Ziji Early Elementary School

Zij is a small, K-​2^nd grade school located in a cool, converted ranch-​style home with plenty of outdoor space for kids to play and plant gardens. Many of the private schools in the Boulder area are a bit too woo-​woo for me, whereas Ziji is that perfect mix of a caring, holistic school that is also grounded in sound educational principles. I was drawn to Ziji because of my research into the importance of play, a principle Ziji espouses. If you need convincing on the importance of play in education, see the National Institute for Play and the work of Stuart Brown.
I’m not sure that the magic of a place like Ziji can be replicated on a large scale (although every school could benefit from being more like Ziji) because the two main teachers, Norah and Marti are the perfect teaching team. They thoughtfully guide the children’s creativity, play and learning while gently keeping order, quietly demanding respect and successfully providing a nurturing community for every family.
The bottom line is this: Ziji is a wonderful school for early elementary students. If you have the opportunity to send your child to Ziji, take it, you will be rewarded with a joyous child who loves going to school and who will receive everything a child needs to start his or her education with the best possible learning experiences.