Articles
Chicago Summer Series: Notable Treasures in Bronzeville
Summer has officially begun and we want to share some ideas for fun, hands-on learning that will keep your kid engaged all season long. Luckily, Chicago has some of the most enriching attractions in the world, allowing this city to become our classroom. Bennett Day students (Pre-K – 2nd Grade) went on a combined…
The Week of the Young Child at Bennett Day School
The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers and families. When the dates for this year’s celebration were announced, the Early Childhood Team was eager to plan experiences for our children that would highlight…
Learning through pasta and a progressive approach
The beauty in students and teachers constructing the learning together is that it allows children’s curiosity to guide the investigation and learning. Recently, our class discovered our shared interest in pasta after one of the students built a pasta factory out of building blocks. At first, we brought in different pasta from our homes and…
Tinker Lab Take-Apart and Circuits Galore!
Curious to see what’s happening in our Tinker Labs? Early Childhood Campus The world of electricity and circuits is all about making connections; literally and figuratively. Squishy Circuits are an excellent avenue for our youngest learners to do just that. Just the appearance of the conductive dough is familiar for most everyone because it looks just like Playdough….
Diversity: Culture Through Sharing
Family Share at Bennett Day School Once a year, each one of our families leads a classroom Morning Meeting to share and teach their child’s class about a unique aspect of their family traditions. The Family Share is approximately 20 minutes, and can focus on anything that a family does together, from everyday routines and…
Northwestern University Learning Scientists Partner with Bennett Day School
Collaboration over ‘design thinking’ benefits both sides CHICAGO, Ill. – What happens when inventive children work side by side with university students on a design problem? Northwestern University researchers are testing the idea with Chicago’s Bennett Day School, an innovative partnership that aims to redefine what a traditional laboratory school might look like. The initiative brings…
Arrival at Bennett Day School: Early Childhood
Arrival time at our Early Childhood campus is one of my favorite parts of the day at Bennett Day School. Teachers eagerly await children, both outside on the street, assisting in the car drop off line, and inside their classroom, anxious to greet the children and start a new day. Parents are always welcome to…
Winter Twilight in Our Community
—by Kate Cicchelli and Meg Fitzgerald Last Friday, we hosted our 3rd Annual Winter Twilight event, and evening of reading and family gathering inspired by Italy’s Reggio Narra, a citywide event dedicated to the concept of narrative. Throughout the town of Reggio Emilia, for one day a year, parents, teachers, civic leaders, community members, open…
The 10 Best Winter Books for Kids
Winter Reading Round Up: Faculty Book Recommendations As the days get colder, snuggling up next to your child with a delightful book becomes more and more appealing. We compiled a list of some of our classroom’s favorite winter reads that your child will love. We find that books makes fantastic gifts during the holiday season as…
Chicago Toy and Game Fair & Our Black Friday Picks
Our Bennett Day School outing to the Chicago Toy & Game Fair was exciting indeed. We discovered fun, friendship, creativity, ideas for gift-giving, and many acts of kindness. Our students were notably thoughtful and responsible within this very festive environment. One could easily observe the thoughtfulness and adaptability being used by Bennett Day School students…