Your child’s early school years are a critical time for learning in so many ways. At this age, they are curious explorers navigating a new world and figuring out how to interpret, interrogate, and share all of their findings. Language is a critical tool in this...
Experiential Learning
Willow First Graders Featured in NAIS Magazine
Willow is featured in the Winter 2019 edition of Independent School Magazine! The article focuses on our first graders' year-long study of communities and their culminating learning celebration, Community in the Woods. Read the article here!
What Is Student-Centered Learning & Why Is It So Effective?
One of the things that makes a Willow education so different and so effective is our student-centered approach. What is student-centered learning, and how does it work? Our new eBook helps explain this philosophy and its impact on classroom design, lesson planning,...
“Play” Isn’t a Four-Letter Word
How do children learn through play? Children are naturally driven to learn about and understand their world. From the moment they are born, their mission is to grow in every way: physically, emotionally, and cognitively. As parents, our goal is to support and...
The Joy of Maple Sugaring at Willow!
What makes a learning experience memorable? It's hands-on. It's more of an experience than a lesson. It connects the dots between different things you know. It's relevant to your life, so what you've just learned is immediately (and often) applied. Willow's annual,...
How Do Kindergarteners Learn Best?
Children want to grow. They are curious and driven to learn about the world around them. Your child’s first experiences at school can be a time when she first discovers how to channel that drive into a thirst for knowledge and a love of learning...or it can be a place...
Willow Maple Festival Featured on NJ News 12
The Willow School's March 5 Maple Festival was featured on NJ News 12's Education Matters segment! Click here to watch! Learn more about this awesome, multi-grade project that incorporates STEAM skills and place-based learning here.
Willow Genius Hour Featured on “Education Matters”
The Willow School's student-led Genius Hour was featured on NJ News 12's Education Matters segment this week! Practiced by innovative companies like Google, at Willow, the program gives Grade 3, 4, and 5 students dedicated time to explore a passion or interest and...
The Intentional Curriculum: How Students Grow at Willow
Learning is connected every step of the way at The Willow School. Our integrated academic program engages students on a deep intellectual level, harnesses their curiosity and creativity, and encourages them to take ownership of their education. At Willow, children...
See Imaginative Inquiry in Action at Willow
"Play is the work of the child.” - Maria Montessori Imagine your child could be as engaged and absorbed at school as they are when they’re playing. This takes place every day at The Willow School, and it’s so much more than simply making learning fun. One of the ways...