The Arbor Classroom: Oneness-Family School (OFS)
WITH THE
The ARBOR
Ages 6 – 9
The Arbor is our Montessori program for grades 1–3, led by a team of three teachers. The bright, calm classroom—filled with sunlight, plants, and hands-on materials—invites students to explore and learn. Located on the sunny upper level, the main classroom holds most cultural and language materials, while across the hall, students enjoy the library and math area. Children move freely between spaces, building independence, making choices, and engaging deeply with their learning.
“HELP ME TO HELP OTHERS”
Students at this stage focus on helping and supporting others, learning to collaborate, communicate effectively, and take on leadership roles that strengthen their group and community. They practice empathy, responsibility, and teamwork as they contribute to shared goals and projects.
Explore Our Lower-Elementary PRogramTake A Look Around the Arbor
Science, geography, and history classes are taught on a 3-year cycle of themes to the entire classroom, with assignments adjusted for ability level.
In reading, writing, spelling, math, and foreign language lessons, students are grouped according to ability level.
In language arts and math, elementary students work in groups according to ability level, regardless of age or grade, and are assessed regularly for both academic progress and social-emotional development.
Students in our Arbor class (Grades 1-3) are ready for complex subject matter and learn about the evolution of life on Earth and the animal and plant kingdoms.
Montessori was founded on the principle of observations and in addition to tracking academic skills, the teachers record social, emotional, and physical abilities to better serve the student’s needs and support their development.
Students’ social-emotional skills are strengthened and their perspectives enhanced during nature studies, museum and outdoor trips, and academic and arts presentations, which also help them develop self-confidence and an appreciation for the lives and talents of others.
A CONNECTION TO NATURE
In the Montessori tradition, quiet moments of reflection or connection with nature are encouraged, cultivating awareness and our sense of place in the world.
Meet Your Teachers
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Kelly Bristow
Lower Elementary Teacher (Grades 1-3)
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Biography
Kelly Bristow is an accomplished educator with a passion for inspiring young minds. She holds a degree in Art History from American University and has taught in various settings throughout her career. Her journey as an educator began when she taught English in South Korea, where she honed her skills in communication and cultural sensitivity.
After returning to the United States, Kelly worked at the National Zoo, leading tours and sharing her love for animals with visitors of all ages. She then transitioned to a role as a substitute and aftercare teacher at Oneness-Family School, where she gained valuable experience working with children of all ages and abilities, before becoming a teacher in the Lower Elementary class in 2020.
Kelly’s teaching philosophy centers on empowering children to ask questions, seek answers, and become advocates for themselves and their communities. She believes that education is more than just acquiring knowledge; it’s about fostering empathy, justice, and connection.
When she’s not in the classroom, Kelly can be found indulging in her love of reading, writing, drawing, crafting, and playing music. She has a particular fascination with animal behavior, fashion history, and art, and enjoys sharing her knowledge with her students whenever possible.
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Robin Socol
Lower Elementary Teacher (Grades 1-3) – Maternity Leave
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Biography
Robin joined the Oneness-Family School team in 2017 after relocating from Boston, where she began her teaching career in Boston Public Schools. She is a graduate of Tufts University (B.A.) and Boston University (M.A.), and has completed her Montessori training at the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies. Within Montessori, she is particularly drawn to the idea of the teacher as observer and experimenter in the classroom, which makes every day its own adventure.
Outside of school, Robin spends time with her husband and their rascally rescue dog, Bandit. Her passions include reading and travel, and she is a lifelong student of languages.
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Shelby Alston
Lower Elementary Teacher (Grades 1-3)
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Biography
After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University, Shelby Alston joined the Oneness-Family School in 2014. She has a B.A. in English and Sociology. While attending college, Shelby was a member of several prominent campus clubs, including The Student Union on Black Awareness, Sisters United, and The Presidents club. She received many awards while at school, most notably a Golden Bishop award for her work in the community and as a tutor at a school in Columbus, Ohio. She loves to teach science and math and explore the fascinating concepts within each subject with her students.
Shelby enjoys reading, especially science fiction and fantasy in her free time. She also likes to spend time with her nieces, going on walks, having brunch with family and friends, and
Skype with her long-distance friends.
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Sara O’Keefe
Long-Term Substitute (Grades 1-3)
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Fostering Creativity
The elementary-aged child is a highly social individual with a strong imagination, eager to explore their world and the human experience within it.
A Typical Day In the Arbor Classroom
First Impressions
The Lower Elementary classrooms are located on the sunny upper level. The main classroom hosts most of the cultural and language materials, while across the hallway, you find the library and math area.
Students move freely between the rooms. A first grader proudly shows the birthday board display with his baby pictures and gives a summary of what his friends said about him during the birthday celebration.
A Calm & Comforting Space
The elementary-aged child is a highly social individual with a strong imagination, eager to explore their world and the human experience within it.
Dr. Montessori designed the Elementary program to nurture these characteristics. The Arbor classroom is designed to be calm and comforting, with sunlight, plants, and hands-on materials creating a welcoming environment.
It is evident that the teachers spark the imagination and understand the student’s need to interact with others. Students learn both independently and collaboratively. Some students work with a teacher, while others work with peers.
Peaceful & Focused
Students are able to work either on the floor or at tables depending on their chosen work and their preferred mode of learning. They set their work up in a manner that feels comfortable for them, and the hands-on nature of the language materials makes even advanced grammar concepts approachable and enjoyable.
It is incredible how peaceful it can be in this classroom. Although the Arbor is our largest class at 35 students, all children are intently focused on what they need to do for a given lesson.
What’s even more amazing is how evident it is that they are happy doing it!
Students progress at their own pace, using control of error and teacher feedback to guide their work. Control of Error is the quality within the materials that enables a child to complete and correct the task without assistance.
A Sense of Perspective
The Cosmic Curriculum, a cornerstone of Montessori philosophy, gives students a concept of their place in and impact on their community and the world.
Lessons start with the whole (i.e., the universe) and work toward the parts (i.e., cultures, history, geography, species, etc.). This gives the child a sense of perspective—within the big picture of the universe, everything the child learns is connected.
When understood as connected parts of a whole, new information gains relevance, an essential part of capturing a child’s interest.
Math, language, geometry, geography, history, science, and literature are just a few subject areas covered in the “Five Great Lessons” of this curriculum.
These standard Montessori lessons provide a “Big Picture” to demonstrate how the sciences, art, history, language, and geography are interrelated.
Take The Next Step
If you’re interested in learning more, we can arrange for you to visit the school and take a tour
Book a TourAbout The Arbor
The Story Behind The Name
A peace arbor is traditionally a structure that serves as a gateway, often symbolizing peace and tranquility.
