Diverse Preschools
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Diverse Preschools
August 2010
Hi BPN!
My 2.5yr old is currently in preschool but i'm ready to
find another one for her. I feel like her current school is
too too play based. I don't believe she is learning all
that she should/could be learning. However the plus is that
she loves the kids and teachers and the tuition is
affordable for me.
so where can i go? I want her to be happy, yet i want to
make sure she is learning and prepared for kindergarten (i
know its a few years away)
My other issue is my daughter is mixed (black & mexican)
and i'm having a hard time finding a school with a diverse
atmospher.
lastly i work full time so i will also need a program from
7 - 5;30/6pm.
Lindsay
We love the diversity of families and teachers at
Rising
Star Montessori School in Alameda. You can look at their
website: http://www.risingstarschool.org/. The Cottage
Campus near Webster Street (and downtown Oakland) is great
for the younger students. The main campus on High Street
(closer to Fruitvale BART) also has preschool classes, but
usually for older kids because they need to be fully potty
trained there.
- appreciating diversity
First of all, I want to say that I don't think that a pre-
school can be too play-based for a 2.5 year old. I suggest
you read this article about the benefits of play on
psychological development:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=76838288.
Second, I want to throw out Lakeshore Children's Center
(LCC) as a possibility. While it is definitely play-based,
my daughter was right on the edge of reading by the time
she started K--she knew all her letters, all their sounds,
etc., etc.
Anyway, LCC is geared toward working parents. It is very
diverse, with a high proportion of mixed race kids
(black/white and other combinations). The teachers are
black, white, hispanic, Asian and Moroccan. And it is
pretty affordable.
Carrie
May 2002
I've researched fairly thoroughly the postings on the site for
preschools and it appears they don't go beyond 2000. I'd like
to know what experiences people have had with preschools over
the last year or so. I'm looking for a place for my child that
emphasizes art and movement as well as respect and cooperation.
Also a site that is not small and crowded. Cultural diversity
would be a big plus as well as bilingualism, but not a must.
Thankyou,
MB
Recommendations received:
Pacific Academy Nomura School
Lakeshore Children's Center
Children's Community Center
May 2000
Can anyone recommend a pre-school with an understanding of what it means to
affirm cultural identity in young children, and addresses issues of
cultural diversity in deeeper and more thoughtful ways than celebration of
holidays. I'm a single Jewish mom of an adopted daughter from China and
am looking to enroll my daughter in a pre-school by January when she'll be
2.6. (I'm open to September 2000) We live in El Cerrito so programs in
our area, Albany, Berkely, Richmond would be possible but I have yet to
find anything even close. Are my expectations realistic? If I hear one
more instructor respond to my concerns saying 'Well we celebrate Chinese
New Year, Cino De Mayo, Chanukah.....' I think I'll scream or cry. While
it is important to me that the kids in the pre-school come from diverse
racial,cultural AND class backgrounds, (something that is also hard to find
in these geographic areas) it is also important to me that the books,
visual images, music and styles of teaching also reflect that diversity in
a CENTRAL way. As a parent and an educator myself I bring this into my
child's life and have seen the positive impact it has on my daughter in
many ways, and would like to see this as part of her pre-school experience
as well. The closest thing I know of is HEADSTART which while our
economic situation is not pretty,we don't qualify for. I do see pre-school
as a time for her to play, create, explore, develop and strengthen social
skills and am less interested in an academic emphasis. Any
recommendations/ suggestions would be much appreciated.
I am Chinese American educator and have just finished selecting a preschool
for my 2 and 1/2 year old son so I recently visited the schools I will
suggest. Although I did not pick either of these school, I thought they
might be possible for your daughter. When I toured
Step One (with its
infamous long waiting list) in Berkeley, I was favorably impressed with one
of the teachers in particular who had activities and images throughout her
classroom of racially diverse people. Also, Step One has a small
scholarship fund and likes to recruit children and families of diverse
background. You seem to fit.
In addition, I
understand that there is a program in downtown Oakland but I don't know its
name which also has instruction in Mandarin and Cantonese and there is a
Cantonese English Bilingual preschool in Oakland Chinatown, probably too
much of a schlep for you. While I know it is difficult to pick the perfect
preschool program, I would encourage you to pick a school or perhaps other
enrichment that would allow your daughter to be exposed to or learn some
Mandarin Chinese if you do not speak the language yourself for the simple
reason that language and culture or so inextricably tied. Logically, your
daughter will have better access to her country and culture of origin later
in life when she may have more questions and issues with cultural identity
if she has some facility with the language. Kudos to you for considering
such an important issue.
Pat
I'm not sure how much this preschool provides an understanding of
cultural identity, but the school has a very diverse staff from
many different nationalities and also has several men working
there. Try New School of Berkeley, 548-9165. I totally love
New School.
Toby
I recommend Cedar Creek Montessori School on
Sacramento Street at Cedar. (see Cedar Creek Montessori School page for the rest of this review.)
I'd recommend you check into Via Nova.
When looking for pre-schools I
found Via Nova, located on MLK in Berkeley, to have a real understanding,
appreciation of and participation in diversity. Ages 2 to 5. Minimum 3
full days.
Lisa
Have you looked into Children's Community Center
on Walnut Street in Berkeley?
I don't have a child there, but I did my dissertation research with their
children a few years ago, and I remember the teachers talking about something
they called a "diversity curriculum." It's a parent co-op, so if that appeals
to you, you might want to look into it.
Lauren
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