Our daughter recently started at BIM. I am originally from Japan so I was looking for a full…read morejapanese immersion school and I have so far been impressed. BIM does an excellent job at incorporating traditional Montessori teaching methods with japanese language and culture. The children not only learn the language, they also get to experience the culture including holidays and other traditions. The educational team is excellent, a group of teachers who pride themselves on being warm and loving while encouraging the children to grow at their own pace. We have another baby on the waiting list, make sure to sign up early as it can take a while for your space to open up.

I had the great honor of working at BIM as an office admin and co-teacher for 3 years. Even though…read moreI had tons of teaching experience and ECE units under my belt when I started, BIM was the first and only Montessori program I worked at. I learned so much about the Montessori method from my fellow co-teachers and was always inspired by their hard work and dedication to their craft. Japanese is my second language that will no doubt deteriorate if I stop using it, so being able to use it daily in various situations at my place of work was also a huge benefit for me. The BIM community as a whole is extremely tight-knit and supportive. I had never felt so loved and appreciated by the families I worked for before BIM, and it was heartening to witness new bonds and friendships being formed among everyone firsthand. Of course, I really miss the kids most of all and the funny things they would say and do, but feel very lucky and privileged to have 3 years' worth of fond memories with them. BIM, iroiro arigato! Mata ne!

So fortunate to have found this little gem. We found Little Elephant Too in Berkeley online when we…read morewere moving from India to the Bay Area last year in 2022. Fortunate to have fallen in love with this cute cozy and calm space for our daughter! She has so much fun here, loves her teachers and her friends We have been enjoying being part of this community, talking to the parents and bonding over birthday parties at the park or potluck gatherings in school. Amazing memories we will cherish forever! If you ever want to gift something special to your child, gift them montessori education for their early childhood

Little Elephants Too (LE2) has been a fantastic experience for our third child. Our older two kids…read moreattended a different preschool in Berkeley; we made the switch to LE2 for our third due to some logistics concerns about drop off times and proximity to the elementary school. We felt badly moving on from the preschool our older kids attended but having the benefit of comparison I recognize how special LE2 is and how much more my third has benefited by being in this small, nurturing Montessori environment. Specifically, she is very good about cleaning up, politeness, recognizing and calling out unkindness, and engaging with others socially. She is much further along in terms of number and letter recognition than my other two kids were at this age. She loves going to school every day. The teachers at LE2 are wonderful people, each of whom provides a different sort of nurturing for the kids who attend. The space is also perfectly set up with different areas for exploration and a very large outdoor play space. I have been delighted with LE2 and think you will be too! Frankly I wish all of my kids had gone here! Highly recommend this gem of a preschool!

We've had such a wonderful experience at Happy Day Montessori Preschool! Our son attends here, and…read morewe couldn't be happier with the care and education he receives. Teacher Fahi and Anahita do an amazing job making sure each child is well taken care of. They are warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in the children's growth and happiness. It gives us so much peace of mind knowing our son is in such nurturing and capable hands every day.

Our daughter attended Happy Day Montessori starting August 2022, and just graduated after three…read moreyears at this excellent preschool in the heart of Albany. We're delighted to have seen our daughter grow into the kind, self-assured, and sociable 5-year old she is now, with warmth and loving guidance from Fahi, Anahita, and the school's many supportive teachers and staff. Our daughter has thrived in developing alongside her fellow Honeybees and Bumblebees: she has learned many interpersonal skills, developed her gross and fine motor abilities through arts projects and Montessori self-guided play, enjoyed weekly participatory music sessions, had fun cultivating and eating from the garden, and much more. We're sad to say goodbye, as our daughter begins kindergarten, but are grateful for the many good memories, and friends for our daughter, that remain from her time at Happy Day Montessori Preschool.

We are so happy to be part of the MOM community! Our child did her "TK" year at MOM and has been…read morethriving. My only regret is that we did not enroll her at MOM sooner. For those considering an alternative TK option, I highly recommend MOM. The curriculum at MOM has prepared our child in the following ways: 1) Academically: Math, Reading/Writing/Language Arts, Global Studies are taught in fun and approachable ways 2) Creative Focus: Art and Music are integral parts of the experience. The school puts on a few musical performances during the year, we attended our first one and it is such a special memory we will always have! 3) SEL: The students are MOM are taught the importance of being part of a community. The teachers are kind, patient and experienced - they truly bring out the best in the kids. Honestly, I can't even express how much growth we have seen in our little one! 4) Love of School and Learning: To cap it all off, my child's love of school was officially established at My Own Montessori. She loves going to school and is so proud and excited to tell us about her day and her most recent learnings. My child's experience at My Own Montessori has been incredible and I am so thankful she has been able to be part of the magic at MOM!

We feel very lucky that our child has ended up at MOM. It's such a warm and welcoming school, with…read morewonderful caring teachers. The school has been around for a long time, and has developed a bunch of lovely long-running traditions and parents and families are included in these traditions. It's a very calm environment and the kids have a lot of autonomy going inside and outside. My child has built a lot of confidence in social emotional development in addition to all the other learning (coming home telling me all about the moon, or continents, or Yayoi Kusama), it's beautiful watching the older kids support the younger ones as they move up through the school. Note that the hours are shorter than most preschools, and schools is closed in the summer with a summer school for the month of July, but if you can make the hours work it's a very special school and community.

Our two kids began at Rising Sun at the beginning of 2022 in the older student classroom and we are…read moreso happy they found their preschool home here. Young children need a lot of care and attention with big changes, especially during the pandemic and we have especially appreciated the attention that the two teachers who work with the older students Miss Carolina (also the school head) and Miss Reina have invested in helping our kids transition back to a structured classroom. There is also a wonderful feeling of community among the students. I recently asked Miss Carolina how she managed to enroll children who got along so well. Demonstrating that commitment to working with each child individually, she explained that all students have the potential to succeed and that the teachers have a responsibility to cultivate skills and encourage children to get there. The community feeling extends to the school's parents as well and we hope to stay connected to some of our new friends for years to come.

Really love Rising Sun Montessori school, teachers have a lot of tenure, they are caring and create…read morea safe environment. My child started Kindergarten and he is much more advanced than his peers because of the education at Rising Sun. We also built a strong community with other parents and still do play dates even though the kids have already graduated. We are definitely very happy with Rising Sun and truly recommend this place.

I learned about Pacific Coast Montessori from friends years ago. My daughters, now ages 11 and 8…read morehave had so many enriching experiences throughout their schooling and care at Pacific Coast Montessori. Director Ann Toy and Teacher Pat were instrumental in transitioning my girls to kindergarten. Ann and Pat's nurturing manner of teaching helped to foster independence and confidence in the many kids who were/are lucky to know and learn from them. Pacific Coast Montessori's calm, bright, clean and tidy space is complemented by a cheerful play structure, teaching garden and shaded lunch area in the backyard. My girls fondly recall many memories and friendships at "Ann Toy's School."

We looked and looked and looked, and finally landed here. The decision was right. Director, Ann…read moreToy's warm, loving, with commitment is what this preschool is all about. I had a minor concern about the yard being small. But turned out just fine, as I met many nice Moms and quickly formed after school play dates in nearby parks. In the end, it's not the yard size that makes the school great, it's who teaches and cares for your children.

I applied for Child care here 2 years ago , I have watched families that are new join time after…read moretime again yet I have not gotten a call back since I applied 2 years ago . why is the question ? I believe they pick and choose who they want to come from family that pay to family that need assistance are not really welcome. I called today to ask were my name was on the list only to be told to hold for the the director getting on the phone stated she was listening and that she had no space and I should contact bananas to ima take your number down , to I'll call you back when all I wanted to know was were my son was on the list after two years . It's outrageous how Berkeley private schools treat there residents . I really regret moving here and I can't wait to move . Thanks

We were lucky enough to get a spot for our child here and the staff and parent community are top…read moretier. I continue to be impressed by the care our family received from this institution. Kid #2 starts next year and we are so excited to have another child go through this school.

We sent our son there and he loves going to school now!…read more Great faculty and well thought out classroom set up.

This is an amazing school! I have been a teacher here for over a year and absolutely love it. It is…read morea very welcoming and inviting space where the upper management treats teachers with the utmost respect.

Absolutely Exceptional - More Than Just a School…read more Year after year, this Montessori school continues to amaze our family. It is rare to find a place that balances rigorous academic excellence with such a genuine focus on character development and respect. We have watched our youngest (now 4) blossom here over the last two years. The growth in his education level is nothing short of outstanding--he is learning concepts I wouldn't have expected at his age, yet he is doing it with joy and curiosity. But beyond the academics, what impresses me most is the school's commitment to constantly bringing in new activities and enhancing the learning environment. They never settle; they are always finding ways to be better. A few amazing days of the year for you and the family: All the Holidays - The school ensures we celebrate holidays from across all cultures and life. Fathers' Night: An amazing way to connect their children with their fathers. One of the best moments I look forward to every year. I Mother Tea Time: Another amazing experience for the children to spend some quality academic and fun time with their moms. This standard of excellence isn't limited to just one teacher; it is consistent across the board. Every staff member, at every level, cares deeply about these children. If you are looking for a place that will truly invest in your child's future, this is it. We couldn't be happier.

Absolutely amazing school. Staff is very engaging, supportive and great with the students. My son…read morehas advanced so much in their program and we look forward to another year!

TBS provides a nurturing environment with comprehensive educational support that will not only…read moreshape your child's academic growth but also instill a sense of confidence and curiosity that will benefit them throughout their life. TBS takes an empathetic approach, and kids have gone to top bay area high schools with success because of the solid educational foundation. Parent of TBS alum

This school works to actively take down negative reviews. They kicked my 4 year out w 3 months to…read morego. The staff is highly proud of themselves, they are understaffed for active little boys. The school allows the children to play in the sandbox for majority of the day. My kids came home with wet sandy feet every day. Major construction projects on the edge of the school with particulate overflow. The principal is very ill mannered and not fit to oversee little boys. Step 2 is better in the Berkeley Hills.