Weaver Child Development Center (CDC) is more than your average Canton elementary school. Weaver CDC is a Reggio Emilia inspired school that focuses on the whole development of your child, mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Many families discover Reggio through preschool. However, at Weaver CDC, the philosophy continues to evolve and deepen through every grade. As a Reggio Emilia elementary school, the program supports child development. Weaver CDC nurtures academic excellence while building curiosity, discovery, and confidence.
The Executive Director and Principal of Weaver CDC, Miss Susie said “We recognize that growth is happening across all areas of a child’s development – language, cognitive, fine and gross motor, social-emotional, moral, and adaptive/life skills. These domains are deeply interconnected, and our learning experiences are intentionally designed to nurture each one. Whether through hands-on projects, collaboration, or reflection, our approach ensures that academic progress, emotional intelligence, and social awareness grow side by side.
Preschool: Discovery and Curiosity
Preschool at this Reggio Emilia elementary program centers on exploration. Teachers encourage students to investigate the open-ended materials. They are also learning to communicate their ideas and collaborate with the teachers and other students.
“In preschool, children begin by discovering their voice – learning to ask questions, express ideas, and collaborate with friends.” Says Miss Susie.
Teachers introduce early reading and mathematics skills through play-based inquiry. The teachers work to build a foundation for future learning while nurturing empathy, motor skills, and emerging social skills.
Kindergarten: Independence and Responsibility
Kindergarten marks a shift from guided discovery to growing autonomy. Here, students begin to take ownership of classroom routines, self-management, and problem-solving.
Miss Susie describes the change: “In kindergarten, that voice becomes rooted in growing independence and responsibility.”
Student-led learning at the kindergarten level enables the children to engage meaningfully and confidently with their schooling.
Grade 1: Critical Thinking and Collaboration
By first grade, students at this Canton elementary school focus more on learning and working together.
The environment continues to reflect their developing skills. “The provocations become more complex, the materials more purposeful and guided, and the projects more connected to real-world inquiry – all while meeting every state standard with excellence and depth,” Miss Susie explains.
Students learn perseverance, empathy, and how to navigate challenges. These are important steps in a child’s development.
Grades 2-3: Inquiry and Direction
Second and third graders experience greater complexity through project-based learning. They use research, experimentation, and group collaboration to answer their own questions. They also begin setting goals and are more active in the documenting process.
Miss Susie highlights their growing ownership: “As students grow, they begin to take part in this reflective process -documenting their own learning, setting goals, and leading investigations that mirror real-world problem-solving. Teachers remain guides and co-learners, scaffolding understanding while nurturing independence.”
The teachers channel the children’s curiosity into more structured learning. They transition from the foundations they built in previous years to more independent study. Miss Susie observes that “as students move through the elementary grades, they show deepening critical thinking, perseverance, empathy, and the ability to work both independently and interdependently.”
Grade 4-6: Confidence and Capability
In the upper grades at this Reggio Emilia elementary school, students demonstrate their learning in increasingly dynamic ways.
“Weaver students are never limited to a single format,” Miss Susie emphasizes. “They may choose to build a LEGO model, design a slideshow, code a robot, write a poem, or construct a diorama. In other words, they are invited to express learning through what Reggio calls
“The Hundred Languages of Children.”
By fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, students are academically strong and socially aware. They are ready for middle school with confidence, communication skills, and a strong sense of purpose.
Regarding child development, Miss Susie says “We also see students learning to navigate the uncomfortable parts of growth – the moments that require patience, problem-solving, and courage. They learn that challenges are part of learning, and that mistakes, conflict, or frustration aren’t signs of failure but opportunities to build resilience. These moments teach them to persist, adapt, and try again – skills that strengthen not only academics but character and confidence, too.”
A Mindset that Deepens Over Time
“The Reggio approach doesn’t fade as children get older – it deepens” says Miss Susie. “Each year brings new layers of inquiry, reflection, and ownership.”
Older learners engage more actively in reflection documentation, and student-led learning. This strengthens independence and critical thinking. All academic instruction aligns to state standards while honoring creative expression.
Growth continues in every aspect of your child’s development. From cognitive, social, emotional, physical, moral, and adaptive life skills, children are prepared for life, not just textbook learning.
The Reggio Philosophy Shapes Everything
What defines Weaver CDC isn’t just the students, but the staff and environment. Respect, joy, and community are visible in every interaction and every prepared learning space.
Professional collaboration is a hallmark of this Canton elementary school. “From the classroom to the office to the playground, each adult understands their role as an educator and model” Miss Susie notes. “Every interaction, every conversation, and every detail of the environment is grounded in a dual respect for the child and the integrity of our program. That respect shapes how we teach, how we speak with children, how we speak to one another, and how we care for the beautiful order and intention within our spaces.”
The result is a school where positivity, intentionality, and shared purpose shape the experience at this Reggio Emilia elementary school.
Reggio Isn’t Just for Preschool
Weaver CDC demonstrates exactly why an education grounded in discovery and creativity remains essential through all elementary grades.
Any Canton elementary school can have a curriculum and learning. Weaver CDC’s distinction lies in its mindset, community, and the Reggio belief that children deserve to be seen, heard, and challenged.
As Miss Susie beautifully reflects, “What greater gift could there be than an environment that embodies all of this each day – where learning, love, purpose, and joy come together to help children grow into who they are meant to be.”
Ready to Learn More?
See for yourself how Weaver CDC stands as a leader in child development! Schedule a tour today!