What is Social-Emotional Learning?
Today’s classrooms are full of students from a variety backgrounds, and the goal is always to accommodate each student as an individual. One way in which educators strive to promote a safe, positive learning environment is through a method called social-emotional learning, or SEL. This scientifically-proven way of teaching creates a foundation that emphasises a…
What is Reggio Emilia?
At Bennett Day School, we derive many of our core principles from a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach to education. Time, space and natural light are key elements that facilitate learning and exploration in each of our classrooms. You may be wondering, though, why we chose a Reggio Emilia style over other progressive education philosophies. Here’s a…
What is Singapore Math?
When a student struggles in math class, it’s easy for parents to assume math is just not the child’s strong suit. This may not be the case. Instead, it could be the traditional way students are taught math in this country doesn’t align with everyone’s individual learning style. There is another method that has proven…
What is Project-Based Learning?
Project-based learning is a deeper form of learning that offers many educational benefits and is proven to be effective for many students. Children are often ill-prepared for the real-world situations they will face as adults. Implementing project-based learning methods in their education will better prepare them for challenges brought by the modern society. What is…
Progressive Summer Camp Options for Pre-K through Middle School Kids
Summer camp enrollment deadlines are fast approaching! Bennett Day School will morph into Bennett Day Camp this year, offering a choose-your-own-adventure-style day camp experience at its West Town campus. Each camp promises to reinforce important life skills and keep kids actively engaged all summer. Explorers Camp Rising junior and senior kindergartners (4 and 5 year…
Student Project: Rearranged Classroom
Bennett Day School prides itself on developing lifelong learners and leaders across all grade levels. A great example of how we foster these skills is through an adaptive learning program that challenges students academic, social and emotional skills. As we near the end of the school year, the students and teachers decided they needed a…
Cross-Grade Collaboration Opens New Development Opportunities
At Bennett Day, we pride ourselves on our close-knit community, developing lifelong learners and leaders across all grade levels. One way we encourage this growth is through cross-grade collaboration, which opens up new opportunities and avenues of thought, while fostering social and emotional learning. Cross-grade collaboration gives students the chance to interact with older children…
The Story of the SK Ice Cave
A progressive learning environment is an exciting place — for both the students and the teachers! You never know what is going to pique a child’s interest, turning a discussion about ice into a month-long construction experience. Case in point: there’s currently an ice cave in our senior kindergarten classroom. The impromptu project began with…
The World is Changing; Our Schools Should Be, Too
Our own Martin Moran, Lead Designer and Upper School Director at Bennett Day, recently penned a thought-provoking piece about a story that ran in the Chicago Tribune. This insightful response provides an in-depth and insightful look into competency-based education. It’s wonderful to see the Chicago Tribune publicizing the competency-based approach in it’s lead web piece yesterday, entitled “Illinois…
