Introducing Little Lea

Hello!  I am Gaye Haralu and am a resident of Harrodsburg, Kentucky.  I have lived in Harrodsburg for the past 10 years working as a minister and Montessori teacher.  I have been a working mother most of my adult life.  Twenty years ago when our oldest children were very little and we had moved to another state to begin new jobs I did not know what we were going to do with our two little ones.  Then we were introduced to a Daycare Provider who provided care for a number of children out of her home.  She became part of the family and has set the bar so high!  Our children loved her and loved going to her home.  They learned a great deal about kindness and respect for all people from her.  They also were read to abundantly every day and played outside constantly – even when it was snowing – especially when it was snowing!  We moved away from that area but will forever be indebted to her dedication and care for our children. 

In addition to raising our own three daughters, I became a Montessori teacher and taught 3-6 year olds in the classroom for 8 years.  I am wonderfully convinced that the early childhood years are so significant.  Who children become in these early years greatly effects their future — as students but also as human beings. 

We believe the home Montessori environment offers the best of both worlds.  Because we are small and home based we have flexibility with respect to timing and schedules and the pace of our moments and days.  We do not have to be rushed!  While we will follow a daily schedule, the schedule will serve the needs of our learning community rather than mastering us.    

We believe the childhood years are something to be cherished and unhurried.  We also believe in the limitless potential of every child and that as we expose them to all kinds of subject matter and experiences they will be joyful and excited learners.  The children will have lessons in everything from lessons in practical life to language works to math exercises to training their senses to science experiments to cultural studies, geography and lots of books.  There is so much to learn and so much fun to be had!

Additionally, outdoor time will be spent in free play but also in gardening and valuing nature for all of its amazing beauty and discovery.  Our large back yard provides green space for all kinds of leaning and play.  We will plant and cut the flowers that we arrange for our classroom.  We will grow many of the vegetables that we eat in the summer.  We will learn about composting, taking care of the natural world and create outdoor spaces that are rich for the imagination.

We love to learn and believe learning is for a lifetime!