Countryside Day Blog

Starting Early: Why Reading to Your Child Matters

Starting Early: Why Reading to Your Child Matters

December 3rd, 2024
Starting Early: Why Reading to Your Child Matters Reading to children from infancy is incredibly important for their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Even at a very young age, babies begin to absorb language through the rhythm, tone, and cadence of their parents' voices. Early exposure to books helps develop essential skills like listening, vocabulary, and comprehension. As children grow, hearing stories stimulates their imagination, encourages curiosity, and fosters a love for learning.... READ MORE
I Thought Montessori Was Just for Preschool?

I Thought Montessori Was Just for Preschool?

November 19th, 2024
Many parents first encounter Montessori in preschool, but the method extends far beyond the early years.While Montessori’s early childhood approach emphasizes independence and self-directed learning, Montessori Elementary builds on these foundations, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and social skills in children ages 6-12. What’s Different in Montessori Elementary? Multi-Age Communities: Children in grades 1-3 (Lower Elementary) and grades 4-6 (Upper Elementary) work together, allowing for social growth, peer mentorship, and individual learning paces. Child-Led... READ MORE
Leadership Parenting Series: #5 Reset Your Role

Leadership Parenting Series: #5 Reset Your Role

March 7th, 2024
  Writing a thank-you note alongside your little ones teaches them to respect others and their feelings. Once they are older, they can write their own! Have them embrace the beauty of gratitude at an early age so they can grow to be responsible and caring adults. Whether it's a birthday or a holiday thank you note, start young. Time spent together is time well spent! Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q3MnDXrdxc #ItStartsAtHome... READ MORE
Self-sufficient Children

Self-sufficient Children

February 6th, 2024
Did you know that self-sufficient children tend to have greater self-esteem, are better able to manage frustration, and are less dependent on others? Start the process of raising a self-sufficient child by finding tasks that they can do independently. You can give them age-appropriate household tasks, such as folding the laundry, placing their plates in the sink after dinner, or packing and unpacking their school lunches. Engaging in simple self-care tasks will put them... READ MORE
Leadership Parenting Series: Reset Your Role #5

Leadership Parenting Series: Reset Your Role #5

November 30th, 2023
Click to play full video here. Writing a thank-you note alongside your little ones teaches them to respect others and their feelings. Once they are older, they can write their own! Have them embrace the beauty of gratitude at an early age so they can grow to be responsible and caring adults. Whether it's a birthday or a holiday thank you note, start young. Time spent together is time well spent! ... READ MORE
Bringing Montessori Grace and Courtesy Lessons at Home

Bringing Montessori Grace and Courtesy Lessons at Home

November 1st, 2023
by Amity Hook-Sopko The theme of Grace and Courtesy is the oil that keeps a group of people functioning smoothly. It is the ambiance parents can create in the home and the teacher can create in the Montessori classroom. It is a general attitude of graciousness and respect. We can only create it when first we model it with our own actions, and then with good-natured lessons, we demonstrate the way we do things... READ MORE
New Meta Study: Montessori Education Leads to Positive Student Outcomes

New Meta Study: Montessori Education Leads to Positive Student Outcomes

October 2nd, 2023
by Dr. Dean Blase Montessori educators have all experienced it: walking into a well-run, humming classroom where children are focused on learning, making and reinforcing new discoveries, and demonstrating works to younger peers. Where teachers are happily engaged in the best adult work imaginable, “observing the children, judging their ripeness, and figuring out when and how to stoke a child’s interest.” (Randolph et al 2023, 2.2). These images bring us home to Montessori classrooms. ... READ MORE
Leadership Parenting Series: #4 Reset your Role

Leadership Parenting Series: #4 Reset your Role

August 31st, 2023
Leadership Parenting Series #4 Reset your Role By Michele and Jim Aspinall  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PHxXg8dlP0 Did you know that research has found that those given consistent responsibilities as children grow to be adults who are more independent, better able to work in collaborative groups, and better able to understand that doing hard work means you're a valuable member of a community? There is still time. Make your list of household chores and start implementing... READ MORE
Leadership Parenting Series: #3 Reset your Role

Leadership Parenting Series: #3 Reset your Role

February 27th, 2023
Leadership Parenting Series #3 Reset your Role By Michele and Jim Aspinall  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOpuD-m_y-o Fewer toys will encourage your children to play in diverse ways, become resourceful, and learn to persevere! Thanks, Michele and Jim, for helping us save some money while benefitting our children in the long term! Look for more takeaways in the weeks to come! ... READ MORE
Leadership Parenting Series: #2 Reset your Role

Leadership Parenting Series: #2 Reset your Role

December 1st, 2022
Leadership Parenting Series #2 Reset your Role By Michele and Jim Aspinall    Reset Your Role with Michele and Jim's parenting takeaways. This week..." asking" your child to do something vs. "telling." Look for more takeaways in the weeks to come! https://youtu.be/1AdF4M2HqfU       ... READ MORE

Countryside Programs

We offer a continuous program from 16 months through 8th grade — inculding an all year program option for Pre-K/K and elementary school. LEARN MORE

TODDLER — Ages 16 mos.-3yrs

PRE-K/K — Ages 3-6

LOWER ELEMENTARY — Ages 6-9, Grades 1-3

UPPER ELEMENTARY — Ages 9-12, Grades 4-6

SUMMER PROGRAMS — Ages 16 mos.-12 yrs., Toddler-Grade 6

ALL YEAR FULL DAY — Ages 3-12, Grades Pre-K/K-Grade 6