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News & Articles

Our Obsession With College Is Hurting Our Kids

By Martin Moran | January 7, 2025

Competency-based LearningProgressive LearningProject-Based Learning

High schools and middle schools at large are not only creating undue and unnecessary stress, overpacking student schedules, and contributing to a mental health crisis for kids around the country, but the payoff that was promised – the one that makes all of this “worth it” – is no longer happening.

August 25, 2023 Open House_Orientation-32

News & Articles

How to Resolve Social Conflicts in Kindergarten

By Sam Rud | December 17, 2024

Early Childhood DevelopmentParentingProgressive Learning

Navigating social conflicts is a vital part of growth for our four- and five-year-olds. At this stage, learning to resolve disagreements in a healthy way helps children develop empathy, self-regulation, and effective communication—essential skills for building strong, positive relationships.

The Canopy Project: A Five-Year Analysis of School Innovation, 2019-2024

Press & Recognition

“As the founding upper school director Martin Moran explained, ‘Everything has to start with trust: Teachers need to trust kids. Administrators need to trust teachers. Parents need to trust administrators.’ As a teacher, Moran observed how many systems and structures in school actively and unnecessarily undermined trust while harming high school students’ mental health and…

5-Year Study Highlights Impactful School Innovation Practices

Press & Recognition

“To address friction among schools, families, students and teachers regarding student grades, Bennett Day School, a private K-12 school in Chicago, adopted a competency-based assessment system that measures achievement around personal growth and skill development. The school also minimized high stakes tests and implemented ‘demonstrations of learning‘ at the end of each trimester, according to…

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How to Talk To Your Child About School

By Bennett Day School | September 30, 2024

Early Childhood DevelopmentProgressive Learning

As a parent, you may find yourself in this boat: How was school today? Fine. What did you do? Played on the playground. What are you learning about? I don’t know.

Top Private School Trends to Watch

Press & Recognition

“Bennett Day School (PK-12) in Chicago has a daily advisory program for middle and high school students. More than a homeroom, the advisory provides a structured curriculum on social-emotional learning. Students also meet one-on-one with their advisor once a week. ‘The advisory program builds a 360-degree support system around the student,’ says Martin Moran, who…

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High school student at Bennett Day engaged in real-world learning.

News & Articles

School Shouldn’t Suck: Bennett Day School Teachers Share Project-Based Learning Strategies at BOOST Conference

By Bennett Day School | June 5, 2024

Learning By DoingProject-Based Learning

What if school didn’t have to suck? That’s the question posed by Dr. Shannon Hurst, Upper School Science Teacher, and Alex Modica, Upper School Humanities Teacher, during their presentation at the 2024 BOOST Conference. The approach to project-based learning (PBL) at Bennett Day School is not only making school engaging, but it’s also fostering deeper learning, collaboration, and real-world impact.