Amid rising staff burnout in UK schools, retention challenges and increasing accountability pressures¹, there is a quiet shift taking place in leadership culture. “The most effective school leaders,” argues ex-headteacher Andrew Marsh in his new book Quiet Leadership, “are no longer those who command the loudest voice in the room—but those who know when to step back, listen, and empower others.”
In an education system which is shaped by urgency, targets and top-down decision-making, Quiet Leadership presents a compelling alternative: a model rooted in trust, clarity and purposeful restraint. Rather than driving change through constant direction, he suggests that sustainable improvement comes from creating the conditions in which teachers can think, act and lead with confidence.
At a time when teacher wellbeing is under intense scrutiny and schools are searching for ways to do more with less, this book offers a timely and practical approach for schools everywhere.
Leading UK expert, Mary Myatt echoes this in her recent review, “Quiet Leadership is an important read for anyone who cares about education, people and the kind of leadership that nurtures rather than depletes. It’s a gentle but powerful call to reimagine what strength looks like in our schools, and beyond².”
Drawing on real-world experience and practical insight, Andrew offers school leaders a clear framework for reducing unnecessary noise, active listening, thoughtful decision making, understanding their team, avoiding micromanagement and building stronger, more resilient teams. Quiet Leadership challenges the assumption that effective leadership must always be visible and directive, instead championing a quieter, more intentional approach that puts people at the centre. Above all, quiet leaders know that they don’t know it all.
As the education sector continues to grapple with recruitment, retention and reform, Quiet Leadership provides a timely reminder that how leaders lead matters as much as what they lead. In turning down the volume, school leaders may find they are better able to hear—and harness—the collective strength of their teams.
Andrew Marsh retired from teaching in 2024 at the age of 50. After spending 46 years in classrooms, first as a pupil, then as a university student, a class teacher, and finally as a school leader, he wanted a new challenge.
¹ See https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/mental-health/managing-burnout-education/#:~:text=Burnout%20has%20become%20one%20of,profession%20because%20of%20these%20difficulties.
² See https://www.crownhouse.co.uk/product-review/30122
Monday, August 17, 2026
Book Nook - American Mahjong for Babies
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Megan Trottier is the founder of the high-end, women-owned American mahjong brand Oh My Mahjong. Megan began designing her own tiles, mats, racks, and pushers during the pandemic as a way of uniting her community around mahjong. Her products honor the game’s rich heritage, igniting imagination and empowering players to create their own mahjong traditions. Oh My Mahjong’s products are available in over 1,200 stores nationwide, and Megan and her team also run the mahjong teacher certification program Mahji Mentors.
Music Minute - The Possum's 95th Birthday Celebration (9/13, Nashville)
Nancy Jones, widow to the late George Jones, announces “The Possum’s” 95th Birthday Celebration taking place at The Nashville Palace in the “Randy Travis Room” on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 4pm.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Ticket pricing will start at $50 for general admission (only 400 available), $75 for rail seating, and VIP tables for 4 people start at $1,000. Sponsorship VIP tables are available upon request by emailing: josh@concerts4acause.org.
“The proceeds of this birthday celebration are going to two different organizations that support country music. First, Concerts 4 a Cause, which helped me raise money for two police officers in Huntsville, Alabama, that got ambushed and shot just before our big Emmy-award winning tribute show a few years ago. The second will be The George Jones Scholarship at MTSU, where they have a Life and Music of George Jones class. I want to make sure George’s legacy continues through the next generation and the best way to do that is to help the college that is teaching students about George’s music,” adds Jones.
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About George Jones:
George Jones is regarded among the most important and influential singers in American popular music history. He was the singer of enduring country music hits, including “She Thinks I Still Care,” “The Grand Tour,” “Walk Through This World With Me,” “Tender Years,” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” the latter of which is often at the top of industry lists of the greatest country music singles of all time. Born in Saratoga, Texas, Jones played on the streets of Beaumont for tips as a teenager. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps before returning to Texas and recording for the Starday label in Houston, Texas. In 1955, his “Why Baby Why” became his first Top 10 country single, peaking at number four and beginning a remarkable commercial string: Jones would ultimately record more than 160 charting singles, more than any other artist in any format in the history of popular music.
Enriching Education - Reggio Emilia vs Montessori: Which Early Learning Approach Fits Your Child Best?
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If you have spent any time researching early childhood education, you have almost certainly encountered two names that come up again and again: Reggio Emilia and Montessori. Both are widely respected, both are rooted in a deep belief in children’s natural capacity to learn, and both stand in meaningful contrast to the more traditional, teacher-directed preschool experience.
But they are not the same. And for parents trying to figure out which environment is the right fit for their child, understanding the differences between Reggio Emilia vs Montessori is one of the most useful things you can do before scheduling a single tour.
Here is an honest, side-by-side look at both approaches. That they share, where they diverge, and how to know which one fits your child and your family best.
What Montessori Is
The Montessori method was developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. It is built around the idea that children have a natural drive toward independence and self-directed learning, and that the right environment with the right materials can allow that drive to flourish.
Montessori classrooms are carefully structured. Schools like Montessori tend to share several hallmarks:
- Specialized Montessori materials arranged in a specific sequence, used in particular ways
- Mixed-age groupings that encourage peer learning and mentorship
- A calm, orderly environment designed to support focused, independent work
- A strong emphasis on practical life skills and sensory development
- Teachers who observe and guide rather than instruct directly
Children typically choose their own activities within a prepared framework, and independence and self-sufficiency are treated as core outcomes.
What Reggio Emilia Is
The Reggio Emilia approach originated in the town of Reggio Emilia, Italy, in the aftermath of World War II, developed by educator Loris Malaguzzi and the families of the community. Where Montessori has a defined method with specific materials and training, Reggio Emilia is better described as a philosophy, a set of beliefs about children, learning, and community that shapes everything about how a program operates.
At the heart of the Reggio Emilia philosophy is the image of the child as a capable, curious, and creative thinker who is already making meaning of the world. Key principles include:
- Curriculum that is emergent, growing from children’s own interests and questions rather than a predetermined scope and sequence
- The environment treated as a third teacher, designed with as much intention as any lesson plan
- Documentation of children’s thinking displayed throughout the classroom
- Relationships between children, educators, and families treated as the foundation of learning
- Parents as genuine partners in the learning community, not bystanders
Where Reggio Emilia vs Montessori Overlap
Before diving into the differences, it is worth naming what these two approaches share, because the common ground is significant.
Both Reggio Emilia and Montessori:
- Believe deeply in children’s natural capacity to learn
- Reject the model of a teacher depositing information into passive students
- Emphasize the importance of the environment in supporting development
- Treat the early years as extraordinary rather than merely preparatory
- Attract families searching for something more intentional and child-centered
Parents who find themselves drawn to schools like Montessori are often drawn to Reggio Emilia for the same underlying reason: they want a program that sees their child, not just their child’s readiness for the next grade.
Where They Differ
The differences between Reggio Emilia vs Montessori become clearest when you look at structure, curriculum, and the role of the teacher.
Structure and materials. Montessori classrooms use specific, carefully designed materials that children work with in prescribed ways. Reggio Emilia classrooms are more fluid. You’ll see open-ended natural materials, loose parts, clay, light tables, and art supplies are offered as invitations to explore without a predetermined outcome.
Curriculum. Montessori curriculum follows a defined sequence tied to developmental stages. Reggio Emilia curriculum is entirely emergent. A group of children fascinated by shadows might spend weeks investigating light, darkness, and reflection, following the inquiry wherever it leads.
The role of the teacher. In Montessori, the teacher’s primary role is to present materials and guide children toward independent mastery. In Reggio Emilia, the teacher is a co-investigator, someone who documents children’s thinking, asks questions that deepen inquiry, and designs provocations that extend learning in unexpected directions.
Community and family. Reggio Emilia places a uniquely strong emphasis on parent partnership. Families are considered essential contributors to the learning environment. Montessori programs vary in how much they formalize this relationship, but parent partnership is not a defining principle of the method in the same way.
Individuality vs collaboration. Montessori tends to emphasize individual work and independence. Reggio Emilia places equal weight on collaboration, which means children work together, share ideas, build on one another’s thinking, and learn through relationships.
Which Is Right for Your Child?
There is no universal answer to the Reggio Emilia vs Montessori question, and any program that tells you there is should probably be viewed with some skepticism. The right fit depends on your child’s temperament, your family’s values, and what you believe these early years are for.
Your child might thrive in a Montessori environment if they:
- Enjoy mastering specific skills independently
- Thrive with clear structure and defined materials
- Are deeply motivated by practical accomplishment and self-sufficiency
- Prefer to work alone rather than in groups
Your child might thrive in a Reggio Emilia environment if they:
- Are intensely curious and love to follow questions wherever they lead
- Enjoy collaborating with peers and building on shared ideas
- Flourish when their ideas and questions are taken seriously by adults
- Learn best through open-ended exploration rather than structured tasks
Many families also find that what draws them to schools like Montessori—the respect for children, the child-centered philosophy, the intentional environment—is something they find even more fully realized in a Reggio Emilia program, where the emphasis on relationships, documentation, and emergent learning creates a particularly deep and individualized experience for each child.
FAQ: Reggio Emilia vs Montessori
Can a school be both Reggio Emilia and Montessori? Some programs blend elements of both, but purists in each tradition would argue the two philosophies are fundamentally different in their approach to structure, materials, and curriculum. If a program claims to be both, ask specific questions about how they resolve the differences in practice.
Which approach is more academic? Neither is academic in the traditional sense, and that is intentional. Both prioritize the development of the whole child over early academic instruction. Remember, they have K-12 for that! However, research consistently shows that children in both Reggio Emilia and Montessori environments develop strong academic skills precisely because they are building the executive function, curiosity, and love of learning that academic success depends on.
Is Montessori more structured than Reggio Emilia? Yes, generally speaking. Montessori has a defined method with specific materials and sequences. Reggio Emilia is more fluid and emergent by design. Neither is unstructured, but the nature of the structure is quite different.
Are schools like Montessori easier to find than Reggio Emilia programs? Montessori programs are more widely available and have a formal accreditation process, which makes them easier to identify. Reggio Emilia-inspired programs are less formally certified (since Reggio Emilia is a philosophy rather than a franchised method) so it is worth asking programs how they implement the approach in practice.
How do I know if a Reggio Emilia program is the real thing? Look at the walls. A genuine Reggio Emilia-inspired classroom will be rich with documentation. This could look like photographs of children at work, their words printed alongside images, evidence of ongoing investigations, and more. Talk to the teachers about how they follow children’s interests. Ask how parents are involved. The answers will tell you more than any brochure.
What Little Sunshine’s Playhouse Offers
At Little Sunshine’s Playhouse, our Reggio Emilia-inspired approach is built around a belief that has guided us since the beginning: that children are not empty vessels waiting to be filled. They are already thinkers, questioners, and creators, and the environments and relationships we surround them with in these earliest years shape who they become for the rest of their lives.
Our classrooms are designed to invite curiosity. Our educators are trained to follow children’s thinking rather than redirect it. Our nationally awarded curriculum is rooted in the same research that makes the Reggio Emilia philosophy one of the most respected approaches in early childhood education worldwide. And our families are treated as genuine partners in everything we do, not as guests in their child’s education.
If you have been exploring Reggio Emilia vs Montessori and wondering which environment might be the right fit for your child, we would love to show you what the Reggio Emilia approach looks like in practice. Schedule a private tour at your nearest Little Sunshine’s Playhouse location and come see the home away from home your child has been waiting for.
Keep reading, keep learning!
Caring Causes - Girl Scouts Gold Award
One of the most special aspects of Girl Scouts who continue with the program, is the prestigious Gold Award, the culmination of a Girl Scouts perseverance, creativity, and empathy.
The Gold Award is the highest honor in Girl Scouting. To earn this prestigious award, girls must create projects that demonstrate impactful leadership in their communities by identifying issues, taking action, and creating sustainable solutions.
Collectively, Gold Award earning Girl Scouts devoted over 307,000 service hours and raised more than $2.1 million to bring their impactful solutions to fruition. Some of this year’s projects include:
- Kayla, who created financial literacy tools for her fellow high school peers, local Girl Scout troops, and on social media, with the goal of educating teens on important skills like budgeting, setting up bank accounts, and credit scores.
- Saanvi, who created digital content on the dangers of fast fashion and overconsumption and hosted clothing swap events.
- Allison, who created Home is Where the Heart Is, a podcast and digital platform dedicated to sharing the stories of military-connected teens while building a community for youth navigating military life.
Smart Safety - InfoMate
As families prepare for back-to-school and look for new ways to keep their children safer at school, bus stops, sports, field trips, and everyday outings, I have a chance to highlight Zigglebee’s InfoMate, a new wearable child safety solution now available nationwide on Walmart.com as part of Walmart’s new Guardian Tech category.
Created by Maryland mom Shari Bailey after her nonverbal daughter, Laila, who has autism, developmental disabilities, and a rare genetic condition, wandered away from home, InfoMate was designed to address a critical gap in child safety: communicating who the lost child is, who to call, and important medical and communication needs.
The InfoMate Wristband is a waterproof, battery-free wearable that gives first responders, teachers, and other trusted adults instant access to caregiver-approved emergency information through a simple QR scan. When scanned, caregivers also receive a real-time alert with the location of the scan.
For families who want an additional layer of location tracking, an Apple AirTag can also be securely attached to the underside of the wearable.
What Sets InfoMate Apart:
Emergency Information: Provides immediate access to caregiver-approved information, including medical conditions, allergies, communication needs, and emergency contacts.
Privacy & Security: Families control what information they share and can update it in real time through a secure cloud-based system protected by two-factor authentication.
No Charging or Screens: Battery-free and screen-free, making it easy for children to wear throughout the school day without added distractions.
Real-Time Alerts: Caregivers are automatically notified when the wristband is scanned, including the date, time, and approximate geographic location of the scan when available.
Built for Everyday Wear: IP68-rated for water and dust resistance, designed to withstand school, sports, field trips, and everyday activities.
Built for All Children: Created for all children, including those with autism, developmental disabilities, medical conditions, and communication challenges in mind.
Mission-Driven: $10 from every wristband sold is donated to Laila’s Gift, the nonprofit founded by Bailey to support families raising children with special needs and advocate for stronger emergency-response protections.
I had a chance to learn more in this interview.
Why was InfoMate created?
InfoMate was created after my daughter, Laila, who is nonverbal, wandered away from home. That experience made me realize that finding a missing child is only the first step. In an emergency, a child may not be able to tell a first responder, teacher, or Good Samaritan who they are, who to contact, or whether they have a medical, developmental or communication need. InfoMate was designed to quickly bridge that communication gap by giving trusted adults access to caregiver-approved emergency information with a simple QR scan, while also notifying caregivers of the location where the scan occurred.
Why is it important to have an option that goes beyond traditional medical bracelets?
Traditional medical bracelets can communicate important information, but they don't provide a way to immediately connect someone with a child's caregiver. InfoMate provides a more dynamic layer of emergency information. A simple QR scan gives a trusted adult access to important details about the child such as allergies, mobility issues, triggers, and caregiver contact information.
How does InfoMate go beyond traditional location trackers?
While families have the option to attach an Apple AirTag to the underside of the wristband for an additional layer of consistent location tracking, InfoMate itself remains screen-free and battery-free, so children can wear it throughout the day without needing to charge it or becoming distracted.
InfoMate wristbands retail for $39, with an optional $12/month subscription that unlocks additional software features, educational content, and support tools, and are available exclusively on Walmart.com.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Money Matters - Best Accounts for Students
With a new academic year about to start, WalletHub today released its editors’ picks for the Best Student Credit Cards and Best Student Checking Accounts of 2026, selected from 2,000+ offers. College students need to prepare for their financial future, and these types of accounts are essential building blocks.
Key Findings:
- Best Credit Card for Students: The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1 - 8% cash back on purchases, an initial bonus of $100 for spending $300 in the first three months, and no annual fee.
- Best Checking Account for Students: The SoFi Student Checking and Savings Account doesn't have overdraft fees, monthly fees, or a minimum deposit requirement. It also earns interest.
“Parents typically make sure their kids have all the clothing, bedding, toiletries and other staples that they need to live on campus for the semester, but they may not fully address the financial side of the preparations. It’s important for parents to help their college-age kids pick the right credit card and bank account before heading off to school, or shortly thereafter, because it will help ensure they’re not only covered in an emergency but also building both the skills and the credit history needed to thrive after graduation. Plus, the best student credit cards and checking accounts can help students save money, when that’s more important than ever.”
- John Kiernan, WalletHub Editor
More From WalletHub
Consumer Critique - Lucent Globe Laundry Sheets
I recently had a chance to try out some of Lucent Globe's laundry detergent sheets, which are sustainable and practical. They're perfect for those living in apartments or dorms - much easier to store and carry to the laundry room than heavy detergent jugs, and even more convenient than powdered detergent. One sheet easily handled a full load in our washer, and I loved that the packaging was recyclable cardboard. There are no PFAS, bleach, phosphates, or dyes, so they're safe and suitable for people with sensitive skin.
They also come in some unique scents - fragrance free and lavender show up in other products, but ocean breeze and strawberries & cream don't. I was a little worried about trying the strawberry one - I didn't know if it would be sickeningly sweet or leave too much scent behind (since we typically use unscented). However, it was a pleasant, springy scent that wasn't too strong. The sheets were also perfect to be able to take along on a recent trip without leaking or taking up a lot of room.
Music Minute - An Acoustic Evening with Lacy J. Dalton (10/15, Nashville)
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To purchase tickets, visit HERE.
"I'm calling this my 'Not Dead Yet' Birthday Bash," shares Dalton. "I'll be 80 years old on October 13, and we are celebrating in a grand way on October 15th! I'm proud to have made it this far. Not everybody can say that! I'm incredibly thankful to all of my friends who are coming out to perform, and hey, you never know, there might be a surprise or two. I don't live in Nashville and only make it back every couple of years, so I want to officially announce that this will be my last Nashville performance... maybe... who knows... could be! I'm kidding!"
Dalton is currently celebrating the 45th anniversary of her signature hit “Takin’ It Easy,” the title track from her third album of the same name with Columbia Records. Released in July 1981 as the lead single from the project, the song went on to become the highest-charting single of Dalton’s career, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Co-written by Dalton, Billy Sherrill, and Mark Sherrill, “Takin’ It Easy” helped define her distinctive blend of country, rock, and soulful storytelling, and remains one of her most enduring classics.
To purchase/stream: lnk.to/TakinItEasy
About Lacy J. Dalton:
Lacy J. Dalton first captured the hearts of country music fans with her 1979 Top-20 hit "Crazy Blue Eyes." She became one of the most successful female vocalists of the 1980s, known for hits like "16th Avenue," "Takin’ It Easy," "Everybody Makes Mistakes," "Hard Times," "Hillbilly Girl With The Blues," and "Black Coffee." Dalton has shared the stage with legends such as Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr., Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, and George Jones. Her music continues to resonate with audiences, reflecting her status as a trailblazer in the genre.
Book Nook - Roger Rides Route 66
The stories of Roger the Elephant and his many companions in adventure are the brainchild of writer Pete “PJ” Phillips and his friend, illustrator Sara Jearally. Dipping into any of these delightfully written and charmingly illustrated tales is a wonderful way to fuel your child’s creativity and love for reading.
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This year the creative team have taken their – and Roger the Elephant’s - love of adventure to a new level, with this road trip across America with his old friend Phileas Hogg.
Synopsis:
The “Roger the Elephant” books tell the tales and adventures of Roger and the friends he met as he travelled the world as the most famous circus elephant. Animals love performing for people but over the years people have realised maybe circus animals can have more fun in the wild with their friends and family So, all the circus animals like Roger are now retired from the circus.
Roger now spends his time spinning his antique globe to decide where to go and travelling around the world visiting the old friends he previously made and getting up to all sorts of mischief.
In this just-published adventure, Roger teams up with his old pal Phileas Hogg to travel the great American Highway Route 66. The book has been endorsed as part of the Route 66 centenary celebrations.
“The world of “Roger the Elephant” grew from my own desire for travel and adventure,” explains Roger’s creator, author PJ Phillips. “When planning a motorbike trip to Turkey with my friend and illustrator Sara Jearally, we created an imaginary friend to accompany me, and so we met Roger the Elephant. At the time we were creating a YouTube channel for the trip - “The Unconventional Retiree”- but soon Roger’s concept started to grow!”
He continues: “Roger the Elephant - "The World's Most Famous Circus Elephant" (now retired) - will be an ongoing series of children's picture books. We are releasing them first self- published via our publishing company Wondrous Books. But Bumblebee Books have the rights to two other books - “Roger Goes Home” and “Roger Visits Father Christmas” - both of which should be released this year.”
Pete and Sara are also delighted that their new book “Roger Rides Route 66 with Phileas Hogg” has been certified by the Route 66 Centennial Committee as part of the official one hundred years of Route 66 celebrations this year.
PJ and Sara have big plans for the “Roger the Elephant” series, and interest from some exciting directions: “We are also working with a TV producer Bryan Taw via Voyage Media based in LA to create a “Roger the Elephant” children's TV show but obviously at present we are looking to promote the books first and foremost. We have also released three colouring-in and spelling books and “Roger the Elephant's Little Book of Fun Facts” as all our books will have a page of Fun Facts for children to enjoy.”
“Roger The Elephant Rides Route 66 with Phileas Hogg” is available now, click here to purchase: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/
Young readers can follow along with “Roger the Elephant’ adventures here:
About the Author:
Pete Phillips was brought up in a small village in Scotland called Crossford close to Lanark. He always dreamed of traveling the world but says, “I never thought I would get to travel to over 40 countries.”
After turning 60, Pete decided an adventure was in order: “I bought a Voge R125 and learned to ride 4- four months later I was taking my A1 bike test on a 650. Two weeks later and two tests passed I bought my Voge DS900x and named her Jazzy Kasi. A month of learning to ride Kasi and I was ready to ride to Turkey!” he explains. “Fast forward I have been to Turkey and back and now Roger the Elephant has become a children's picture book series.”
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