The Fessy Den Blog

Best of the Fessy-Den Blog 2019

  Before we launch our 2020 editorial calendar, we are taking a look back at some of 2019’s most popular Fessy-Den Blog posts. From what experts have to say about single-sex education to exploring how project-based learning can help create the changemakers of the future, we hope you enjoy The Best of the Fessy-Den Blog...
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Most Popular Posts of the 2018-2019 Academic Year

It’s hard to believe that Fessenden’s academic year has come to a close. Before we gear up for another year of informative and entertaining editorial, we thought we would share your favorite posts from the 2018-2019 school year. Enjoy!   The Private School Difference in a World of Standardized Tests If you’re one of the...
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The Importance of Communication Skills and When to Build Them

Think about the number of times you have been required to interact with colleagues, peers, or strangers in the last week. Have you attended a work meeting? Participated in an important discussion that required a shared consensus? Or simply had to send an email to a group of people? Communication and public speaking are critical...
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Why Parents Must Get Comfortable with the Word ‘Failure’

Parents often have a visceral reaction to the word “failure” in the context of student learning. This is especially true of parents who pay tuition at a private or independent school. An investment in your child’s education should lead to success, right? And isn’t failure antithetical to achievement? You already know the answer to this,...
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Why Preschool Children Should Have Control Over Their Learning

When you imagine the ideal classroom environment for your preschooler, it probably looks like a colorful, orderly space where students are engaged, actively participating, and genuinely excited to learn. But what happens in a student-directed environment that promotes choice? Don’t conjure up images of “Kindergarten Cop” where students are screaming and running amok. Student-focused education...
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How Community Service Shapes Executive Functioning

The middle school years mark an important transition for young boys. Their educational journeys will undergo big changes as they move from a contained classroom setting with a single teacher to an experience in which they may see four or five different teachers per day. However, this is not the only change. Their adolescent brains...
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The Case for Studying Spanish in Pre-K and Kindergarten

At Fessenden, we believe students benefit in myriad ways from studying a second (or third) language. In fact, you can often find our youngest learners exploring Spanish in our Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. Throughout the year, children in our earliest grades expand their cultural awareness, reinforce fundamentals (such as math and literacy), and have fun...
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The ABCs of Middle School Boys: ‘C’ is for Change

This is part 3 of a three-part series. In parts one and two of this three-part series, we addressed common challenges and fears that can be associated with parenting a middle school boy. We assured you that feeling uncomfortable and uncertain about your parenting techniques is normal, and that it’s healthy and developmentally appropriate for...
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