Seed Montessori After School

We have been tremendously impressed with Seed – both as an after school program and as a summer camp. Our daughter started the after school program in kindergarten. From the day we visited, we knew it was the right place for our family. Not only does it provide a welcoming, inclusive environment, but the programming is enriching and has served as a significantly positive complement to our daughter’s school curriculum. We are now at Seed nearing the end of our daughter’s second year there and have continued to feel so fortunate that we found this gem in Oak Park! We would overwhelmingly recommend this place to any family. The summer camp is equally jam-packed with fabulous activities that are so thoughtfully put together. One of our favorites is that the kids often go to the nearby Sugar Beet Co-op together so that they can assemble their lunches and snacks for the day. As our daughter says, “Seed is a fun place to learn and play!’. We think so, too. The three things she really loves are (again, in her words): “Learning times tables in your head; doing crafts; and playing games!”.

This is the place you want your kid to go after school. Seed is full of energy, fun, life, and growth. Your kid will not be bored here! The teacher, Ms. Ileana, is a gem. One of the coolest things about her is how she’s able to roll with what ever is going on, and turn it into a learning experience. When appropriate, she organizes fun outings for the kids, so they’re not always inside. She’s also got great stuff going on inside, so kids have lots of opportunities to explore and have fun. Somehow, she always turns having fun into a learning experience. It’s a pretty small group, so Ms. Ileana also knows what’s going on with all her kids, all the time. She knows what they’re into, she knows what motivates them, and she knows how encourage them as individuals. If a kid is into something specific, she’ll get books from the library to support that kid’s interest. If a kid has homework, she’ll help them if they need help. She uses Montessori methods to support Common Core in a really tangible way. This helps drive home concepts that are being taught in school during the day, especially in the areas of place value, fractions, multiplication, and geometry. Academics aside, there’s always something going on to spark a kid’s curiosity. There are geckos and hamsters. There’s an indoor garden (the kids have cooked and eaten food that they actually grew!) There’s a comfy couch if a kid needs to chill out. There’s stuff for imaginative play, learning, and exploration. There’s a fully stocked art corner. There’s even a dang sewing machine if a kid wants to sew. We really appreciate Ms. Ileana, and how she runs a tight ship that is also somehow really chill. Seed has been the best thing for our kid after school.

This is the most AMAZING after school program I could have ever imagined for my elementary age kiddo! It’s a very special place that conveniently picks up from Horace Mann and several other schools. My son just loves Ms. Gomez and is always excited about learning and projects he has going on there.