Cutting Edge Schools

I share a lot about cutting edge educational design on the blog. Today I wanted to talk about cutting edge education programs. In an educational reality full of tests, budget cuts, growing class sizes and increased homework.  I am always excited to see schools that really get the connection between play, project learning and student achievement. Below are quick profiles of two schools that I believe are the front runners for creating a new educational paradigm.

Opal School at the Portland Children’s Museum : Portland OR

Opal School of Portland Children’s Museum serves as a resource for teacher-research by supporting and provoking fresh thinking about learning environments that inspire playful inquiry, creativity, imagination and the wonder of learning in children and adults.

The mission of Opal School is to strengthen public education by provoking fresh ideas concerning environments where creativity, imagination and the wonder of learning thrive. I have had the pleasure of working with the Opal school as they redesign their playscape. You will see more detail on that project on the blog soon!

Hershey Montessori School Farm : Huntsburg, Ohio

The Huntsburg Campus of The Hershey Montessori School has a working farm, residential house, program barns, bio-shelter and classroom buildings on 97 acres of predominantly wooded land. It is the first farm school model of its kind to fully implement Dr. Montessori’s ideas about education for adolescents. The program focuses on three areas of growth and experiences for students; academics, personal growth and real life on a working farm.