Our Approach to Learning

Where Curiosity Meets Courage

At The Common School, Amherst, we view education as an active pursuit rather than a passive experience. Our progressive curriculum is deeply inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy: we see children not as empty vessels to be filled, but as capable researchers of their own world. As a nature-based school, we extend that research well beyond the classroom walls. Our Nursery, Primary, and Elementary classrooms, along with the woods, fields, and gardens that surround them, are designed as “third teachers,” dynamic environments that spark wonder, invite deep investigation, and honor the many ways children express their thinking.

The Common School curriculum is designed to help children ages three through twelve discover their own strengths and interests by trying new things, asking questions, and taking healthy, calculated risks. As an independent school, we move beyond rote memorization to prioritize inquiry-based and project-based learning, where student curiosity drives the academic experience. Through outdoor education woven into every season, children test ideas, solve real problems, and build a lasting connection to the natural world. By fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, we ensure that every child develops the intellectual resilience and creative confidence needed to navigate a complex world.

See how we empower the next generation of thinkers.

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Children playing with colored paper or sticky notes on a wall illuminated by a projector.
Two children playing with colorful magnetic building blocks on a carpet in a classroom or playroom.

Nursery

Common School Curriculum

Two young boys hugging, one dressed as a pirate with a black hat decorated with gold trim, the other holding a colorful unicorn craft, standing in a classroom with whiteboard and children's items.

Primary

A young boy with dark hair working on a woodworking project at a light-colored table, using a hand saw and a chisel, in a well-lit room.

Elementary

The Common School’s deep-dive approach encourages them to sharpen their math, reading, science, and social studies skills as they tackle meaningful, real-world problems. It also hones their ability to think critically, to listen, observe, and evaluate carefully, and to see the relevance of their education.

In-Depth Studies

In-Depth Studies (IDS) are the primary organizing feature of The Common School’s curriculum. These are content-rich, multidisciplinary inquiries that look at a central theme or focus area over the course of several weeks or even months. Students learn to explore the designated theme from numerous different angles by drawing on different areas of study.

Our in-depth, project-based approach to learning gives each student opportunities for voice and choice in their own education. We offer six mixed-age classes of up to 22 students; students typically stay with the same teachers for two-year increments, which helps form solid, trusting relationships and creates a nurturing environment where children can spread their wings.

In addition to classroom work, we prioritize structured and unstructured play for all students.

Children are given ample time to explore the beauty Connecticut River Valley has to offer. The Common School’s beautiful campus, which includes a playground and neighboring nature trails and farmland.

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Our graduates leave our private school go on to excel in secondary education and attend some of the best colleges and universities in the country:

  • Academy at Charlemont

  • Amherst Regional Middle and High School

  • Deerfield Academy

  • Northfield Mount Hermon

  • Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School

  • The Bement School

  • Williston Northampton

The world is interesting and learning is fun. Our goal is to help children to discover this for themselves, using their innate curiosity and their own two hands.

Students at The Common School Learn to …

  • Discover

    Identify animal tracks in the snow

  • Transform

    Make textile dyes out of flowers grown in our Children’s Garden

  • Experiment

    Experiment with electrical circuits and solar units

  • Advocate

    Organize marches and advocate for change

Find Your Flow

  • Young girl sitting at a table, looking thoughtful with her hand resting on her neck, beside a colorful abstract artwork.

    Arts

    Arts is integrated into everything we do at The Common School. Art elements are infused in every area of instruction, encouraging students to work with a range of media and to learn new skills and techniques.

  • Child reading a book in a patterned armchair surrounded by library bookshelves

    Library

    The Common School’s library houses almost 20,000 books by a diverse range of authors. All of our classes visit the library at least once a week; younger children look forward to story time with our teacher-librarian, while older students engage in independent reading and research, hone their critical literary skills, and explore creative writing.

  • Two children playing with colorful LEGO blocks at a table, holding a LEGO airplane and building structures.

    Choice Time

    At every grade level, students can choose how they begin to their day— there’s building, crafting, playing strategy games, exploring, experimenting, writing, reading, coding, and participating in multi age activities and more.

  • Two children kneeling beside a tree in the forest, surrounded by pine cones and fallen leaves.

    Forest Friday

    Forest Fridays are an integral part of student experience at The Common School. Time in green spaces supports children’s development, strengthening personal, social, and emotional growth along with verbal communication and mathematics. Each week, all students ages 3 to 12 spend unstructured time outdoors on Forest Friday, exploring, problem solving, and building confidence together.