The Cottonwood School in Corrales, NM

09/03/2026

Preschoolers visiting the school garden and chicken coop to gather eggs during their weekly Environmental Ed class. Bawk! Bawk!

09/03/2026

In 1907, Maria Montessori opened a classroom in San Lorenzo, one of Rome’s poorest districts. The children were largely working-class, some living in crowded conditions that respectable society viewed with contempt.

Montessori did something unusual.

She watched them.

Instead of assuming children needed constant commands, rewards and punishment, she began studying what happened when they were given carefully designed materials, freedom of movement and the ability to choose their own work.

What she saw challenged conventional education.

Children became intensely absorbed in tasks they had selected themselves. They repeated activities without being ordered to. They cleaned their surroundings, prepared food, handled fragile objects and corrected their own mistakes.

Montessori began removing the teacher from the center of the classroom.

That was the truly disruptive part.

At a time when education often meant rows of desks, memorization and adult authority, she argued that children possessed an internal drive to learn. The adult’s job was not to dominate that process, but to prepare an environment where it could unfold.

Even the furniture reflected the philosophy. Tables and chairs were made small and light enough for children to move themselves. Materials were placed within reach. Ordinary objects became tools for independence.

Her ideas spread internationally with astonishing speed.

By 1913, Montessori was lecturing in the United States. Alexander Graham Bell and his wife Mabel supported her work. Schools carrying her name appeared around the world.

Today, Montessori education is sometimes reduced to beautiful wooden toys, neutral-colored rooms and expensive preschool aesthetics.

Then have enough faith in them to get out of the way.

08/17/2026

We enjoyed a sweet and colorful return to school today with our families as we close out 30 years of joyful learning and launch into year 31...MAPPING THE AMERICAS: a journey through North, Central and South America!

08/15/2026

When we asked for help to build a new gate and the whole family steps up! Thank you Ethan, Sarah and Chris...for this beautiful gift!

08/04/2026

07/31/2026

A reminder that we will be drawing the winner of the Sunflower naming contest on Saturday, National Sunflower Day! Must be present to win! The kids will be picking AND planting so please join us for this fun morning!

07/31/2026

Hey Mister! Whatcha doin?

07/31/2026

What you doin' Mister?

07/28/2026

Thinking of this dear heart today on the anniversary of her passing from ovarian cancer...Trish Nickerson's sister in law, Lt Col Elizabeth Birch, was one of Cottonwood School's "first investors" who loaned us personal funds to get the school up and running. In the background you can see the Bessom Flower Shop and carport where we now have a playground! Thank you Liz for believing in the dream and for your constant support and advice throughout the journey! So many children have benefitted from your gifts to the school over the years and your legacy of philanthropy continues! ❤️
We thank you! We love you! We miss you!
Elizabeth Birch
Pictures Liz Birch (L) and Trish Nickerson (R).