FAQs
Why Fairy Slipper?
You may already know this, but the Fairy slipper (or Calypso orchid) is a delicate and graceful pinkish-purple wildflower - one of many wild orchids native to Washington state. There was also a small pink wildflower that grew in the woods outside our house in Alaska when I was little that we used to call fairy slippers.
I decided on the name because it felt a little bit playful and magical. Montessori classrooms don't always have that reputation and I wanted to be sure that our program does.
What is a Montessori work cycle?
The Montessori work cycle is a long block of uninterrupted and self-directed time in the classroom, where children can independently choose activities and work with them for as long as they wish, supporting autonomy and often leading to deep concentration.
This Montessori work cycle is the foundation of our classes at Fairy Slipper Montessori.
Explain more about the class schedules. What classes are available currently?
Because we are a new program and are filling our classes with new students - there is a lot of possibility. We create and fill class schedules based on family interest.
Based on interest, we currently have both Tues/Thurs and Tues/Wed/Thurs morning class schedules with spaces available for immediate enrollment.
Class schedules can start as soon as we have enough families interested in a specific schedule and time.
If families want to start right away, they are welcome to sign up for an active class with openings while they wait for their preferred schedule to be available. You can register now for 2026-2027 fall start classes for any schedule.
There is also flexibility in class length, with either 2 ½ or 3 ½ hour classes - although I recommend most children start with 2 ½ hours until they settle in.
Do 2 ½ to 3-year-olds have their own class? Are parent and child classes separate?
This is a mixed age program. Younger children learn from older friends and older children get the chance to be leaders.
There could end up being some classes made up primarily of younger children, possibly blending together with students enrolled in a parent and child class. I would love to offer a class that is parent and child specific. But it depends entirely on interest and enrollment.
Traditional Montessori early childhood classrooms span an age range of 2 ½ years - Kindergarten. A toilet independent child between the ages of 30 months and 5 years may be enrolled in any class schedule you prefer.
Are children who still need toileting support all in one class?
Preferably not:) A child between the ages of 2 ½ to 3 ½ who is not yet toilet independent will enroll in a 2 or 3-day scheule, with a parent or caregiver in attendance. But there is no specific class day or time required.
Children ages 3 ½ - 5 must be completely toilet independent prior to enrollment.
Can class schedules be combined? Is there a discount for that?
A child cannot be enrolled in consecutive morning and afternoon classes, such as Monday morning and afternoon.
You could enroll your child for Tues/Thurs mornings and Mon/Wed/Fri afternoon classes, as an example, and the tuition for a Mon-Fri schedule would be $700.
Or if you enroll for a 2 or 3-day weekday schedule and want to add on a weekend class, that is also an option. And yes - there would be a weekend price discount for that.
2, 3 or 4-day consecutive schedules are also an option, based on space availability. Reach out!
What is the teacher to child ratio and what is the class size?
The teacher to child ratio will not go over 1:7, with a maximum class size of 14 students. There will also often be at least one parent or caregiver supporting their child in the classroom.
New classes will start out smaller than this, with a lower teacher to child ratio - which is a wonderful way to get children settled into a new space and community.
What are the requirements for family involvement? Is this a family cooperative?
No, this is not a family cooperative. However each family is encouraged and welcome to attend class with their child one time per month or more, depending on their class schedule.
These visits can help bridge the gap between home and the classroom, and also allow you to observe your child in the classroom environment.
Is there an outdoor play space?
There is not. Fairy Slipper is not a full-day childcare program. These are short preschool classes that essentially take the 3-hour Montessori uninterrupted work period 'out' of a full-day program.
That said, there is a lot of movement in the classroom. The space is large (about 1200 square feet) and children can move around as much as they like, making independent choices about what they wish to do. There are movement specific activities, such as yoga cards, a balance board, bean bag toss, and movement on the line. There are also large body activities such as sweeping, table and floor scrubbing, and easel painting. Children can stand at tables if they prefer not to sit, or bring their activity to a work rug on the floor. There is also optional circle time with singing and large body movement.
If this is a new preschool, where do all of the website photos come from? Are there any current photos of the classroom?
Yes! There are many up-to-date photos of the classroom space on our Instagram page!
I've been a Montessori guide for about 12 years now and worked in early childhood even longer. Most of the images on the website are photos I've taken over the years of my students and classrooms. I've stayed in touch with many of my past families and am lucky that they've been generous in allowing me to use these photos! Every new family has the option to opt in or out of photos as they choose.
Still have questions?
Contact Kelly! Bee@fairyslippermontessori.com