I first heard about Sentence Center years ago, when my child was still too young to join the…read moreprogram. When I called to inquire, Chino spent so much time talking with me and sharing helpful information about how to help my child develop a love for reading, even though we weren't able to join the program yet. When my child was old enough to join, I was really excited but also worried that he might not participate, since writing and speaking in group settings had been challenging for him at school. Unexpectedly, he has participated well in the class since the very first day, thanks to his exceptional teacher, Ms. Margaret, who has been so patient and has a wonderful way of drawing him out of his shell. After just two months at Sentence Center and now starting the new school year, he came home today and told us that writing was very easy for him at school. It was really exciting to hear that and to see how much he has already grown through this program! Every teacher who has taught my child has been exceptional, patient, and truly talented at working with kids. They have helped him learn how to come up with ideas, turn those ideas into writing, and share his work with the class. I highly recommend this program, which has helped my child in so many ways beyond writing, including public speaking, confidence, and creativity. I am so grateful to Chino and his team!

My son has been taking writing classes with Sentence Center for 1.5 years, and they taught him to…read morehow to organize his thoughts clearly and confidently in his writing. All the instructors are very attentive, caring, encouraging, and gives meaningful feedback during class and after every assignment. The topics are fun, engaging, and really get the kids thinking. My son truly enjoyed the classes, and I love hearing him read his work out loud. I honestly learned so much more about him through his writing and high recommend Sentence Center!

I've been taking French lessons once a week with Valerie for about 2 months now. Before we were…read moreeven able to start I was really impressed and grateful that she was so flexible about location, though that didn't end up being immediately relevant as we began lessons the week shelter in place orders went into effect. Before coming to Valerie I had taken lessons at CCSF and two other group class centers. Although that was good for learning the very basics, I felt I needed to commit to private lessons if I wanted to really improve and get more practice and feedback communicating in French. It was certainly a great decision and my weekly lessons with Valerie are a highlight of my week. We are making our way through a textbook and workbook that she scans and sends to me. Valerie also frequently spends a little extra time on our lessons to finish at a logical place. I very quickly felt comfortable trying out my French in conversation and she's very patient with me as I navigate new words and expressions. It's still early in our time together but I'm very optimistic that I'll continue to improve! I very much recommend Valerie!

Ms. Valérie is an excellent teacher. She's currently tutoring my 8 & 5 years old children and…read morethey're looking forward to every session with her. She has a special way of engaging them with songs, games, stickers and stories which makes learning more fun. Every session, they work on handouts and after I get to review the materials with them. We love her so much that we're currently waiting to add another day with Valerie if her schedule opens up. I've been looking for a French tutor for a really long time and so glad I've found Ms. Valérie!

I have the privilege of working nearby and witnessing the good that goes on at Daniel Webster on a…read moredaily basis. The children are smiling and laughing, the teachers are very friendly and really seem to enjoy their jobs. The families seem to linger after drop-off to chat. There is a tremendous sense of community at Daniel Webster. I hope that my children will be able to attend there! See more at: www.danielwebster-sf.com

My daughter attended DW this last school year, and I'm giving it 3 stars only because her teacher…read moreMs. P was absolutely amazing. I was really excited to find out there was an available space for my daughter, but take heed, if your child isn't starting in Kindergarten and you aren't going to do the immersion program (Spanish introduced to the education) I would NOT recommend this school. It seems all the good kids are in the immersion classes and they've stuffed all the "others" within the General Ed. My daughters reading level barely progressed throughout the year (we had to do a whole lot of reading at home), and it was mostly due to the fact that the teacher spent the entire day just trying to get the kids to focus. There was a lot of bullying and kids that are trying to grow up extremely too fast and in all the wrong directions. Also, the parents aren't very nice or welcoming. The entire year I only got to know one parent in my daughters class. The staff is also not very nice. I understand dealing with kids can be rough, especially this crowd, but telling our kids to shut up and being flat out rude 85% of the time to not just them but the parents as well.... I don't agree with that. Having switched my daughter to Creative Arts, I already notice a HUGE difference... from parent participation, warm welcoming faces, not to mention the staff actually ENJOY their careers with children and it SHOWS! All things I did NOT experience at Daniel Webster. By far.

I worked with Donnie! Let them wave their magic wand over you and watch the transformation. I am…read moregrateful to my daughter for suggesting Donnie and full of power and promise from What I have learned. #priceless

My colleague and I were presenting on a topic that was really important to the work we had done…read moretogether and would be seen by thousands of people online. We were looking to get some coaching, just to make sure that how we presented the topic, ourselves, and represented our business was the best it could be. We worked with Donnie, over several sessions. I've done a lot of speaking engagements, and feel pretty confident in my ability to present - both in person and virtually. So I wasn't quite sure, to be honest, if I would get a lot out of this session. What I walked away with from our time together was a whole lot of improvement to my presentation skills. It wasn't just about how I spoke etc - but also on the actual content I was presenting too. We were really focused in on how to create the most impactful message at every moment of the presentation, so that our attendees would walk away feeling like they got something great out of it. Hands down, our presentation was 1000x better because of our work with Donnie. And I'll be back in a heartbeat the next time an important gig comes up. Whether you're new to speaking or a seasoned veteran, they do a really good job at providing the feedback needed to take what you're doing to the next level - and all in the service of not only you, as a communicator, but the people you're speaking to.

Infant signing with Connie Yannacone has been very instrumental in our daughter's first year of…read moredevelopment. My husband and I learned signing with Connie while I was still pregnant, which was a lot more convenient than taking classes with a newborn (I highly recommend it). We started signing with our baby right when she was born, although that was very hard since our hands were always busy holding the baby so most signs we did one-handed. Despite the common misconception that baby signing hinders verbal development, signing has only facilitated our baby's ability to speak. At the beginning of our lessons, Connie carefully explained that the research shows that with signing babies speak earlier, have more vocabulary at age two and their play is more sophisticated (Connie even cites literature, which I appreciate since I'm a scientist). I started really signing consistently at around three months after the fog of new motherhood had lifted and my baby could hold her head up. I felt that our baby started understanding our signs at around five months: she would giggle and focus her eyes on me every time I signed "milk." At six months our baby started signing (first words were "dog" and "more") and at 13 months, our daughter can sign and speak at least 50 words and picks up at least one to three words a day. She can sign and say two words together and signs in her sleep, too--signing has been a really helpful portal into her mind. Connie is an excellent teacher (she's an experienced teacher for deaf and hearing-impaired children for 20 years) and as a new parent I learned a lot about how to talk to my baby and teach her things. Connie was very good at encouraging us to sign even though we felt our newborn wasn't looking directly at us. She showed me how to effectively sign "more" and "finished" while feeding the baby. It sounds like common sense how to sign to a baby but Connie was very good at modeling how babies learn best. She's so thoughtful about explaining things about early childhood development and about principles of signing. She's also very enthusiastic! She signs songs and uses books and toys to really engage and entertain our baby. Connie really helped me learn how to interpret my baby's signs, picking up when she started associations with words and actions and understanding that baby signs are simplified versions of the actual signs. Being able to communicate with my baby has helped me become a confident parent. I'm amazed at how much my baby can communicate at such an early age. I can see how signing and talking has empowered my child and relieve her of a lot of frustrations because she can tell us her needs and have them met. I've learned more than just signing from Connie--I've gained lessons in parenting that I continue to use as my daughter grows up. My husband and I have known Connie for six years and she's a good friend. I trust her as a teacher and also as a good person. She genuinely cares about babies, she's gentle with them, and she loves to help them learn. I don't get anything by writing these reviews. I'm just a sincere advocate for baby signing and a very grateful student of Connie. I hope that other parents can benefit from learning signing with her, too!

From the owner: My specialty is teaching baby sign language. I also teach age appropriate sign language to…read morepreschoolers and their parents, deaf and hard of hearing and special needs children and elementary children in after school programs. Vocabulary practice is enhanced through stories and songs. I am a credentialed teacher with a master's degree and many years of experience teaching parents, infants and preschoolers.

I brought Lisa into our conference to lead communication workshops for a group of 17 veterinarians…read moreand veterinary business owners. Her sessions were engaging, practical, and incredibly relevant to the challenges we face in clinical and leadership roles. The feedback from my colleagues was overwhelmingly positive--they felt more confident communicating with both clients and team members. I highly recommend Lisa for group workshops and individual coaching within the veterinary field or any professional setting where communication is key.

This review is long overdue. I recommended Lisa to one of my clients during a major conference…read more (pre COVID). They were concerned about their speakers accents and stage presence. I watched the speakers during a runthrough prior to her workshop and after and all I have to say is wow! What a difference! With only a limited amount of time to work with the group she made such an amazing impact. Lisa was very responsive and addressed all of my clients concerns. I would highly recommend Lisa to anyone looking to improve their public speaking skills.

We're in our second year at La Scuola's Dogpatch Preschool and couldn't be happier! The caliber of…read moreteachers and staff is outstanding - you can just feel the love and care emanating for each individual. The emphasis on on curiosity and community comes through every day in big and small ways, and the physical space itself - with lots of light, color and energy - reflects the spirit of the school. The outdoor space is some of the biggest and best I saw in my tours of SF preschools. While our family doesn't have any connection to Italy/Italian, it's been amazing to see how quickly she picked up a new language and it gives her a chance to teach us something, which is a fun role reversal. And man, is Italian a beautiful language to listen to :) I love that my daughter is served healthy, homemade food (some of which is grown at the garden) and it's a huge bonus that I don't have to prep meals! They also learn meal etiquette - the students set the table, wait until every is served to eat, and wait to leave until they're finished. At pickup time, it's a challenge to get my daughter to leave she's having so much fun and loves her friends. You won't regret enrolling your child here!

Our almost 8 year old son has been attending to La Scuola since he was 5. He's currently in second…read moregrade. We have been having a great experience. We are a bilingual family (I'm from Italy) and it has been a highlight to be able to be closer to the Italian culture through the staff and other families. The school has a thoughtful approach to social emotional learning, has proactive communication, an enrichment program during after care, a great music teacher, and organizes several events, many to foster inclusion of minorities, to educate parents about their learning approach, and to encourage social connections among parents. Families here are very friendly, down to earth, and kind. They have a large outdoor area for kids to play and a garden. And our son loves their food and goes often for a second round!

Magnetic Speaking is truely out of this world! Under Giles insightful guidance, the classes promote…read moregenuine self-reflection and collaboration. Dani has also been fantastic in addressing my specific ADHD high masking needs. In just four months, I've experienced tremendous growth. I now feel more comfortable in group settings, even when speaking with leaders, and my overall communication skills have significantly improved. As an entrepreneur, communication is one of my top priorities. They continue to elevate my skills to keep me evolving. Thank you for making such a positive impact on my life through accessible communication training!

Highly recommend. I took the Magnetic Storytelling bootcamp and loved it. If you're nervous-- don't…read morebe. Our excellent trainer Giles took the group through a series of low risk exercises that had us telling brief stories about our lives and/or work. He then provided simple structures and pinpointed a few things (different for each of us) that gave our talks more charge, clarity and power. These exercises are devised with thought and sensitivity to connect you more deeply with your own voice. (Entirely centered around YOU and your particular needs.) Every communication then transforms into an opportunity to deepen your engagement with your audience and yourself. Plus it's super fun!

So I went to a community pop-up dinner with my coworker a few months ago and we were chatting with…read morethis cool artsy couple sitting next to us at the table. Marilyn and Jeff turned out to be both writers, and I told them that when I'm not at my day job, I've written a few pieces that were published on digital lifestyle sites. We bonded over the trolling/haterade we all received in the comments sections. I mentioned that I'd been feeling too lazy and uninspired to write recently and they told me they actually founded a writing school called the Writing Pad, where different well-known writers come in and teach the field they specialize in. I looked it up online later and browsed through their current curriculum to find what interests me. I picked the 5-week personal essay workshop. I'm currently halfway through it, but so far the workshop has exceeded my expectations. Not only does it teach you about the common structure and do's and don'ts of that particular genre, the group keeps you motivated to continue and finishing your writing by holding you accountable to a certain schedule. It is a very safe environment to share your personal stories, where everyone is supportive but isn't afraid of offering constructive criticism because they all want to help you. The person running this particular workshop is Mark Luckach who has been published in the NY Times and is currently working on a book with an agent. I find him incredibly helpful, probably because his regular job is a school teacher :) Lastly personally I had only worked on writing in my own home or at a cafe before, and sometimes I would get distracted, but I really like the environment of the Writing Pad: it feels like a nice clean living room, and the tall ceiling makes the space feel really big and free. The comfortable chairs and couches, various snacks and refreshments also really help the creative juices when you're sitting in the same spot for hours at a time. I look forward to checking out more of the classes here!

I took the 5-week oral storytelling class with Corey in SF. In the month since, I've won TWO local…read morestorytelling competitions. I can directly attribute my success to the wonderful things I learned at Writing Pad. The class was not cheap, neither in price nor class. The substantial investment made me take every class seriously, arrive on time (except the first one!), and put my heart and soul into my work. Jeff and Marilyn, Mr and Mrs Pad, run the school at the pinnacle where professionalism meets a friendly, off the cuff vibe. They're so devoted to their cause, they even took the class along with us! Corey's simple approach, as well as the down-to-Earth environment of the Writing Pad, instilled confidence and a can-do participation aspect I've found largely lacking from institutional learning. This wasn't about admiring great storytellers; it was an immediate, nuts-and-bolts approach to improving my own personal self-expression. Corey's easy-to-use structure liberated my creative self, freeing a back-up/ pent-up logjam of ideas. Dealing with massive performance anxiety, Corey's "yes, and" technique set me free to fail without fear or shame, and turned classmate feedback from an intimidating ordeal into an exciting collaboration! Truly, that's a gift. But the greatest gift of this class was the deeper lesson, the personal transformation that happened within the class itself. Whether we knew it or not, wanting to tell our stories masked something deeper, a personal need for growth, be it in self-acceptance, performance anxiety, perfectionism, vulnerability, a tendency to ramble... I saw all my classmates improve and transform in these areas under the Writing Pad's guidance-- a bargain at twice the price!

Our children attended two other classroom-style daycares before coming to BH. What we experienced…read moreat BH was the bare minimum especially considering the price. Our other daycares made the effort to establish a real community with the other families. The ratios of the other daycares were smaller and our children were given individualized attention that was nowhere to be found at BH - once again at a much better price. We were paying the full tuition and only continued attending because of the close proximity to our house and our tight work schedule. Our 3 year old is now at another daycare in the Mission that provides similar hours that we like much better. I would not recommend BH to other families unless the cost is heavily subsidized by your employer.

Don't waste your money on signing up to their waitlist…read more They will never give you info on when you might get in apart from when you first apply to the waitlist and their estimate has nothing to do with reality. I feel scammed and wish they had the decency to return the money back.