Google Montessori
March 21, 2012Our friends, The Montessori Madmen, have started a new campaign. In an effort to continue to increase awareness about Montessori education, they've prompted schools to design the word, "Google", using the class materials. The hope is →
Expectations in Montessori
March 20, 2012How are expectations set in Montessori? What are the expectations in Montessori? Let's find out. Instead of creating or setting expectations for children, offering up a date at which they need to complete an assignment, →
I am so Happy
March 6, 2012In a society and culture that focuses so much on academics, we need to remember that if children are happy, they'll be truly engaged and invested in their education. They'll want to learn. This is →
Dear Riverbend
March 5, 2012A few months ago, we announced that we would be partnering up with a "sister Montessori school" in Massachuttes, named The Riverbend Montessori School. Collectively, we decided that it would be a unique opportunity to share →
The Power of Control of Error
March 5, 2012Control of Error, the ability to recognize and then correct your own mistakes, without having an external person let you know if you did the activity "right or wrong", is a mainstay of the Montessori →
Learning to Pour
February 28, 2012Watch as this yet to be three year old boy engages with a pouring presentation from Ms. Wood. She presents the material, carefully and methodically, using deliberate motions and exaggerated gestures. As adults, we're used →
If I had my child to raise again
February 24, 2012You've probably already seen this poem. Some of you might have even read it multiple times. It's worth reading again, until you feel sufficiently inspired, to read it once more. The rhythm, the flow, the...hope →
Imagination in Montessori
February 22, 2012We had a great conversation about imagination yesterday. We were discussing his new shirt, the one that he had painted himself, when we started to hone in on colors and what it means to imagine. →
Instagram
February 13, 2012Did you know that Baan Dek is on Instagram? Instagram is a fun and quirky way to share photos. It's definitely worth looking into. Our username is: baandek. You should follow us! Also, we post most →
Cursive in Montessori
February 6, 2012Did you know that Montessori schools start with cursive, as opposed to print? We thought we would take this opportunity to point out a few of the benefits, and to explain the rationale in greater →
A Primary Education
January 27, 2012Yesterday, the most magical thing happened. Well, as a matter of fact, it actually happens each, and every day in our classrooms. You'll notice that when we do art, we work with the primary colors. →
Work & Play. Fantasy & Creativity.
January 26, 2012For prospective families that research Montessori prior to their visit, there are at least two main areas of inquiry that they are most eager to have us address.1. First, they've read that Montessori has a →
Exploring Number Rods
January 24, 2012Exploration is a vital component to Montessori classrooms. Let's take a look. Watch as she picks up the number rods, carefully balancing them in her hands, meticulously counting,"One. Two. Three." Glimpse her pointing to the →
Flowers in Montessori
January 24, 2012We love flowers at Baan Dek. They freshen up the place, especially in the winter. Did you know that flowers are a mainstay in Montessori classrooms? Yes! We often bring in flowers for the students →
Working with Everything
January 23, 2012We thought we would take this opportunity to address the beauty of a simple question, and the equally meritorious response. Mom asks, "What did you do today?" The student responds, "Everything!". What's at work here? →
Our Role as Educators
January 16, 2012What is our role as educators ? What function should "teachers" play? In the "Aims of Education", Alfred North Whitehead, spells it out: "The principle of progress is from within: the discovery is made by →
A Walk Through a Montessori Classroom
January 11, 2012Let's take a walk through a Montessori classroom. Are you ready? On any given day, at any given moment, you'll notice that no one in a Montessori classroom is doing the exact same thing. The →
Transitioning to Montessori
January 4, 2012A few steps and suggestions to phase your child in to Montessori. New students who are just beginning at Baan Dek start out with a shortened set of hours for the first week. This is →
New Location
January 3, 2012As of today, January 3, 2012, we opened at our new location. Hooray! We thought you might like to take a short tour of some of the many architectural things that make Baan Dek unique. →
Cylinder Blocks Activities
December 6, 2011The cylinder blocks are a favorite of Montessori classrooms. They're made of wood, and there are ten pieces, and the children absolutely love to work with them. Let's find out why. Materials: A rectangular block →
Threading Activity
November 30, 2011Threading Activity: There are a lot of practical life activities that have multiple layers and purposes to them. Threading is one of them. One of the most important lessons to be learned is independence and →
Individualized Education
November 18, 2011One of the many things that makes Montessori so enticing for prospective families, is the fact that their child will receive a one-on-one education. What does this mean? Actually, this means many things. First, it →
A Guide to the Pink Tower
November 15, 2011The Pink Tower: When you think Montessori, you think many things. One of the first things that usually comes to mind is the Pink Tower. What is the Pink Tower? Materials: The pink tower is →
Transitioning to Public School
November 15, 2011One of the most frequently asked questions that we receive, especially from prospective families is: "How do Montessori students transition to public school?". We thought we would take this opportunity to address this question, identifying →
