Re: Preschools with Alfie Kohn Approach
I encourage you to check out The Renaissance School, in Oakland, next to Dimond Park. It's a Montessori school. Each of the four Primary classrooms have at least one teacher who speaks nothing but Spanish or French to the children. You can choose to have your child be in either a Spanish or French classroom. The head teacher in each classroom always speaks English. It is truly amazing to see how easily the children pick up the second language.

The school is a big fan of Alfie Kohn. When he spoke in the Bay Area last year the school encouraged parents to go hear him speak.

TRS provides a warm and nurturing environment. The children have a great deal of freedom of choice. At the same time, they are taught to respect their environment and the people around them.

To top it off, TRS has an amazing music and art program, and the most culturally diverse community of families, teachers, and staff that you can imagine. The best part is that the school doesn't seem to need to try to be diverse... it just has naturally grown that way.

Now the downside of this seemingly perfect school... it is expensive. But, the school has a financial aid program, so I encourage you to check it out. Here is a link to their website: http://www.therenaissanceschool.org A Very Happy TRS Parent

I was curious to know of any past graduates as well as current students who go to The Rennaisance School. I am thinking of sending my daughter 2.y.o next fall. Most of the posts are old and I was curious to know of both the old and the new families at the various grade levels. For the graduates or past students how well did they thrive in the environment and how well prepared were they for the next step? For current students anything you can say I would greatly appreciate. anon

One of the great qualities of TRS is its emphasis on the study of world cultures. The children learn all subjects in two (or three, at the Elementary level) languages. Each classroom at the Primary level studies a different continent in-depth each year. They learn about the physical and cultural geography of the continent, hear presentations from people who are knowledgable about a country, take field trips, and prepare a meal every week from a different country or region.

Another great thing about TRS is its commitment to the arts and creativity. Each child participates in studio art sessions (even the 2 year olds!), with individual instruction from wonderful art teachers -- the children learn art technique in a way that allows them to develop and express their individual creativity and imagination. The school has an art show that is open to the public in late spring (May or June, I think), and this is a great way to come learn about the art program. Also, children at all levels participate in chorus and have regular performances, which really helps develop confidence and composure in addition to developing their musical abilities.

And most importantly, our kids love TRS and are excited about going to school. They have built strong relationships with teachers and friends, and have learned how to peacefully and respectfully resolve conflict (an ongoing process, of course!) The school also does a great job of teaching the parent community about the curriculum and the Montessori method -- this week the school had a interactive presentation on the math curriculum, which was really impressive.

Good luck! Happy TRS parent

I agree with previous posters, Renaissance School has a lot to offer:

-Excellent, professional teachers who really do see each child
as an individual; we love our child's teachers and have received
much feedback from them
-Low teacher-student ratios
-Music classes and art classes twice per week
-Foreign language instruction in both French and Spanish
-A Montessori curriculum and those fancy materials!

-Long work periods without time for play and exploration; not
enough playground time
-Too much emphasis on individual work and no small group
activities.
-Little chance to be directed in social skills or to learn how
to make friends. For a social child, this was frustrating.
-Strict rules for how to work with the materials, with very
little room to explore and find answers on their own.
-Always doing Montessori, not much variety or activities to help
integrate the details
-No variety in the afternoon program for working parents - more
Montessori
-Many vacation days, which is difficult for working parents

The classes are mixed ages, so my daughter has had the opportunity to learn from and teach other children, which I believe has helped develop her confidence, self-esteem and social skills. TRS also places a strong emphasis on conflict resolution, and I see this in very real ways in my child's interactions with others. Just recently, she was playing with two other children who disagreed over where to have a tea party. One girl in particular was very adamant about having it in a specific place and she was at the point of screaming and crying. I watched with great pride as my daughter said several times ''I have an idea'' or ''Here's one solution,'' trying to help the group come to agreement. On another occasion, my daughter was helping me unload the dishwasher and she suggested that we do it ''as teamwork, like in school.''

TRS is not a place where 15 children sit in a circle and are told to make papier mache elephants and asked to share scissors, paper etc. It's a very special environment, and in some ways it's hard to explain. Teaching children social and emotional skills does not occur through orchestrated, contrived activities. Instead, the school has created an environment where children learn to be social, make friends, share and resolve conflicts in a very natural way that ultimately comes from within.

I will say also that while I believe that all types of children can and do thrive at TRS, the families who benefit the most and are the happiest are the ones who believe in the Montessori approach and philosophy. Anonymous

Re: Piedmont Preschools
If you're looking for Montessori type schools in the Piedmont area, I encourage you to look at the Renaissance School on Dimond Ave in Oakland, which is very close to Piedmont. It is a Montessori school and has the balance you describe you are looking for. There is a big focus on music, art and languages but at the same time the children are challenged academically and move at their own pace. The parent/teacher community is very diverse and welcoming. There is a small 2-year old class and following that a 3yr-5yr old classroom setting (there are 4 of those). There is also an elementary program for children ages 6-12 that continues to expand as more families desire to keep their kids at the school. My daughter started in the 2 year old class and is now in the Elementary program. My son just recently started in the 2 year old class. My kids couldn't be any more different in terms of personality and temperment, yet both are very happy and are thriving academically and socially at the school. Big fan of the Renaissance School

We will be looking for a french preschool for our son. In the Oakland or Berkeley area, Any recommendations would be great. marina

Re: Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley
We considered EB a couple times and in the end decided to send our children to The Renaissance School (TRS), a bilingual Montessori school (pre-K to 6th grade) in Oakland. EB offers a very thoughtful approach but TRS' very structured Montessori education made much more sense, to us, from developmental perspective. Our children started at age 3 1/2 and now our oldest is in the first grade. We have found that they have thrived academically and enjoy a rich environment of language, culture, music and art. The primary classrooms (ages 2.9 to 6) at TRS are truly bilingual. There is 1 French bilingual classroom and 3 Spanish bilingual classrooms. In the French classroom, there is a marvelous native French-speaking Montessori teacher who speaks only French to the children. There is also an AMI trained Montessori teacher who speaks only English. All the children receive lessons in each language every day. Though it is not complete immersion, it is truly bilingual. My children are learning to read and write in French, to cook in French, to sing in French, to do math in French and more. Once the children enter the elementary level (grades 1-6), there are native French and Spanish teachers, so their education becomes trilingual. It really is amazing. In addition, the school values music and art education like no other school I've toured or heard about. The children learn music through the Kodaly method and choral music is a part of their day every day at the elementary level. TRS is a small school with a very strong point of view. It may not be the right place for everybody, but it sounds like it may be worth considering for your needs. The staff is very helpful and I know they have regular tours. Here is the website if you want to contact them: www.therenaissanceschool.com

I was wondering how much the Renaissance School encourages or discourages imaginative play. I went to Montessori school myself, so I understand and support all the cooking, cleaning, and general self-sufficiency that is emphasized there, but I also believe in the value of role-playing and imagination for small children (mine is 3). Any experiences with the school one way or the other? anon

I'm curious to know if anyone has received either an acceptance or a rejection letter from the Renaissance School for '07? We followed all their application guidelines for our child, including an interview with the director, but we've heard nothing back. According to their website, letters should have been mailed in March but when April rolled around and we still hadn't heard one way or another, I called to ask if letters had been sent. The person in the admin office who answered seemed unsure how to answer whether or not letters had been sent (odd) and then passed the phone to someone else who said something like, ''we're behind schedule but you should be receiving something soon''. Before I jump to any conclusions, I'm just wondering if anyone else received letters yet. Thanks. annon

We are considering moving our 3-year old daughter out of her large preschool, where she is overwhelmed, and into a Montessori program. Can anyone comment on the Renaissance School in Oakland? We are interested in the quality of the teachers and the Director, including how effectively they communicate with parents. Any thoughts would be most appreciated. Elizabeth

Ultimately, we decided it was not a good fit for us and our child thrived at another (more playbased) preschool. I now feel terrible that I inflicted that horrible experience on my child. As a child expert once told me, if you as an adult don't like to live in a rigid atmosphere, then why should you expect that of your child? If you have a very independent child and are looking for a more rigid montessori, you'll be happy with this school.

The original poster asked specifically about communication at the school. I have found the teachers and the administration, including the Head of School, to be very accessible to parents. I have daily interaction with the teachers in my daughter's class, and if parents need additional time to discuss anything, teachers will make the time to talk over the phone or in person. Parent-teacher conferences, class parent meetings, open houses, and other gatherings provide additional opportunities for parents to communicate with teachers, the administration, and each other. Parents are definitely encouraged to be an active and involved part of the school community. We are very happy that we decided to send our daughter to TRS! Kerry

Re: East Bay Bilingual Montessori
You MUST check out The Renaissance School in Oakland. It's a hidden jewel. I don't know what language you are looking for, but The Renaissance School has bilingual programs in French AND Spanish for the primary level (ages 3 to 6) and TRIlingual program for the elementary level (through 6th grade). We moved here from France a couple of years ago and really wanted to find a bilingual French program. We checked out the Ecole Bilingue and liked it but it wasn't quite right for us. We are believe very strongly in the Montessori method so when I found The Renaissance School, I was over the moon. Each Primary classroom has a trained AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) teacher who speaks English and an AMI trained teacher who speaks either Spanish or French. The head of the school has very high standards for her teachers. They must be native speakers and have completed the AMI training. The Spanish and French teachers speak ONLY their native language in the classroom. The children have all their lessons in both English and either Spanish or French. In addition, they have language lessons to help build their vocabulary. They also sing and listen to music in the second language. Our daughter is 5 and is now learning to read in English and French. She is also learning to write in French and is learning to use a stylo plume just like French students! It's amazing. My husband and I are both American but speak French and love that we can also keep up our French by singing and reading with our daughter and speaking to her French-speaking teacher everyday. Our younger daughter, who is 3 1/2 and is in the same classroom, was not exposed to as much French when she was little but loves learning the language now and thoroughly enjoys receiving lessons from her French-speaking teacher.

The Spanish classrooms are the same. Everyday when I pick up the children I hear the teachers speaking to their students on the playground in Spanish. It's normal and expected to hear several languages on campus. It's a very international school with many multicultural families.

I should also point out that The Renaissance School has an incredibly strong music and art program, which is another aspect of the school that drew us to it. The children are taught music using the Kodaly method and really develop beautiful singing voices and an understanding of music very early while having fun doing it. Depending on their age, they have a total of 1 or 2 hours of dedicated music each week in small groups with a wonderful music education staff. Of course, they also sing in their classroom. When they are old enough, they can take chorus and instrumental lessons at school, which cuts down on schlepping kids around after school to various lessons.

I'm glad you asked this question. Whenever people say that the Ecole Bilingue is the only French bilingual school in the East Bay is just wrong. True, it is the only bilingual school accredited by the French government, which may be important to some, but their are some of us who have more flexibility and it's important to know there is a choice.

If you have any questions about the school, I'm happy to answer them. The school has been great for our children. They are growing into caring, kind, respectful, interesting, curious, intelligent, musical, French speaking children thanks in part to this great school. Carrie

We are considering The Renaissance School for our nearly 2 year old daughter, does anyone have any personal experience with this school to share? thank you, tina Anon

Here's an example of how the school supports student ideas - Last year after the tsunami, my daughter's preschool class talked about how tsunamis occur and what happened to the people in SE Asia. During the course of this discussion, they wanted to collect money to send to the tsunami relief agencies. So the several kindergarteners of that class wrote up a proposal and approached the Head of the School. With her blessing, they set up collection cans and in teams of two, they went to all the other classrooms (including the elementary classrooms) to give a presentation on the tsunami and explain why they were collecting funds. It was incredibly touching from a parent perspective, and the children felt empowered and supported in their ideas.

And the music program is out of this world - I doubt you'll find anything comparable. They use the Kodaly method and it's amazing to watch even the preschoolers playing bells alongside the choristers. When they move into the elementary years, different instruments play together harmonizing. I never understood how much they were learning until a work colleague with extensive musical background happen to look at my eldest daughter's homework assignment to write a song. I tried to explain the assignment to him, and he understood everything, but noted that it was unusual that the music teacher would allow her to put a particular chord in a certain spot of the song. When I asked my daughter about it, she smiled and explained that she asked for permission. These were eye-opening conversations that I cannot explain any better, because I don't have that music theory background. You may have specific questions, and sinc! e I've been associated with the school for awhile, I'd be glad to share a parent perspective. I do encourage you to learn a little about the Montessori method so that you'll understand the activities your child's experiences in the school. If you (or any other parent) would like to talk about the school more or have some specific questions, feel free to write back and we can set up a time to talk. Janna

I'm interested in finding out information about the Renaissance School's preschool program. In particular, I'd like to know whether people are pleased with the program and why? Or unhappy and why? Also, I'd like to know whether the kids in the program are generally happy or does it seem overly strict? Finally, are kids who complete the program generally well prepared for elementary school? Thanks so much for responding. Anon

The school has a rather tough love approach to teaching independence in their students. Athough I agree with the goal, the message is delivered rather harshly. For example, if your 3 or 4 year old cannot tie his or her shoes you better work on this before starting the Renaissance preschool. The teachers will not assist a child who needs help with shoes or socks.

My husband and I were quite attracted to the language program but, in fact, very little language instruction really happened during our time with the school.

That said, the music and art teachers were outstanding. If the quality of the rest of the teachers and instruction matched the standard set by these two, we never would have left.

Changes may have been made in the school since we departed. I suggest that you ask careful questions before making a decision. Signed: anon anon

Of course this school, and Montessori schools in general, are not for every child. But I would hate for people to form an impression about The Renaissance School without hearing from a number of parents. Jeannine

The Renaissance School, a Montessori school in Oakland, does have a good language program. However, it's not a total immersion experience. There are three ''primary'' classrooms (ages 3- 6) with two English-speaking teachers and one Spanish or French teacher per class. The kids receive instruction in both English and the other language throughout the day. (The pre-primary program for 2-year-olds does not have a language component that I'm aware of.)

In the short time we've been at the school (we started in Sept) I've been amazed by how much Spanish my 3- year-old has picked up (she sings in Spanish and understands quite a bit). Even my 5-year-old, who's not particularly verbal, can understand some basic Spanish now. There are many families from Spanish- and French-speaking countries at the school -- it's a very international student body. Hope this helps! Happy at TRS

This is in response to the parent looking for Oakland Montessori preschools that emphasize arts, music and creativity. The Renaissance School (on Dimond Ave next to Dimond Park) has an outstanding music program that utilizes the Kodaly music method. Jutka teaches ''music appreciation'' to all levels (preschool starting at 2 y.o. up to the middle school kids) - the comprehension level and grasp for music theory and performance is quite amazing. In addition to singing, there are various instrumentals (e.g. piano, drums, guitar, etc). The piano students often will accompany the choir. My older girls were playing piano duets with one another by the time they were 7 and 8 years old. Art is also well integrated, and creativity and expression are everywhere in the Montessori curriculum. The school does utilize the typical Montessori curriculum, but I felt that there was far more music than elsewhere and arts and creativity were evident in the program. If you have any questions or want more extensive comments, please feel free to write to me. Janna

I am interested in any recent information about the Renaissance School (formerly A Child's World) or the Growing Light Montessori School's Oakland site. The web site has outdated info for Renaissance and no info for the Oakland location of Growing Light. Any details on teacher quality, balance of program, and well-handled transitions would be much appreciated. Lori

Re: Spanish Language Pre-school?
The Rennaisance School in Oakland has what they call language immersion in the pre-school years. English, and Spanish or French, is spoken consistently in the classrooms. They have a truly international comminity and it is not uncommon to find other bilingual kiddies in the same group as you child. Worth checking out. -- happy Renaissance School parent

My son has attended the Renaissance School for five years and we are very pleased with the education he is recieving there. The head of school, Leslie Hites, is terrific. She is a woman of vision, with lots of drive, and is dedicated to excellence in education. She is also a mother of six (adult) children, and has a deep understanding of how to motivate and guide children on how to be their best true selves. I took a series of parenting class from her that she taught for our community that has helped me become a better parent in more ways than I can explain. The school is in a building phase that should not greatly impact the preprimary and primary levels, but you should definately bear that in mind as you evaluate your choices. Helene

RE: school for bright kids
Check out the Montessori philosophy of education. I think it is by far the best approach for super bright kids. It allows the child to work at his or her own level and speed and fosters independence of thought, self reliance, and respect for oneself, others and the environment. My son attends The Renaissance School, (formerly a Child's World Montessori School), in Oakland, and they have a few kids there who are in the super bright category and are thriving. The school has both a tremendous breath as well as depth in the curriculum. Also, I would suggest you read some of Maria Montessori's books to understand the philosophy and how it translates into the classroom in order to understand what the education is all about. Unfortunately, most journalists who write about it only repeat standard clics and are woefully uninformed. Good luck in your search. Helen

My two older children went to the preschool and now attend the elementary classes at A Childs World Montessori School in Oakland (off of Fruitvale). The 2-yr olds are separate, but the 3- to 5-yr olds are together in one classroom (and the elementary classes are mixed too). The Montessori philosophy is to mix three ages in one classroom. Although I was pretty lukewarm about this when I interviewed the school, I ultimately liked it. My children learned to work with children of other ages, and it seems to decrease some of the competition within the class (as I remember it). They work on projects learning from older children (promotes good social skills and humbleness), or teaching the younger children (reenforces what the child has learned and promotes teaching skills.) When they become a "leader" in the classroom, they feel so good about themselves. This was especially important with my second child who was only a year behind the first, so it gave her a chance to be a leader when the older one moved off to the elementary classroom. In addition, during the music programs, the older children were role models for the very young ones, helping the 2-3 yr olds onto the stage and holding their hands through their short performance - it brought tears to my eyes watching them so carefully helping the little ones. We really like ACWMS - my children have excelled there. FYI, you may be wondering why I didn't mention the third child- she's not old enough, but she'll be there soon. Janna

Janna (7/00)

P (7/00)