At a time when adolescence is often framed in terms of anxiety and risk, what happens when young people are invited to explore this critical stage of life with curiosity and compassion?
What if summer wasn’t just time off—but time well used? In this episode of Grounded and Soaring, Marin Montessori Head of School Sam Shapiro talks with Dr. Christina Carroll, an Elementary Guide and educational researcher, about how families can rethink the summer months as a powerful opportunity for curiosity-driven learning.
What if homework isn’t helping? In an era of burnout, anxiety, and endless after-school worksheets, many families are asking a crucial question: Does more homework actually lead to deeper learning—or just more stress?
Traditional education rewards compliance over curiosity—but what if we designed schools differently? Join Terry Dubow, Scott Looney, and Bill Sneed as they discuss mastery-based learning, Montessori’s vision, and the changing landscape of success in education.
In Montessori, simple activities like folding a cloth are more than just tasks—they’re the building blocks for a child’s future academic and personal success. These moments teach concentration, resilience, and problem-solving, laying the groundwork for skills like advanced mathematics and critical thinking.
The three-year cycle of the Primary classroom culminates in what is often referred to as the kindergarten year. This final year is transformative. It’s a time when children apply the foundational skills they’ve been building since they were toddlers, step into leadership roles among their peers, and fully embrace the joy of learning independently.
Learning algebra (and higher math generally) can feel as inevitable, and perhaps as dreaded, as death and taxes. Recalling your own experiences, you may wonder: How will my child endure this crucible? Will they be Okay? Or will this experience crush their spirits?
This distinctive and deliberate approach positions MMS as a bit of an outlier, giving our students the rare gift of time to think, question, and create without constant digital interference.
Eventually, though, we all leave the refuge and step into the digital media-saturated world.
Learn how to balance important conversations without overwhelming your kids and how to manage your own anxieties in these polarized times. Perfect for parents aiming to foster thoughtful, confident future voters!
What’s clear to me now is that every environment shapes us—and the environments we create for our children can either amplify or fail to nurture their natural tendencies.
