Honoring Dorothy Woods

Founder of Montessori Children's House (1975-1993)
Over the years Dorothy and I have had many long conversations in person and on the phone. I have enjoyed getting to know her and her husband Carl. Carl passed in 2015. She has been a mentor to me over the past 20 years. We share a passion for children and the Montessori method. Dorothy currently resides in Woodbine, IA. These stories were told via a series of phone calls and approved by Dorothy before sharing. Dorothy’s health has declined with age and her vision is poor which is very frustrating for her. However, her mind is strong as ever and her passion for Montessori remains in her heart. She has passed on many of her physical Montessori treasures to me. I will preserve and value them as a part of history, but our conversations are the most meaningful. I am excited to share some of these stories with all of you.

I never had the opportunity to meet Irene Dawson, but I did have the pleasure of teaching her great-grandchildren.

Dorothy Woods and Irene Dawson

Seven years after completing their Montessori training under Dr. Margaret Potts, Dorothy Woods and Irene Dawson founded Montessori Children’s House. They made an incredible team and impacted the lives of many children.

In 1968, Father Ray of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church wanted to start a Montessori preschool. He approached Dorothy, a member of his congregation, with the idea. She had recently returned to work after having her two sons, but struggled to balance her demanding schedule with family life. Curious about Montessori, she went to the library, checked out books, and fell in love with the philosophy. Father Ray arranged for Dr. Margaret Potts, president of the Canadian Montessori Association, to come to Council Bluffs for teacher training. Dr. Potts had trained directly under Maria Montessori! She and her husband ran a Montessori school in Calgary, living on the top floor, with a boarding space for children on the second floor and the school on the main level. When her training was announced, it was opened to the public, and about 12 people attended. Dorothy remembers Dr. Potts as a compassionate woman who deeply emphasized sensorial education—teaching children to appreciate the beauty of materials and reach their individual best. Each child had unique learning styles, and there was no concept of “levels.” Instead, the focus was on individualized education, fostering self-discipline, intrinsic motivation, and a love of learning through a carefully prepared environment. Montessori materials were often modified to meet the needs of the child. After completing training, Dorothy and Irene taught at different church-based preschools, facing challenges like acquiring sensorial materials. Since materials had to be ordered from Holland, Dorothy relied on a relative in the trucking business to help transport them. With only one set of materials shared between three classrooms, they made it work. Inspired by their experiences, Dorothy and Irene decided to start their own Montessori school. The first hurdle was finding a location. They ultimately transformed Dorothy’s basement at 210 Meadow Lane into two classrooms. In 1975, Montessori Children’s House was officially licensed for 25 morning and 25 afternoon students—marking the beginning of a lasting educational legacy. #MontessoriHistory #HonoringDorothyWoods #MontessoriLegacy

Changing Legislation

Over the years, the educational landscape has experienced numerous shifts, reflecting the evolving needs of families. One significant change was the adaptation of class schedules to better accommodate parents, including the introduction of 2- and 3-day class options. Among Dorothy's most notable achievements was her successful effort to amend the law governing child-teacher ratios. At that time, the ratio was set at 1:6 for classes where even one child was aged 3. Despite the state inspector's appreciation for Dorothy and Irene’s program, there was little flexibility. When one of Dorothy's students approached the age of 4, the inspector bluntly told her, “If you don’t like the rule, you’ll have to change it!” Inspired by this challenge, Dorothy set out to advocate for legislative change. She believed that class size should reflect the average age of the students, allowing for mixed-age groups to enhance learning. Dorothy reached out to her local representative, Schroeder (R), who invited her to present her case to the Rules and Regulations Committee at the state capitol. With determination, she addressed the committee, recalling that after their meeting, Rodenburg took her to lunch. When she inquired about the timeline for hearing back, his hesitant response hinted that progress might be slow. Fortunately, Craig Walter (D), a fellow representative whose son was enrolled in Dorothy’s class, offered his support. He agreed to sponsor a bill for her and encouraged her to attend legislative breakfasts in Council Bluffs, where she could engage with lawmakers and inquire about the bill's progress. Later, Rodenburg requested Dorothy gather signatures for his reelection. Despite her frustrations, she managed to collect 25 signatures, with Craig reminding her, “Play the game, Dorothy, play the game.”

Development of Woods Reading Drawers

According to the Woods Reading Drawers teacher handbook: “The Woods Reading Drawers were developed in the classroom over a seven-year period, born from the children’s enthusiastic desire to ‘read’ after mastering foundational auditory and visual phonemic skills.” The popularity of these drawers in classrooms is evident. One particularly eager child demonstrated how to use several drawers without mixing them up. The various innovations incorporated into the drawers enable children to enjoy the process while achieving success, reflecting the needs and insights of the very children they were designed for. Dorothy often shared that this phonics system was inspired by the children and guided by divine intervention. The students not only loved using the drawers, but they also thrived in building a solid reading foundation. As the system evolved, artists were commissioned to create original illustrations, leading Dorothy to secure copyrights, develop a comprehensive teacher’s manual, and distribute the drawers to schools across the U.S. Dr. Potts instilled in her the belief that learning to read is a right every child deserves. The reading drawers fostered confidence in struggling readers while providing challenges for advanced learners. The system was refined based on student feedback, including the addition of a line under the first letter as a cue to start reading from the left, and a dot in the corner to ensure the word cards were oriented correctly. Over the years, images have been updated to remain relevant. When students completed the final cabinet, they eagerly requested more, prompting Dorothy to create Series II, which introduced blends, digraphs, and long vowels. In a recent conversation, Dorothy reflected on her journey, stating, “I was just God’s tool. He loves the children and delights in their happiness. He guided me, and I learned from them.” Fifty years later, we continue to use the reading drawers daily at MCH. Though the cabinets show signs of wear and some cards have been replaced, the essence remains. The drawers promote independence, confidence, and a lasting love for reading.

I became interested in Montessori when my 4 yr old son was attending school there in Irene Dawson’s classroom. I wanted to know what were the red rods and the number pegs and the hundred board. So I asked if I could visit the classroom. Dorothy Woods told me they usually don’t have parents come in but if I wanted to learn about the classroom I was welcome. And so it began. The following year he was in Mrs. Woods’ classroom and I wanted to visit again to know what are sound baskets and flannel board and reading drawers. There was an easiness being with the kids in the classroom and Dorothy noticed that. She approached me one day to see if I would be willing to sub for them occasionally and I said yes. Then out of the blue she asked me if I would like to buy the school. They both wanted to retire. I said no, went home and told my husband and he said if I was interested I should do it. So the next time I saw Dorothy I said yes with a but. I didn’t know anything about Montessori except what I had seen in the classroom. I said let me work with you 2 days/week while I kept my other job 3days/week. She agreed and the following year I took over. It wasn’t an easy transition. I had to find a place to put the school because at that time it was in Dorothy Woods’ basement. The pastor at United Church of Christ has a son at the school and he had approached Dorothy with hints of maybe having the school at the church. After looking at many places I approached the pastor and asked if it was a possibility to move to the church. Many meetings later and figuring out all the details we were told we could move into the basement. There were some restrictions. Closets held their things, only the big room could be used and AA and families met there once a week. We would need to close up our cabinets at night to protect our materials and on Sunday there was Sunday school in the same area. I said yes even with all that and started looking for a teacher. Jan Liggett was a member of my church, had had her own preschool in another church and was now running our Sunday school program and working at the YMCA preschool. She was so happy to come work with me. She worked with me until she retired. A few years down the road we had a few parents ask if they could start their 3 yr old after Christmas. Well, after finding a teacher we said yes, the church said yes to using the little room down the hall and the 3 yr old program started. God led me into all of this and helped with all the details coming together. I am grateful to Jan Liggett, Corine Fox, Melissa Brayman, Felicia Thomas, Shannon Willadson, Laura Barrett and Denise Krohn and Mason’s mom( I can’t remember her name). They all helped to make Montessori Children’s house what it was back then and what it continues to be today. And I have to thank Heather and Jen for purchasing the school when I had to move. With out them it would not have continued. Heather has continues to allow the school to grow with the changing times but staying true to Montessori. I am so proud of her!

Where Children Shine

Over the past 18 years I have had the pleasure of working with many amazing women. Each brought their own special touch to the school. We have developed lasting friendships from working closely together. Through the years we have supported one another through hard days, shared funny stories, and brainstormed solutions. We're on our 4th Santa, done countless room rearrangements, and loved so many little children along the way. We have had so much fun on our annual outings. After back to school night and registration night we always enjoy dinner together. The last day of school and lunch following Santa's visit usually include a nice dinner and some grown-up beverages! These times are my most treasured and always include lots of laughter and occasionally some tears. When Jennifer Casson decided to return to her nursing career in 2014 I was anxious about running the business on my own. Felicia (Mrs. Thomas) reassured me she'd be there to help and help and gave me the confidence I needed. She still subs for us occasionally and remains a dear friend. Mandy (Mrs. Rice) is my technical support. She was a fantastic teacher at MCH while her husband was stationed in Omaha. They've had many moves since then but she's always just an email away! I was happy to see her face in person last Spring on a trip to Texas. She maintains the website and does the newsletters and assists with any other computer related ideas I come up with! Her help is so valuable and much appreciated. As a single mom and business owner I have relied on each of these ladies in different ways over the years. The most impactful was when I lost my son, Caleb. I didn't have to worry about anything. They handheld everything at school with grace and kept the school running efficiently in my absence. Marianne ( Mrs. Hamilton) stepped in to teach my class and let me gradually return to school. They allowed me the time I needed to be with my family and kept things seemless for the students at MCH. I will be forever thankful for that amazing gift during the most difficult time in my life.