Our Small World Language Program is an opportunity for Early Childhood Program students to supplement the foreign language program present in their classroom.
Small World: Spanish and Small World: Mandarin classes will meet each school day during the 2024/25 school year from 8:25-8:55 AM for language immersion curriculum!
Small World programs will be capped at 10 children each, so reach out today to ensure your child’s spot. Email Lauren at lflowers@morningsidemontessori.org to enroll.
Small World: Spanish
Our Small World: Spanish class is a vibrant, engaging environment where students are immersed in the Spanish language during play. The curriculum includes songs, stories, games, and hands-on projects designed to captivate their imagination and foster natural language acquisition. By integrating Spanish into everyday activities and routines, children effortlessly pick up vocabulary and basic conversational skills. The class is led by Laura Folque - an experienced bilingual educator who creates a supportive and fun atmosphere, encouraging curiosity and confidence in speaking Spanish from an early age.
Laura has nearly thirty years of experience working with young children, and has been a Toddler Program teacher at Morningside since 2022. She holds her B.A. in Elementary Education. Originally from Argentina, Laura has worked in Spanish immersion programs and traditional classrooms in Argentina, Spain, Italy, and New York. In her free time, she loves to travel, visit museums, and see shows. We are so pleased that she will be leading our Small World program!
Small World: Mandarin
We are offering Small World: Mandarin for the first time for the 2024/25 school year!
Our Small World: Mandarin immersion class is an energetic and nurturing space where students dive into the Mandarin language through interactive and playful experiences. The curriculum is filled with captivating songs, engaging stories, lively games, and creative hands-on projects, all designed to make learning Mandarin fun and intuitive. By embedding Mandarin into the daily rhythm of the class, children naturally absorb vocabulary and basic conversational skills. Guided by Yanjun Yao, a skilled bilingual educator, this class promotes a love for language learning and builds confidence in speaking Mandarin from an early age.
Born and raised in China, Yanjun speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, and the Teochew dialect. Her childhood dreams of living abroad ignited a lifelong journey of discovery. Over the past decade, she has earned her a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and her AMS credential and is working toward her AMS Administrator’s Certificate. In her free time, Yanjun can be found at MoMA film theaters, Lincoln Center, and various independent movie theaters. She is excited to join the Morningside community!