Many of us carry lingering anxieties about math, fearing that a single test or grade level defines a child’s future. But at Marin Montessori, we view math differently. It’s not a race toward a formula; it’s a journey of discovery. By moving from the “thinking hand” of washing tables to the complex geometry of binomial cubes, we help children build the internal drive to persevere through any challenge.
We’ve inherited an industrial model of schooling that treats children like products on an assembly line, spitting them out into massive high schools the moment they hit age 14. But does the calendar actually reflect a child’s readiness for adult-sized pressures? In this episode, Terry Dubow sits down with Tree Sturman, Director of the Junior High at Marin Montessori, to poke at the assumptions behind the traditional 9–12 high school structure. Tree argues that the 9th-grade year is a critical “full cycle” moment, a time when the brain’s “hormonal silt” is still settling and the foundation of identity is still wet concrete.
How do we ensure our children don’t lose their “creative spark” to an algorithm? Tech veteran Jonathan Arena joins Sam Shapiro to share how his family uses AI to fuel real-world projects—like building a garden—while keeping the focus on critical thinking and the “thinking hand.”
While we often treat the 14th birthday as a non-negotiable starting line for high school, history and neuroscience prove that maturity doesn’t simply arrive on a schedule. Discover why the “gift of time” is the most powerful tool we have to protect adolescent mental health and build the durable confidence kids need to truly own their future.
Most of us grew up with letter grades and gold stars—familiar markers of progress that don’t exist in a Montessori classroom. Choosing a different path for our children often means letting go of the map we used as kids. In this episode, veteran parents Courtney Smith and Jeannette Schar share how they learned to recognize the true indicators of growth and find confidence in the journey.
Why is a passion for reading so hard to instill? We explore how contemporary neuroscience and a century of educational philosophy prove that joy is not a frivolous extra, but the very foundation for building a lifelong connection to books.
As families head into a busy season of gatherings, late nights, and less structure, many parents quietly wonder how to protect their kids from early substance use. In this episode, host Sam Shapiro talks with educator and author Jessica Lahey about what really keeps kids safer, why early use matters so much, and how parents can stay connected and influential in the years that count most.
Stanford professor of education and expert Dr. Denise Pope calls AI an “alarm bell” for a necessary education reform. She argues the solution to today’s challenges is Authentic Assessment—engaging, real-world projects that are so interesting, students want to do the work. Listen as she defines the core human skills (like compassion and empathy) that technology can never replace, and how to talk to your child about family values in the age of AI.
Many parents worry that their child isn’t driven enough or needs more pushing. In this conversation, Terry Dubow talks with Minnie Wales, Director of Education for Elementary, about what true motivation looks like and how children can learn to find their own drive. Together, they explore how curiosity, choice, and gentle guidance help kids build lifelong confidence and resilience.
Every parent wonders what to do when their child seems unmotivated. In this Grounded and Soaring article, educator Minnie Wales explores how real motivation develops—not from pressure or rewards, but from purpose, curiosity, and the freedom to take ownership of learning.
