We are SO happy with Little Sprouts Watertown! Our son has been going since he was 2 months old; he…read moreis now 10 months and he and we love this center so much! Both the previous (Melinda) and the current (Christine) Director, as well as the Education Coach (Janay) have been amazing; they truly care about each and every aspect of their center. Teachers have been nothing short of wonderful so far. Tuition is very competitive for the Boston/Cambridge area, and we couldn't be happier. Our son has a great time, it's always well taken care of, and he is learning so much. Every Little Sprout is different. This location is amazing. It's always hard to find time to write reviews, but we really want to share our experience to help someone else with their childcare decision, because we understand how important it is to find people that you trust.

Very horrible experience. We tried to schedule tour of the daycare couple of times and each time it…read morewas cancelled or no one showed up. One of the other most important things to me from a daycare is the responsiveness and this was absolute horrible. If I could give 0 stars I would.

You're not a legit Russian immigrant if your parents didn't send you to Russian math school at some…read morepoint in time during your adolescence. Ergo, i spent 2-3 nights a week here between the ages of 11 and 16. Then i threw a shit fit and said that since i'm going to college for science, i don't need this extra math work load. Anyhoo, this was still awesome SAT prep (or exercise for the brain as my parents put it), and made me look like an uber nerd when i skipped a grade of math in high school. In all seriousness though, while i was still interested in math, this school was a great experience with teachers who pushed you to think and work harder. And after all this time Dima M. (see below) and I are still BFFFF.

Olga is amazing! My 12 year old son has been going to FSM for 3 years and has gained in confidence…read moreand skill. The programs ability to empower him to move as fast as he wants keeps him interested and excited about algebra and geometry in ways that school can't. We now have our 10 year old daughter and 7 year old twins in the program and even over Zoom, they are having fun, learning new skills, and finding the power of doing well in Math. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to pursue this program during COVID.

Tara was incredibly helpful. Through working with him, I was able to get my GRE quant score up from…read more160 to 166. Tara clearly knows the test extremely well. He was able to show me small, nuanced tips and tricks that were easy to grasp and saved me huge amounts of time on the test. He was patient and accommodating, and worked to configure the lessons around what I needed help with. He was also quick to identify the issues that I myself didn't know I was specifically struggling with, and was able to easily find similar problems to reinforce my newly learned skills. I found the digital format of the sessions to be great. Tara recorded everything we discussed down in a digital notebook that I had access to after our sessions. Having the notes and problems written out were a great study aid. I highly recommend Tara for anyone looking to improve their quantitative test scores!!

I highly recommend Tara if you are looking for quant test prep…read more Tara's teaching philosophy is unique. Tara knows the test exceptionally well. The way he structures his content will help you cut out the noise and fluff you sometimes get from formal test prep courses. He shares little things, such as timing strategies and shortcuts, that will help get you to your target score. I've worked with tutors in the past, where I spent the majority of the sessions working on problems myself. The tutors shared a list of problems, had solutions next to them, and referred to the solutions verbatim if I had questions. Unlike these tutors, Tara ACTUALLY teaches. Every question he puts in front of you is very intentional. Tara knows exactly what each question is testing and makes sure you understand. If you don't, he remembers and knows where to find similar questions for you. He expects you to do your homework, put in the hours on your own, learn the basics, and bring him questions. You will get so much more from time spent with Tara than most of the tutors out there. I also had zero issues working with Tara online. He's actually incredibly proficient at using the digital tools available to replicate an in-person session. Again, Tara does this way better than other online tutors I've worked with. The way he writes out his notes and works through the problems live with you online is very structured and easy to follow. Working with Tara helped improve my GMAT quant score from 38 to 47. My overall GMAT score also improved 100 points. I am retaking my GMAT to put my best foot forward. I am confident that the foundation I gained from working with Tara will take my score to the next level. Set up a trial session with him, and you'll understand what I'm talking about.

We switched our eldest to Fayerweather at the start of 3rd grade seeking a school where the…read morelearning would be significantly challenging, values-rooted, and joyful. We wanted a place where our inquisitive kid could really stretch her edges and feel comfortable taking academic risks (and sometimes making mistakes). Now 12, she has a deep sense of who she is and what matters to her - and this strong sense of self has allowed her to take risks (academically and socially) and push herself as a learner and community member. She understands that justice and community are the essential foundations for learning and social impact. Our younger child (now 7) started at FSS in kindergarten and we have found that, while quite different from his older sibling, he is just as seen, valued, and supported. He has gotten incredible guidance navigating his intensity and high energy, and he is academically challenged in just the right ways - he works on meaningful problems and his sense of accomplishment is significant. Fayerweather has helped him have a voice and language for his feelings, his challenges, and his successes. The loving support and developmentally appropriate and thoughtful curriculum have allowed him to discover his best self and build the skills and agency to choose his actions wisely. FSS is all we hoped, for both kids.

We just started school at Fayerweather this fall, and my 1st grader and 6th grader cannot get over…read morehow friendly the school community is. My son came home from school after his second week of being a new kid (a middle schooler, no less -- in the 6th grade) and said "mom I give it 5 stars!!! Everyone is SO nice, teachers and kids, and I love it!!!." Now that we are four months in, happily his review remains. He also says that his homeroom and math teacher is "literally THE best math teacher" he's ever had. I'm continually impressed with how in touch with my son's learning style the teachers are, and he's growing leaps and bounds. My 6 year old daughter, who is usually shy, is coming out of her shell socially and is really starting to take to reading (which she has avoided prior to Fayerweather). Her teachers are incredible and so in tune with her and helping her to grow where she is ready to, and there is such insight into the social emotional ecosystem of the classroom. Fayerweather has the academics *and* the community we'd hoped for -- the school has a joyful, healthy, connected vibe and is inclusive and diverse to boot. We couldn't be happier.

I have nothing but positive things to say about my child's time at LCS:…read more The staff were full of love and brought so much care and attention to my little one every day. All of the teachers/caregivers work very well as a team and take the time to get to know and love each of the children they look after and it really does show on the faces of the little ones attending the program. The learning curriculum is engaging for the kids and the communications with parents are frequent and clear . The Brightwheel app updates are amazing; seeing photos of my kid every day really brightened my mood. The physical space within the daycare is fun and inviting, with each classroom mocked up as a house or building in a neighborhood (hallway). I'd HIGHLY recommend this daycare to anyone in the Brookline/Boston area looking for somewhere their LO can socialize, exercise, learn, and grow in a safe and loving environment.

Both of my kids spent several years at LCSH, starting (for kid #1 at age 4, and kid #2 from 9…read moremonths). Between them, they passed through every classroom. There was not a single room that we (and they) didn't love! My son left for Kindergarten a year ago and my daughter is leaving now at age 3 to be closer to our home for pick-up/drop-off reasons. I'm so incredibly grateful we had LCSH to care for our children. First, the leadership. Lissy and Gladys are wonderful. They are experienced, kind, friendly, professional, and very responsive. They clearly love and know each one of the children and care for their staff. There is very little staff turnover, which both creates a very nice family atmosphere for the kids and speaks to Lissy and Gladys' leadership. When the pandemic hit, Lissy and Gladys did everything they could to keep the children safe while understanding the needs of working parents. I also have compared their tuition to many other places and they are very reasonable. Second, the staff! They are such wonderful people - my kids loved them all because they are warm, loving, and great educators. My son was fully ready for Kindergarten and my daughter has learned fine motor skills, sharing, listening, resolving conflicts, and fairness. Often teachers from previous years would see my daughter in the hallway and give her big hugs. It meant a lot to us that they felt surrounded by people who care. Third, the other programs. Lissy and Gladys keep things fresh by bringing in music teachers, having field days, sports, and many other activities. My daughter looked forward to every Thursday when Ms. Monica would come to her class and bring instruments for the kids to play and to dance. Finally, the community. The parents and other children are a lovely group of people. We are sad to leave LCSH, but grateful we have the memories. If you visit the school - especially Boylston street - it's not the most beautiful location. But don't judge based on that! The school itself is very nice and the teachers get the kids out and about to the local parks for sports, water parties in the summer, and playground fun. Ultimately, LCSH is a great place with people who truly care about kids and families.

Zach is an excellent teacher. He is very patient, intuitive, and clear. It was clear from our first…read moreconversation that he has been working as a tutor for many years, and is familiar with many learning styles and approaches. As a working professional who has been out of school for some time, preparing to take the GMAT/GRE for graduate school has been a bit of a nightmare. I tried studying independently for a few months, with little success. I then signed up for an expensive group prep course, only to find that the material was covered far too fast, and the homework load was out of scale with my available time. I have had a few sessions with Zach so far, and each one has taught me more about how I learn, and what I need to learn. The one-on-one teaching scenario is exactly what I needed to not be overwhelmed. Each lesson is tailored to work with my own learning style and struggles. Zach has gone out of his way to check in with me between appointments, and create tools that will aid me in my independent studies. I feel more confident about my ability to cover the material needed for the test, and more importantly I feel more emotionally equipped to tackle the learning material that a few months ago felt out of reach. After seeing how Zach has adjusted his learning tactics to suit my specific needs, I feel confident that he would be able to do the same with other students. I would highly recommend Zach to anybody that is struggling with some aspect of their education: studying for a standardized test, catching up in an academic class, or anything else. I will write another review after I take the GMAT this fall!

I write with the highest praise for Zach Katz, who prepared my son for the SATs. Weekly, for about…read moretwo months, Zach worked with my son, who was a Junior at Brookline High School. Zach took the time to develop a mutually respectful relationship with his tutee. Zach's careful, methodical approach paid off. My son looked forward to each tutoring session. After each appointment, he was optimistic and confident in the progress he was making. Zach helped him identify his strengths and develop strategies to improve his performance. Zach was patient and empathetic. He helped my son create a study plan that accommodated my son's many other academic and extra-curricular commitments. Zach has a responsive, adaptive tutoring method. He discovered my son's learning style and adapted his tutoring approach accordingly. My son's SAT scores improved substantially*. Even more importantly, he learned a number of strategic test-taking skills, which he reports have improved his performance on other school exams. *January 2012: 2080 (CR 680; Math 690; Writing 710; Essay Subscore 9; MC Subscore 70) March 2012: 2280 (CR 680; Math 800; Writing 800; Essay Subscore 11; MC Subscore 76)

Our toddler started at SolBe on day one of the school opening. We had very high hopes after our…read moreinterview, despite the cost being much higher than the alternatives. For the added expense, we were promised minute by minute updates, a two-to-one ratio of teachers to students, and a focus on education that could be overlooked elsewhere. Unfortunately, despite an excellent experience with the Director and our son's first teacher, a significant change was made after a few months. The Director, along with many more staff members, were replaced, and the focus seemed to shift notably towards higher profits and cost cutting measures. Our son was moved into a much larger room where there were often two teachers for eight babies, even after they showed up late. The stress put on the staff still making an effort meant that the "minute-by-minute" updates through the app were ignored until the afternoon when they played catch up while all the kids were napping. Often, we wouldn't find out if our son had eaten or had a diaper change until hours after he'd been picked up. The high ratio also contributed to clothes being lost or ruined with art materials unsuitable for infants, diaper changes being skipped, brusies and scrapes, and a near weekly changeover of staff who were clearly frustrated with the experience as well. Our son's class shared a changing room with another, and it was very common to hear the teachers there, unaware they were being observed, repeatedly screaming at the toddlers "everyone come here" and "be quiet". Another thing for prospective families to consider is that SolBe considers themselves a school first and a daycare second. On the average month, SolBe closes around three working days for holidays, conferences, and "teacher enrichment", meaning that working parents will suddenly have a child to account for (not even to mention the frequency that they contact you and ask you to bring your child home early because they "seem like they're not feeling so well', with no other symptoms than a low fever and a lack of energy; a very common experience for young kids). Obviously, the monthly cost is the same regardless of how many days they actually care for your child. Ultimately, we found another center that is offering 5 nine-hour days a week for the same price that SolBe was charging for 3 seven-hour visits. The new school doesn't have a fancy app or gourmet lunches, but we feel our child is a lot more than just an income source in their eyes, and we're much happier. (FYI- This review refers to the new location on Sherman Road, which doesn't have its own listing as of this date.)

Our family is extremely fortunate and blessed that our son's first social experience was at Solbe…read more He started school when he was just one year old, and was greeted with unparalleled love every day by his class teacher, all the other teachers, the director, and the chef. Now, he runs out the door and into his classroom. This 2 years old ability to love others and accept himself is on full display not only at Solbe, but also at the park, the supermarket, and on trips, where he greets everyone with a smile and a "Hello!" As parents, I am most grateful for : Solbe's nutrition system, the best in the US. Three meals a day, chefs prepare fresh, nutritious, and varied menus, allowing our young children to experience a wide variety of foods and get the most nutrition. So I can forgive myself when I serve him just chicken nuggets at dinner :) Furthermore, from such a young age, the teachers provide new art experiences every day. My son loves drawing, talking, singing, dancing, and running around--all of these activities are spontaneous and active. Thanks to Solbe, his brain, mind, and motor skills have developed remarkably, and most importantly, he seems very happy. So I can forgive myself when I let him watch TV before dinner time :) I am grateful to the teachers and staff who provide the world's best early education, nutrition, with a big love spirit and we truly appreciate their professionalism.

Incredibly happy we made the decision to send our 3 year old twins to Parkside! The staff is…read morewonderful - owners and classroom teachers really care and go above and beyond to give the kids a fun-filled experience with so much variety in what they do. Lots of creative art projects. I expected the transition from their old daycare to this new preschool to be tough, but our boys loved Parkside from basically day one. Also, quite affordable ( compared to some other local options) for the quality of the school. I also really appreciate the flexibility of hours with before school and after school hours for working parents. So glad we found them!

A great experience for kids! As we arrived from France in…read morethe middle of the year, we were quite worried about finding a pre-school that would welcome our 2 boys even if they were speaking only french. All the team at Parkside welcomed them so warmly. They enjoyed so much their time there, doing a lot of fun and various activities in a peaceful and smiling environment. I highly recommand!