Montessori Discovery Garden

Both of our boys attended MDG and absolutely loved it there. We are huge fans of the school and its operators and have been here for 3 years now. Ms. Bonnie runs a fantastic school, creating a highly consistent structure and warm environment for kids to learn and grow. Ms. Isabel is the most patient, caring and present teacher I’ve ever met and my children absolutely love her. Our oldest attended after he turned 4, during the pandemic, when MDG was one of the first preschools in our area to reopen. We just left another preschool close by that neither kid enjoyed attending (they resisted daily). After just one day at MDG, our kids were already at ease and so comfortable that drop offs instantly became a breeze. The garden, incredibly sweet children, fun pets and animals (bunny, turtle, frog and Ms. Bonnie’s dog)…being at MDG was (and still is) truly a magical enclave for our kids. The pandemic was awful but (life changing) bright spot for us was enrolling our kids at MDG. They did such an amazing job during the most difficult times and really unlocked our oldest son’s appetite and joy for learning. He excelled in math particularly there and they laid a foundation for his reading skills. Once he hit Kindergarten (at public school in Culver City), his reading skills picked up rapidly and he became capable of reading on his own by end of Kinder. As for our younger son, he has basically grown up at MDG. He started at age 3 and has now been at MDG for 3 years! He’s learned SO much there…reading, writing, math, art, music, numerous cultural traditions, building friendships, manners, yoga, natural science and even complete potty independence! Even though we moved 20 minutes away, we kept him at MDG because it’s truly his second home. He feels so safe here and has really thrived from the education, friendships gained and life lessons learned. He is starting Kinder in 2 months and while he is certainly ready for it, I know he will miss the school, friends, Ms. Isabel, etc dearly. Lastly, a note on Montessori method as someone who was new to it and a little weary of a “formal” structure for very young kids. As a slightly more experienced parent, I understand now that kids thrive under structure and consistency, and while it was intimidating at first (just for me, not my kids at all), the method of schooling does not dictate how caring/loving teachers are for the children. Our kids were so well cared for because this school is operated by professionals who genuinely love teaching young children. Montessori, to us, is really a methodology of teaching both academic and life lessons, through individualized attention and focus on the learner’s interests. Because the child learns within the context of subjects he/she enjoys, learning becomes much more relevant and enjoyable (even though it’s technically called “work”). There is much more independent learning, which helped to build determination and confidence with our children. Plus, the teachers (usually Ms. Isabel + a TA) are there to guide and help the child when they encounter struggles. I highly highly recommend visiting MDG and meeting Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Isabel if you are looking for a preschool in the Westwood area. I’m confident you and your child will be delighted by the school and the experience as we have been.

We have sent our daughter to MDG for three years and are about to send our son as well. This is a gem of a school. I had toured a few Montessori schools in the area and this was by far my favorite one. I'm grateful I trusted my instincts and sent our daughter here. The home based environment is warm and cozy for young children, the small class size is ideal, and the head teacher, Miss Isabel, is patient and kind. MDG also understands that child care is an important function of preschool. The full-time, year-round schedule is a gift to parents. The community of parents is also down to earth and the cost is relatively affordable. We are so happy we found MDG and are looking forward to continuing to be part of the school for more years to come.

For my grandsun, who lived without using English until the age of four, this past year in the United States was supposed to be the most challenging year. However, seeing him happily spending time with other children in both indoor and outdoor settings, I became confident that he has overcome many obstacles. Despite the small number of students, the significant diversity and the weekly themed activities have helped him adapt well to both preschool life and learning. Thank you teachers and kids. 　　J's Granpa

We love MDG! The teachers are so caring and they give so much individual attention to each child based on what they need. Our son loves going to school everyday and we feel so lucky we found MDG. It’s seriously magical!