Featured in the Wall Street Journal
July 31, 2012On Saturday, July 28th, our books, Letter Work & Number Work, were featured in the Saturday edition of the Wall Street Journal. We thought we would share the complete review with you: "Another pair of sturdy board →
We Believe
July 16, 2012Here are a few things that we believe: We believe that education is about creating and providing the conditions in which one can learn how to educate oneself. We believe that the greatest tasks that →
Mary Lou Cobb
July 12, 2012Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Your background, your interests, your dreams?A: I grew up in Southern Maryland and I have one sister to whom I am very close. My mother →
Manifesto for Education
July 8, 2012One of our parents, Hugh Weber, has decided that he wants to pursue writing a book about Montessori. Well, it's not actually about Montessori, per say, but rather, about the insights that he has learned, →
New Video by Trevor Eissler
July 5, 2012Trevor Eissler launched a new video. We thought you might want to take a look. In our estimations, this video enacts a substantial departure from his previous work. While the mission is the same, to →
Montessori Kickstarter
July 3, 2012We wanted to provide everyone with a little update about our Montessori Kickstarter project. In case you missed it, and thanks to your support, we successfully funded the Montessori Blueprints! Yes, that's us, pictured below, smiling! →
Meet Jamie
July 2, 2012We're very pleased to announce that Jamie Weimann will be joining Baan Dek! Jamie graduated from Northwestern College, where she holds a Bachelor's in Education.You can send her a note: jamie@baandek.org, and help us welcome her →
The Binomial Cube
June 29, 2012The binomial cube is a staple of Montessori classrooms. But, what exactly is it? It looks like a fun puzzle, and it is, but what's the logic behind the blue, black and red wooden pieces? →
Filmdrome
June 5, 2012We wanted to take this opportunity to thank Filmdrome and Sanford Children's for sponsoring the Fourth Annual Baan Dek Children's Film Festival. Over two hundred people attended the festivities. Hooray! For some of the youngest, it was their very →
Montessori Polishing Activity
May 30, 2012Watch, as this three year old student polishes a brass basket. Materials are positioned throughout the classroom, and children are free to choose which ever object they wish to polish. More often than not, the →
Montessori Blueprints
May 18, 2012We have some very exciting news to share. One of our parents, Hugh Weber, along with Bobby George, has just launched a Kickstarter project, called "Montessori Blueprints". Check it out! The ambition of "Montessori Blueprints" →
We’re Looking to Hire.
May 16, 2012We're growing, and we're looking for someone to grow with us. We have a unique culture here at Baan Dek. We think it's a pretty special place. We also think you can help us make →
Learning Happens Everywhere
May 15, 2012Where does learning happen? Learning takes place, everywhere. In Montessori, and in life we would argue, there is no distinction between learning inside and learning outside, apart, of course, from the surrounds. In our estimations, →
Exploring Geometry
May 14, 2012Montessori, following a tradition that starts with at least Rousseau, believed that children come to understand the world through their senses. Experience, says Montessori, is the foundation of knowledge. As she explains, to learn, an →
Playing Outside
May 3, 2012We love playing outside. We love exploring nature. More than anything, though, we enjoy the company of our friends. We sit and think. We run and dash to imaginary finish lines. We converse about the →
Lost and Found
April 30, 2012We've long been fans of the work of Oliver Jeffers. As a matter of fact, one of our very first students gifted the school a copy of one of his original titles. From that moment →
Safety Pin Activity
April 30, 2012Watch as she engages with the Safety Pin Dressing Frame Activity. Yes, safety pins! Disclaimer, the video is three minutes long, which is almost half the amount of time she spent on the material. Watch →
Before School Activities
April 26, 2012In before care, many students take the opportunity to help get the classroom ready for their friends. Here's a picture of one of our three year old students, carefully folding the laundry, sorting the towels →
Safety Pins
April 15, 2012Watch this short video, as Ms. Wood presents the safety pins dressing frame activity to a three year old student. They both persist, going back and forth, helping each other to discover how best to →
Montessori Letter Work and Number Work
April 12, 2012Opportunities don't always present themselves. Sometimes you just need to follow your passions, and try to realize your dreams. It sounds melodramatic, we know, but that's exactly what happened. That's also, exactly what children aspire →
Ribbon Cutting
April 10, 2012Yesterday, we had our official Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. Note the giant scissors, and a timid London, peering out to the crowd from behind the scenes. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank →
Our consulation
April 10, 2012As many of you know, part of being an accredited Montessori school, is having a consultant visit on a regular basis, and verify that what we are doing is in line with the principles that →
Competition in Montessori
March 27, 2012We thought we would take this opportunity to address the role that competition plays in Montessori. There's a misconception that Montessori students don't compete. We think this is the farthest thing from the truth. Montessori →
OTA Sessions
March 22, 2012The Baan Dek Montessori is proud to attend and participate in the OTA Sessions. Do you know the OTA Sessions? "They were born out of a desire to see the Midwest shine as hub of →
