Question of Montessori
As parents, as members of the community, when we're faced with a problem, whether the issue is social or intellectual, what is our first response? In most cases, we either shy away from it, or →
Originality + Action
At Baan Dek, we take great pride in our community. Not only in our growing Montessori community, but also in the city of Sioux Falls and the state of South Dakota as whole. That's why we're →
The Cylinder Blocks Activity
What's at work with the cylinder blocks? Let's find out. First, we'll describe the process. As a child navigates through the classroom, they're completely free to choose any activity that interests them, in so far →
A Few Tips on Drop-Off
We're often asked, by parents and members of the community alike, "How can I ensure a smooth drop-off for my child? Are there any tips and tricks, or helpful advice that we can employ?" In →
Providing a Preview
After a recent conversation with Brad Uhing, a Ph.D. Research Scientist at Avera Research Institute, we were totally besotted with his conception of "using a preview". The way he articulated the concept, just made complete →
Dear Parents
Dear Parents, We don't think we say it enough, "Thank you". We absolutely love what we do... We love your children. We love their minds. We love their mishaps and their surprises. We love their →
Planning for Education in Utero
We asked Taté Walker, or she offered, (it probably depends on who you ask) to write a blog post about enrolling her daughter at Baan Dek. We're absolutely thrilled that she decided to share her →
Freedom and Discipline
How does Montessori address freedom and discipline? Without rewards or punishments, and with a focus on collaboration instead of competition, how does Montessori handle the issue of discipline, or conflict resolution? Believe it or not, →
The Logic of Montessori
How do we address praise in a Montessori classroom? As many of you know, rewards and punishments are not employed in Montessori, at least not in the conventional sense. In Montessori, there are no stars →
From Home to School
There are a number of helpful guides on how best to transition from home to school. We thought we would take this opportunity to put together a collection of our eight most helpful points that →
Before Montessori
Prospective parents often ask, "What can we do to implement the Montessori approach to education at home, to better prepare our child for your classroom?" The simple and immediate response is: help them to foster their →
Montessori and Discipline
The famous British philosopher Bertrand Russell describes the Montessori approach to discipline, in his book "On Education". Here's Russell, in 1926: "I had always understood that Madame Montessori dispensed with discipline, and I had wondered →
Through the Generations
A few weeks ago, we received a rather lovely email from a member of our community. He was interested in donating his mother's sea shell collection. Primarily, he wanted to see if we would be →
The Moment of Learning
One of the most pressing and concerning issues of our contemporary educational and cultural landscape is the conception of education as instantaneous, as if you could just download knowledge. The moment of learning may very →
The Joy of Wooden Activities
The French philosopher Roland Barthes has a lovely description of the value and import of wooden toys, written in his seminal collection of essays, Mythologies. "Current toys are made of a graceless material, the product of chemistry, →
