“
The more we rehearse anything, the more
we revisit anything, the deeper it becomes
embedded into our memory systems.

” — Dr. Mariale Hardiman
institutions, they may take inspiration from
these schools’ successes.

Dr. Kristine Calo—associate professor at
Mary Anne Duffus is the founder and
Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, and
executive director at Brooksfield School in
chair of the college’s education programs—
McLean, Virginia, a private, Montessori-
notes, “Clearly, families play a pivotal role
based school whose teaching method focuses
in their kids’ education. (Parents) can cap-
on children’s independence and natural
ture where a child’s strengths are, what
curiosity. She explains her organization’s
their needs are … (and) help to build on the
dedication to the natural world.

strengths that a child has and help to sup-
“Through our outdoor curriculum, we
plement and support kids where their needs
teach organic gardening, seasonal studies
are as well.”
and nature exploration,” she says. “Our
“I think (an) easy thing to do that should
be happening with all kids
regardless of their age would be
reading—and not just to kids
who haven’t learned to read yet
but read to kids who can read
themselves as well,” Calo rec-
ommends, noting that this skill
helps develop language, literacy
skills and more.

Talking to children is just as
important. “For families who are
really busy and have a lot going
on, having an opportunity to be
able to talk with kids about what
they did during the day—and
not just talk at kids but talk with
kids—you’re developing their
vocabulary” and showing interest
in their interests, remarks Calo.

It’s all about maximizing time
spent together, she explains. “We
know that there’s a lot of power
in purposeful, intentional inter-
children’s senses are stimulated by
actions with kids, and that doesn’t have to nature with all its colors, sounds, aromas
be the same for every family.” These inter- and tactile experiences.” She believes
actions can include working on math and Brooksfield’s success lies in its innovation
measurement while having children help and in staying curious about the student
cook meals or asking children about their population, including adding programs and
day while driving home from activities specialists as class needs change.

and daycare.

To encourage the spirit of exploration at
wonderful when families can learn together.

So much of the time parents are at work and
kids are in school,” remarks Duffus.

Parents can channel this collaborative
learning by embarking on new outdoor
adventures with children, allowing every-
one in the family to reap the benefits of
nature, exercise and learning more about the
world around us.

Another educational philosophy per-
meates the instruction at South Jersey
Sudbury School, a Medford, New Jersey,
facility basing its teaching meth-
ods on the Sudbury Model,
which emphasizes the abil-
ity of students to self-regulate
and let their curiosity drive
them forward. This approach
manifests as interactive student-
led play, democratic deci-
sion making in lieu of arbitrary
authority, conflict resolution
led by a justice committee
made up of students and staff,
an absence of exams and more.

Gavin,* a 2022 graduating senior,
describes the benefits of this
education in his thesis, stating,
“Sudbury nurtured my creativity
and free spirit … removed judg-
ment and apathy and replaced
them with acceptance and empa-
thy.” He further noted that the
difficult decisions and debates
he participated in as a part of his time at the
school have allowed him to learn exactly who
he is and what he wants on his terms.

Parents may replicate this enriching sys-
tem for their children by giving them greater
autonomy in making decisions for the fam-
ily, providing time for unstructured play and
home, Brooksfield hosts an outdoor adven- encouraging kids to share their thoughts on
ture program that introduces families to a multitude of topics. T
Many schools embrace innovative instruc- learning on the weekends. Participants
tion methods. Even if families are unable engage as a community in camping, hiking, *Last name withheld per parent and guard-
to personally enroll their children at these ice skating, rock climbing and more. “It’s ian’s request
12 Washington FAMILY AUGUST 2022
CHILDREN: SKYNESHER / E+ / GETTY IMAGES
Learn from Schools Themselves
APPLE: PIXELEMBARGO / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
Maximize Time Spent Together