The Fessy Den Blog

The Responsive Classroom Supports Three Areas of Child Development Impacting Student Success in Fourth Grade

1 Comment | February 19, 2020

Fourth grade is challenging for many students. Academic expectations are higher than they were in third grade, and children work more independently. Friendships are more important and more complicated. There is increased academic and social pressure. To help your son thrive, you want to find a school that understands the intricate relationships between academic expectations,...
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To Support Early Learning, Pre-K Programs Must Foster Three Areas of Child Development

2 Comments | February 05, 2020

High-quality Pre-K programs understand that your child’s physical, cognitive, and social and emotional development is critical to building a foundation for learning. The developmental changes that young children experience in Pre-K are critical to their long-term success. It is important to nurture your son’s physical, cognitive, and social and emotional development. To help him thrive,...
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Why Consider an All-Boys Pre-K Program?

December 11, 2019

Is Pre-K too early for single-sex education? Not according to the research. For many parents, a single-sex education makes sense for adolescents. But what about your three-, four-, or five-year-old? Will attending Pre-K at a boys’ school help or hinder their social, emotional, and academic development? Is a traditional, co-educational Pre-K program a better choice?...
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The Evolution of the School Project

Leave a Comment | September 11, 2019

Do you remember making sugar cube pyramids as a child during your study of ancient Egypt? Or shoebox dioramas during your research of our world’s ecosystems? A lot has changed since students were asked to learn content within a particular subject area and represent it in a narrowly-defined way. Lately, schools are coming around to...
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The Importance of Communication Skills and When to Build Them

Leave a Comment | May 15, 2019

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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Does Your Child’s Preschool Spark Joy?

Leave a Comment | March 06, 2019
Preschool Spark Joy

There’s a lot to be said for cherishing the things that spark joy in your life. Just ask Marie Kondo or any of her “Tidying Up” devotees. But while the KonMari Method has swept the States by storm and people are blessing their belongings goodbye in search of happiness, the idea of joy is a...
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Why Preschool Children Should Have Control Over Their Learning

Leave a Comment | February 13, 2019

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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The Case for Studying Spanish in Pre-K and Kindergarten

1 Comment | January 30, 2019

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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