
Since then, she has enrolled more than 100 students, ranging in ages from 2 to 6—a number of them the children of Madison-based fellow Beloit alumni. Currently, the school has 28 students, three full-time teachers (including Katzenmeyer, known as “Ms. Beckie”), a part-time teacher, and a student teacher. All are trained to guide the children further in their natural interests while also helping them with struggles. Katzenmeyer describes their approach this way: “We’ll help you if this is what you want to do.”
A unique feature of Toad Hill Montessori is a massive “outdoor classroom” where students can learn about nature firsthand. One of the longstanding school traditions is the counting of cherries during their growing season. One year, a girl asked Katzenmeyer what the record was for the most cherries picked, then set her mind on surpassing it. “She turned into this little project manager of this record-breaking, 1,000 cherry day,” Katzenmeyer recalls.
This focus on immersive engagement is key, whether the kids are learning about colors or international history. For Katzenmeyer, a double major in modern languages and art history, with a minor in museum studies at Beloit, it seemed only natural to use interactive means to introduce the kids to a wider world. She often sets aside time to examine cultural pieces, from Guatemalan textiles to Indian saris, and she orchestrates frequent trips to museums. “I think it helps the children get a more complete vision of their world, too,” she says, recalling Beloit’s similar teaching philosophy and emphasis on contextualizing. “Beloit really helped me make sense of a Montessori classroom because of what I had to do in those classes for four years.”