learning their own potential

    Program Offerings

    • 3, 4, or 5 days per week, year-round

    • Half day: 8:15am - 12:15pm

    • Extended hours available, between 7:00am and 6:00pm

Two young children, a boy and a girl, standing together in a classroom, smiling at the camera. The boy is wearing a red jacket, and the girl is wearing a striped shirt with a headband.

Preschool

Guiding Your Child to Reach Their Potential

Preschool children are ready for more of everything. More challenges academically, more social opportunities, and more freedom within the day. Watch them grow as they become part of a community of engaged learners and budding leaders in MCG's preschool program.

  • Focus Areas

    • Making real-life choices and decisions in their lives

    • Choose what they focus on

    • Learning at their own level

    • Reading, writing, and math concepts

    • Mutual respect

    • Problem solving

    • Taking part in their community: sweeping floors, preparing snacks, cleaning up, helping classmates

    • Mixed age groups – older children lead younger children, younger children look up to them

    • Developing life skills

    Program Offerings

    • 5 days per week, year-round

    • Your choice of half or full-day

      • Half day: 8:30am - 12:30pm

      • Full day: 8:30am - 3:00pm

    • Extended hours available, between 7:00am and 6:00pm

Two young boys are sitting at a table in a classroom, looking at a paper. The boy on the left has red hair and is wearing a blue and gray long-sleeve shirt; the boy on the right has dark hair and is wearing a striped shirt. They appear to be focused on the paper in front of them.

Kindergarten

Where It All Comes Together

The Montessori curriculum builds year over year, culminating in the kindergarten year, when children have fully internalized classroom expectations and are ready to embrace both academic and real-life experiences with confidence.

  • Focus Areas

    • Taking responsibility for their actions

    • Integrity, responsibility, natural consequences and a sense of others

    • Their turn to lead

    • Choose what they focus on

    • Learning at their own level

    • Reading, writing, and math concepts

    • Taking part in their community: sweeping floors, preparing snacks, cleaning up, helping classmates

    • Applying life skills

    Program Offerings

    • 5 days per week, year-round

    • Your choice of half or full-day

      • Half day: 8:30am - 12:30pm

      • Full day: 8:30am - 3:00pm

    • Extended hours available, between 7:00am and 6:00pm

MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY

The Montessori Method

The Montessori Method was first developed by European doctor Maria Montessori. The foundation of the philosophy is that every child develops at their own individual pace and level. While developing, all children deserve to be treated with respect and provided with choices and interesting alternatives with which to develop their learning potentials.

The Montessori classroom looks and feels a bit different. Here's what makes it unique.

  • The teacher's role in the Montessori classroom is to provide the environment, rich in opportunities, for the child. The teacher then follows the child as they engage in the many experiences in the classroom.

    With guidance from the teacher, the child makes choices throughout the day and develops their own self-discipline in order to become a more independent learner. The child is an active participant in the learning process and may be observed working independently or in small groups.

  • The classroom facilitates several age groups working together at one time.

    For example, in the 3 to 6 year old classroom, the older children act as role models for the younger children and develop a sense of responsibility and leadership. Younger children have opportunities to progress at their level due to the many layers of academic materials throughout the areas of the classroom. Children develop a sense of others in a small community of children learning from each other. 

  • The Montessori Method was built upon allowing children to discover questions and find the answers themselves.

    This process enhances the development of their cognitive and problem solving skills. In the classroom, new concepts are introduced using concrete materials. The child learns by doing. As the child masters the concept, they progress to practicing that skill in a more abstract way. 

  • Each child is encouraged to delve deep into subjects he or she finds interesting.

    Teachers also closely supervise to ensure that, over an extended period, each child is exposed to all essential areas of the classroom curriculum.  When a teacher observes that a child is ready for a new concept, they will invite them to work together to guide them through an initial introduction. The child is then allowed to work through the material with observation from the teacher.

    Often, they will find answers to their own questions as the teacher allows the child the satisfaction of discovering on their own. 

  • Children are offered many opportunities to successfully develop their own independence.

    It is common for a 3-year-old child to go through the process of obtaining a snack for herself. She may need to wait until one of the three chairs at the snack table is open, but she will then gather the correct number of apple wedges and crackers. After carrying her plate and napkin to the snack table, she will pour herself a glass of water from the child-sized pitcher. She enjoys her snack with one or two other children. After finishing her snack, she clears her dishes and cleans up her spot for the next child.

    The child has been taught the individual steps to the process of getting her own snack, as well as the responsibility for cleaning up after she is finished so that the next person is allowed the same opportunity. All of this occurs with little intervention from the Montessori teacher.

OUR TEAM

The Hearts Behind MCG

We know it takes a village to raise a family, and we are passionate about being part of your village! Our teachers and staff are more than educators, they are mentors, guides, and cheerleaders for every child in their care. Each member of our team is passionate about Montessori philosophy and deeply invested in your child’s growth.

  • A smiling woman with short blonde hair outdoors with greenery in the background.

    Miss Teresa

    Founder, Owner

    With MCG Since 1996

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair, wearing a floral blouse, smiling outdoors with green trees in the background.

    Miss Malita

    Director

    With MCG since 2018

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length light brown hair standing outdoors in a park with green trees and grass in the background.

    Miss Caryn

    Teacher

    With MCG Since 2024

  • A smiling woman with glasses and styled brown hair outdoors.

    Miss Terry

    Head Teacher,
    Yellow Room (3-6)

    With MCG Since 2010

  • A woman with long dark hair smiling outdoors with green leaves and trees in the background.

    Miss Alexis

    Teacher

    With MCG Since 2013

  • A woman with curly reddish-brown hair smiling outdoors wearing a yellow top with white floral and geometric patterns.

    Miss Cyndi

    Head Teacher,
    Red Room (3-6)

    With MCG Since 2017

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Miss Ana

    Assistant Teacher,
    Red Room (3-6)

    With MCG Since 2023

  • Smiling woman with shoulder-length dark hair in an indoor setting, wearing a pink top.

    Miss Esmerelda

    Support Staff

  • A young woman with long dark hair smiling outdoors, with green foliage in the background.

    Miss Gabby

    Teacher

    With MCG Since 2024

  • A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing a black denim jacket and a blue top, outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Miss Ksyusha

    Support Staff

    With MCG Since 2022

What Parents Are Saying

  • "I knew the day I visited MCG that your school was the right fit for my children. Two years later, both of my children are more confident and happy. You have all been exactly the village we were looking for. Thank you for all you do."

    Justin & Tyann Hurtado

  • “Smiling & friendly is one thing, but when you find a school and staff that cares, it becomes a home away from home. They have gone above and beyond with communication, updates and just sending cute pictures or funny stories. As a parent you want a school for your child where you know they are safe, cared for, and learning.”

    Jaisy Vetticaden

  • "Miss Alexis has been an amazing teacher, she made our transition from home to school very comfortable, very easy. She worked with us in terms of how we can train him, help him get ready for school every day. It has been an amazing experience."

    Raman Arora

  • "The teachers are patient, warm, and nurturing and every single one of them goes above and beyond for the students. We are eternally grateful that they've instilled such a love of learning in our boys."

    Jessica Salvesen

MEET WITH US

Start the Conversation

We're excited to meet you and discuss how we can partner with you to create an environment where your child can thrive. Choose a time below for a Zoom meeting with a member of our staff. We're looking forward to it!

A smiling young boy with brown hair and a beige shirt in a classroom with wooden furniture and other children in the background.