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4 Things a Neuropsychologist says about Montessori

July 27th, 2016

4 Takeaways from a Neuroscientist's Perspective on Montessori We've extracted some interesting quotes from Dr. Hughes about how the Montessori method is strikingly aligned with what neuroscientists know about brain development. Disclaimer: While Dr. Hughes is not a Montessori practitioner, he is uniquely positioned to have an opinion on Montessori. You can read the full article from Dr. Hughes here. 1. Oversized Hands Montessori education is the original, and, I think, the best brain-based model... READ MORE

TOILETING: It doesn’t have to be so hard

July 15th, 2016

When to do it You can start the process of your child gaining Toilet Awareness from birth. This is possible by: Giving your child a rich language environment and consistently naming body parts, bodily functions, etc. Providing opportunities to sit on a potty chair once sitting independently. Using cloth diapers and underpants. By walking age (around 10-12 months) your child will have voluntary control of their sphincter muscles. This means they now have control over when they go and are for the first... READ MORE

CDS alumna stands out

July 14th, 2016

Listen to the mother of a former CDS student tell this story... [she] and another Beacon student flew to China to work with special needs orphans for 3 weeks. After day 2, the other student needed to return home, and [she] stayed with the program. Over the summer I know it was a little tough for her as she still struggles with plans changing on the fly. But blog updates and texts every 4 or 5... READ MORE

Jordan West

June 22nd, 2016

Interview of Jordan West CDS Alumni 6th Grade Class of 2008 We feel that one of the most meaningful ways for you to know about the outcomes of a CDS education is to hear it from our graduates themselves. As we interviewed CDS alumni, we observed 5 prominent themes from their outcomes: What are our graduates doing now? Jordan West is currently employed by a large hardware/software company in Silicon Valley. Jordan recently applied to... READ MORE

Technology in the Montessori Classroom (AMI Reprint)

November 17th, 2015

The following excerpts, from an article titled Technology in the Montessori Classroom - Benefits, Hazards, and Preparation for Life, by Greg MacDonald, appeared in the Fall 2015 (third edition) of AMI/USA's journal. An Old Truism Worth Remembering: Technology Gives Benefits and Hazards A critical moment in our history occurred when one of our most distant human ancestors picked up a rock and used it to crack open a nut or a crab shell so that the... READ MORE

Some Takeaways and Parent Feedback from John Rosemond’s Talk

October 13th, 2015

Takeaways from John's Rosemond's Talk Parenting must be done with a balance of love and leadership. If the parenting approach is disproportionately love, it becomes enabling. If the approach is disproportionately leadership, it becomes abusive. Have a long-term (as opposed to short-sighted) vision of the adult you want your child to be. What kind of 30 year old do you want to raise? What is your mission statement for your child? Not a statement only about academics... READ MORE

The Current Crisis: Over-parenting, anxious children, and education

September 23rd, 2015

A recent interview with authors, parents and educators Julie Lythcott-Haims and Jessica Lahey revealed some alarming observations of the effects of over-parenting. If you don't want to read the entire interview, skim through some of the key quotes below, and then, leave a comment. Over-Parenting and Our Anxious Kids "Kids are anxious, afraid and risk-averse because parents are more focused on keeping their children safe, content and happy in the moment than on parenting for competence." "Our kid becomes chronologically... READ MORE

How to Get Your Child Ready for Preschool

August 26th, 2015

9 Ways to Get Your Child Ready for Preschool: Chicago Tribune article here Is this good news [...] For those of you who might not know, the [...] The theory goes something like this: if you use [...] Every time you are in a store, have your child [...] Is work a four-letter word? It certainly has four [...] Testimonials from Chris and Corrie Carrigan about CDS [...] ... READ MORE

How to Get Your Child Ready for Preschool (Intro)

August 26th, 2015

Why we wrote this series Listen to a story that highlights why we wrote this series on getting your child ready for preschool: The elementary students are often out in the community to meet their responsibilities of caring for their classroom.One day we had to go to the grocery store to shop for supplies for a class party. Once we were in the store, the child who had the shopping list told each of the children what they... READ MORE

How to Get Your Child Ready for Preschool (1 of 9)

August 26th, 2015

#1 Turn off the on-Screen Media (TV and Tablets) Is your child ready for preschool? We asked four of our most seasoned teachers to give us their insights on how parents can prepare their kids for that big transition. In this post, the combined voices of 4 experts in child education say “Definitely turn off the TV [i.e., any on-screen media] or limit it dramatically.” These are not merely opinions, but observations from over 75 years... READ MORE

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