Little Acorn Preschool - Groton, Connecticut

Maria C. G.

I want to share my positive experience with Little Acorn. My kids absolutely love it there! This September will mark our third year at the school. The teachers are incredibly kind to each child, showing genuine care for their feelings and always being there for them. When my kids experienced separation anxiety, the teachers were very supportive and loving. I always felt at ease leaving them at school, knowing they were in great hands and being well cared for.

As native Spanish speakers, we only speak Spanish at home, so my kids' English wasn't at the same level as their peers. The teachers were patient, supportive, and incredibly helpful as they were not only preparing my kids for kindergarten but also helped them improve their English and communication skills. Moreover, when my kids needed speech therapy, the teachers were open to letting the therapist visit and observe them in the classroom.

I highly recommend Little Acorn! In addition to the Montessori-based curriculum, the school offers yoga and music, which my children love. There's also a parent engagement group where I've met wonderful families and made lifelong friendships. Miss Dieneke not only provides a great program for the children but also offers ways for parents to get involved in off-school events and activities. My kids love the teachers and I can tell they trust and feel safe being at Little Acorn.

Thank you!

Rebecca D.

We were lucky enough to be a part of the Little Acorn community for several years. Both of our children attended the preschool.
It is located in a convenient place not far off the highway, but so secluded and peaceful in the woods. They would regularly walk to Sheep Farm down the road with the children to hike.
We absolutely love Ms. Dieneke and Ms. Bailey; both loving, patient and kind. The Montessori structure in the classroom was a wonderful fit for our children. The nature-based elements of the classroom, outdoor play yard, and curriculum were one of our favorite aspects of the school.
The communication between the teachers and parents is great. The students go home each week with a journal in which the teachers write about their week at school. Ms. Dieneke sends out monthly newsletters as well. And is always open to setting aside time to talk if there is a question or concern.
As a military family our children experienced many months without their father home. We always felt that the school supported us during those times of change in the family routine.
The community of the preschool as whole is something very special.
I would highly recommend this preschool; it offers something unlike any other preschool in the area. We are forever grateful our children had the Little Acorn experience.

Gretchen H.

Little Acorn Preschool played a pivotal role in the growth and development of our daughter. This school fostered not only her academic skills but also her social and emotional skills as well as her sense of curiosity and love for learning.

From the moment we joined this very special community, it was clear that the focus is on child-led learning. The curriculum encourages exploration and independence, allowing our daughter to pursue her interests at her own pace. This environment reinforced her genuine curiosity and thirst for knowledge that we believe will serve her throughout her life.

One of the best attributes of the preschool is its incredible emphasis on nature. The outdoor environment is beautifully integrated into the learning experience, with ample opportunities for children to engage with the natural world. Our daughter has spent countless hours “adventuring the outdoors” tending to plants, observing insects, and learning about the ecosystems around her. We watched her grow not only in her understanding of nature but also in her respect for it. She has become a passionate little advocate for the environment, sharing her insights and learnings with family and friends.

The hands-on, sensory-rich experiences provided by her teachers contributed to her social and emotional development, mastering important skills like cooperation and empathy through collaborative activities with her peers. The freedom to choose her own projects boosted her confidence, and it’s heartwarming to see how proud she was of her accomplishments.

The empathic and attentive teachers played a crucial role in this nurturing atmosphere. They understand each child's unique learning style and encourage them to explore their interests, making every moment a valuable learning opportunity. Their support and guidance helped our daughter feel safe and empowered, allowing her to express herself while respecting everyone's differences.

In summary, we cannot recommend Little Acorn Preschool enough. It was a remarkable journey for our daughter, fostering her love for learning while equipping her with essential life skills. We are incredibly grateful for the positive impact it had on her growth and development and the love her teachers gave her. We all cried when her journey there came to an end, but we are so happy it happened ❤️

Cassandra P.

I don’t even know where to begin to express how much we love Little Acorn Preschool! This is my daughter’s second year at the school and she absolutely loves it. My daughter did struggle her first year transitioning from being at home with me everyday to starting preschool. The teachers were both extremely patient with her and gave me updates everyday about how she was progressing. Before long she had settled in and was even bumped from 3 days a week to 5 days a week. The teachers never pressure her into doing activities she does not feel comfortable with. They truly base her learning off of her interest, which I feel like has made her excel at school. The teachers at the school, with the Montessori approach has given my daughter so much confidence that she is asking to do harder tasks at school and have more responsibilities, which the teachers are happy to accommodate. You can tell the teachers truly care for their students and feel like the school is like a family. I would highly recommend Little Acorn Preschool and will be extremely sad to say goodbye after this year when my daughter starts kindergarten. I truly have never had one bad experience at this school or with the teachers. My daughter is very excited to go to school everyday!

Jaycie H.

Our child was enrolled for the t/th class and for a majority of the school year was doing wonderfully. Came home with nothing but good things to say about the school day. Never in the first half of the school year did our child or the teachers raise any concern about our child or their behavior.After winter break we were told 2 times that our child was acting more rambunctious and having a hard time keeping their hands to themselves at school. My husband and I would immediately address the concerns with our child and all seemed well.3-4 weeks before the school year was over, my husband was suddenly and unexpectedly sent away with the Navy. Shortly after he left is when our problems started! Shortly after him leaving, Dieneke had pulled me aside at pickup to address a behavior our child had that day at school. I asked our child about the incident and they were adamant it didn’t happen but we still addressed it with them as though it had. I then was pulled aside at pickup, Dieneke had received an email from a parent that was concerned about our child's behavior. I believe our child had 1-2 more incidents at school in the last 2 weeks of the year. All of which we took accountability for and handled it with our child appropriately. The last Monday I woke up to an email from Dieneke stating she had gotten a third email from another parent and she would like to talk. I called her right then and she explained that if we couldn’t “get our child help with their behaviors” that they would be asked to not return the following school year. I then emailed Dieneke to have a meeting in person with her before school the next day. I wanted clarification on our child's “behaviors” that needed fixing and what kind of “help” she thought they needed.At the meeting with Dieneke, I was threatened that legal actions could be taken against me for an incident that I have not mentioned here that happened at school event and made to feel less than as a parent. I was told about an incident that happened at school that I or my husband wasn’t previously made aware of. She also told me the emails were from a group of parents who can be “cliquey”. At the end of the meeting it was reiterated to me that if my child came back next year with the same problems, they would be asked to leave. I explained our childs sudden behavior change was due to my husband's sudden leaving, she insisted our child needed help. She then suggested play therapy for our child and said she thought it would benefit them greatly.The whole meeting it felt like Dieneke had already made up her mind that she didn’t want our child back in her classroom. We initially loved Little Acorn, but that opinion changed nearly as quickly as Dieneke’s mind on our child's acceptance at the school.To being threatened with legal actions toward me as a parent and then to essentially put a target on my child's back and watch them like a hawk waiting for them to mess up.Our child also began to not want to go to school and would cry on the way to school, stating “they are mean to me and yell at me”.It became clear Little Acorn isn’t as nice and accepting of kids and their circumstances as they claim to be!

Dana F.

Our family enjoyed our time at Little Acorn Preschool. For us, it was the perfect transition from social distancing to getting our child ready for kindergarten. It was so much more than a preschool for us. Being new to the area, it provided a community for us to share our experiences with. Despite my child not having much appreciation for nature when they started, they still came home telling us nature facts and singing nature-related songs. Now, they randomly tell us facts about what makes Mother Nature healthy and unhealthy. And, I still get the song they used to sing about the grey squirrel stuck in my head.

The teachers truly cared about my child and their well-being. I really appreciated that the curriculum wasn't forced into one type of school of thought and that the needs of each child were noted and addressed. The teachers encouraged my child to read in the book area and practice writing and math when all they wanted to do was play in the block area. Because of my child's time at Little Acorn Preschool, my neurodivergent child is currently flourishing in kindergarten, academically and socially. We couldn't have asked for a better preschool and wished we had lived in the area sooner so that our child could have attended for more than one year. Thank you to all the teachers and educational visitors for helping to make my child's first school experience a great one!

Christy O.

I can't say enough good things about Little Acorn Preschool! It's more than just a school; It's a nurturing, community building experience for both children and families. Furthermore, the natural surroundings and outdoor play area/classroom create the perfect environment for little ones to learn and grow.

The teachers, Mrs. Dieneke and Mrs. Bailey, are incredibly patient, caring and kind. They empower children to be curious little learners, and to be confident and respectful of one another. Their passion for teaching is evident in all of their interactions, lesson plans and the beautiful classroom they have created. What truly sets them apart, is their unwavering commitment to a child's well-being and development. They go above and beyond to create a safe, nurturing, and inviting environment for all, and their dedication is not just to teaching, but to the growth and happiness of every child in their care.

Little Acorn also fosters a strong sense of community among the families who attend. It's not just a place for children to thrive; it's a place for parents to connect, share experiences, and build lasting friendships.

We feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of this extraordinary preschool and the supportive community it has created. It's a place where children blossom, families bond, and the love for nature is nurtured. I highly recommend this school! 🌿🌼🌱

Austin W.

Dieneke and her school Little acorn have been a absolute positive experience for my children. I have sent all three of my daughters to little acorn and they have all flourished. The community of little acorn has been such a relief on my family when we needed it.
Dieneke has been a supportive and invested teacher from day one. Two of my daughters require special help for speech therapy and it was Dieneke who helped us realize the need and guided us in the right direction. She even assisted with our daughters speech needs until we started speech therapy. Her knowledge in early childhood development has been a wonderful resource. The effects of the little acorn way is still helping my now second grader. She still uses the coping skills taught at little acorn to help her navigate now.
The independence fostered in the little acorn has helped us also encourage the same at home. Helpful chores and cleaning up there own messes was all started in the little acorn classroom, we are so thankful for all that little acorn has done for our family. It truly is a special place that will forever be apart of our family.