Why do so many families find this stretch of the school year so hard? The adrenaline of the new year has faded, but the pace hasn’t slowed down. In this episode, Terry Dubow talks with Siri Panday, Marin Montessori’s Director of Education for Toddler and Primary, about how families can navigate this stressful season with more grace, calm, and connection.

Key Takeaways:

• Why transitions often intensify family stress even after the “back-to-school” period.

• How consistent routines offer emotional stability for both children and parents.

• Why letting children experience age-appropriate struggle builds resilience.

• Practical tips to ease mornings, strengthen rhythm, and release the pressure of “perfect parenting.”

• How Montessori principles offer a humane, sustainable path for families during busy seasons.

Wonder is not a luxury; it is essential for raising curious, resilient, and joyful children. In this episode, Terry Dubow, Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives at Marin Montessori School, talks with Tree Sturman, Director of the Junior High, about how modern childhood can crowd out wonder and how Montessori education creates space for children to stay curious and connected.

Key Takeaways

• How modern childhood squeezes out wonder
• Why Montessori intentionally protects curiosity
• The connection between wonder, resilience, and learning
• Practical ways parents can nurture wonder at home
• Why protecting wonder matters in an anxious world

About Tree Sturman

Tree has spent his career in passionate pursuit of a better world. After a decade leading environmental nonprofits, he co-founded Compass Montessori Junior High in Michigan and guided its growth for 11 years. A lifelong learner with a gift for connecting with adolescents, Tree brings deep experience, curiosity, and a love of hands-on learning to his work at Marin Montessori School.

While artificial Intelligence is changing schools, the most important work remains human. In this episode, Marin Montessori Head of School, Sam Shapiro, talks with Jenny Elliott, Head of Student and Academic Life at Choate Rosemary Hall, about what one of the nation’s most respected boarding schools has learned after a year of experimenting with generative AI.

Key takeaways from this conversation:

• Why Choate chose to engage with AI rather than ignore or ban it.

• How student-facing guidelines clarified expectations and built integrity.

• Ways schools can protect creativity and ethical reasoning in an AI era.

• Why “friction” in learning still matters and how to preserve it.

• How educators can model discernment and intentionality with AI use.

• Practical steps schools can take to engage parents and students in the conversation.

• 
  

This episode offers insights and encouragement for parents, educators, and leaders seeking to keep learning meaningful in a rapidly changing world.

For more about Choate's approach to AI, click here!