Schools In San Francisco Near Me

Stephany Medina: . We didn't know what to expect but I'm glad we took a leap. My senior has had a rough go of high school

alicia pflueger: My son is a sophomore at Drew and has been "on fire" since day one! He comments daily on the amazing community, the engaging interactions he has with his teachers, the kindness of the other students and the relaxed environment that makes his challenging academics actually fun!

Anthony Lynn: I love working at Drew. It is the most satisfying job I have ever had.

Diane Cassil: My daughter just graduated Drew School and her experience there was above our expectations. From the beginning of her freshman year through her senior year she felt at home, was challenged and supported along the way. She has become a confident, independent and an empathetic person that is feeling very prepared for her college experience. We could not have asked for a better school for our daughter and family.

The Band: When your are a high schooler and find yourself winding up here at Drew it really felt like you've come down in the world. But actually there WERE very smart people here only dragged down by some who were unmotivated and they weren't such bad people it's just that by now decades later they're probably making more money than the smart people who feel isolated because they are told they are introverted. In fact just getting their brain power ripped off. I didn't mean anything by those remedial vocabulary quizzes turning em in in 10 seconds. I miss my teachers who wanted to really teach me and open up the world and encourage me and said I have Total Recall. And only to get back in touch with decades later and for them to tell me they're interested in my projects. That reminds me to write Toño

jennifer halter baceda: We have been at this school since my 10 year old daughter went here. the staff is very friendly and helpful.

Sarah D: A close family member attends school here and they and their parents have never been anything but delighted with this academy. You can't get better staff and care for your child.

Sheila Pierce: We just moved to San Francisco from Rome, Italy, where our children, aged 10 and 7, were attending an Italian public school. Their transition to La Scuola has been seamless thanks to the warmth and intelligence of everyone who works there. It is a first-rate place run by wonderful staff and teachers that offers a welcoming environment of an international community coupled with small-town friendships. From the language immersion program to the IB curriculum to the emphasis on thinking "out-of-the-box" creatively, it is the kind of place parents dream of for their child and the sort of school the kids can't wait to return to after a holiday. I honestly cannot praise the school enough. Run don't walk is all I can say.

Rodney Minott: Our son started La Scuola preschool this year and he loves it! He’s made many friends and all of his teachers are terrific — extraordinarily dedicated and caring. The campus is beautiful and the school's emphasis on the Reggio Emilia learning philosophy offers a richly nurturing learning environment. Our son has embraced his Italian immersion and already enjoys correcting my limited Italian word pronunciations! Getting to know the other parents has also been a great experience. I highly recommend La Scuola.

Lama Nachman: My son started at La Scuola 3 years ago in 1st grade, we couldn't be happier. The school is a gem, the teachers and staff love their jobs, deeply care about the kids and have a really high image of every child. The integrated curriculum and project based learning approach is really effective. Kids are learning everywhere, in the garden, classroom, the city on field trips, art room. It is all connected & well planned, and they truly learn how to become passionate learners.We are not Italian, but we wanted a good international education and the IB program really appealed to us. While our son started relatively late with the Italian, the school was very supportive and he is now fully fluent in Italian. Since this is a startup school, I believe the leadership is a very good predictor of how well the school will continue to do as it grows. The head of the school is a brilliant, dedicated and energetic woman, she really understands kids and cares about what's best for them. She is very creative and resourceful and always finds solutions to any problem. The staff and the teachers are very competent, energetic, work very well together and engage the parents in meaningful ways. In my kid's previous school parents were treated as free resources, not at La Scuola. The community is very tight and each of us bring a different expertise. Most importantly my son loves going to school every morning, nothing beats that.

Claudia Volpi: La Scuola is a truly unique school. The Reggio philosophy strongly emphasizes the environment as the third teacher so great care is put into the classrooms, common spaces, playgrounds and the magnificent ateliers- mini tinkering labs within the school. The campuses are beautiful! Language immersion is done beautifully. Since Reggio emphasizes learning by doing and allowing children to pose the questions about what they're interested in learning, it all happens as part of their day. They are not talked to, but with, ergo they are invested in the learning. They sing, count cups as they set their table, read stories- all in Italian in preK and they use the Montreal model in K8. Our kids have an Italian parent but there are many non speakers whose kids are fluent and translate for their grown ups-- it's very cool to see. The teaching staff at both the preschool and K8 is super qualified. The IB is taught from age 3-13. It emphasizes some global themes: empathy, responsibility, cooperation, respect. Subjects are taught within contexts called units of inquiry, rather than framed separately into 'math', 'science', reading. The teachers are all so warm and nurturing; the HOS warns parents that there will be hugs, Lots of them, and she is right. There is so much joy and the school is truly international with lots of nationalities and languages spoken and celebrated.This school gives one hope that the next generation will grow to be more open minded, civil and cooperative than ours.

Jutta Kamp: atelier, at music classes or in the school library. We're always impressed by the interdisciplinary learning and how much coordination it requires among the involved teacher - their collaboration is just amazing and the kids feel this great vibe.Due to the curriculum, the staff, the respectful and caring atmosphere at school the kids become very aware of the importance of a good social environment and how to maintain it. For example, my son's class developed - selfdriven - their own conflict managing rules to help other students to solve a conflict. And as a a parent we see the huge impact on our kids social behaviors and personalities in general.Creating curious learners is also a focus of the RE approach. Providing very well maintained facilities with child friendly colors, furnitures, toys, arts and crafts supplies help the kids to establish a creative way of thinking and problem solving. Helping the kids to trust their own solving skills builds up our kids self confidence - and our kids have been surprising us with their creative and caring suggestions. It's amazing to observe this!It's a warm hearted and safe place to have your kids go to school with a fantastic community. This is a very special school and we're proud and happy of being part of it!

Erin Colbert: 3.5 years later and we still love and adore La Scuola. It's been such a great environment for our daughter to thrive. I am continually impressed by the dedication and commitment of the teachers. She is now fully fluent in Italian, despite neither parents at home speaking the language. She has made so many friends there and we have truly become part of a great community in San Francisco.Honestly, at one point we had considered leaving SF as so many families do, but it was the community, friends, and top-notch education from La Scuola that kept us close -- so close we purchased a home next door the school. We're looking forward to many more years at La Scuola, both in elementary and middle school.

Richard Bargetto: the teachers to be extremely professional and sincerely interested in the development of the children. There is an authenticity of spirit at La Scuola that is unmatched. Of course, I loved the fact that hugs were freely given and part of the culture of an Italian/International preschool. I was very impressed that the teachers listened intently to the children as the children fully participated in their own learning. The social development component of the curriculum is amazing. Children are allowed to fail and reflect upon what they have learned from all their experiences. My daughter always felt safe there and would run to the gate in the morning. The challenge was always prying her away from her favorite place at the end of the day. The Reggio approach put the child at the center of the learning process. I must admit, I think I have become a better parent as I learned myself about the Reggio philosophy and incorporated it into our household.After preschool, I made a large search for the right elementary school for our family. I went to a couple of Catholic schools, a number of public schools and many independent schools. During my exhaustive search, I was trying to find a school that offered both the curriculum, teaching expertise, community and environment where my daughter could thrive. I did not find one and my daughter has now entering the second grade.La Scuola talks a lot about creating curious learners where students look at an issue through multiple lenses with an interdisciplinary approach. The outcome of such learning helps to deepen their understanding and providing a more comprehensive mechanism for all students to learn. It sounds a bit utopic, but it is really true. My daughter is usually excited about doing her homework and is learning with both her heart and her head.You can feel that La Scuola is a special place the minute you walk through the doors. It's not just the fact that many languages are spoken. Rather it is due to the fact that the staff and community are committed to learning and creating something unique in San Francisco. If you don't believe me, stop by for a visit. I know you will be impressed.Richard BargettoParent of La Scuola Second Grader

Aaron Harms: La Scuola flew under the radar for us when we were researching the maze of preschools and K-8 programs in San Francisco, but once we found out about the school and went on a tour, we were blown away. And since starting, our daughter has flourished in countless ways.The school combines two really interesting and leading-edge approaches to education: the progressive Reggio-Emilia approach and the academically rigorous International Baccalaureate. The Reggio piece provides all the creative goodness of progressive education - joy, exploration, and unexpected discovery. And the IB delivers the rigor: a robust and global set of standards to ensure the quality and standards will always be top notch. The combination of the two is really innovative and compelling.We're not Italian nor do we speak it at home - in addition to a progressive education with high standards, we wanted an international school, along with all the neuroscience benefits of a bilingual education, and were pretty agnostic on what that second language is. There are lots of parents like us, along with parents with strong connections to Italy as well.The Director, Valentina, is warm, accessible, and a real visionary... and the teachers are amazingly talented and tireless. Each week we get a lengthy newsletter detailing everything that happened in our daughter's class - new concepts that were explored, snippets of conversation, and photos and videos of learning in action. It's an incredible window into the magic that happens on a daily basis.Finally, lots of people rightly focus on the experience for kids when looking at preschools and K-8 programs. Keep in mind that it's also going to be a big part of your community as parents as well. When you go on the tour and talk to other parents, imagine that this circle will become a central piece of your social life for years to come. We weren't really certain what that experience would be like at a private school in San Francisco, but have found the La Scuola community to be warm, down to earth, creative, and energized... folks that we would want to hang out with even if we weren't bound together by our children's education.So check it out - there's no substitute for going on a tour to see what makes this place so special. You may secretly want to go back in time and be in school yourself!

Laura Pacchini: Outstanding, nurturing and child-led environment - a place for young minds to build explore the world through all of their senses. Amazing organic lunch prepared in the kitchen, special garden and garden teacher to understand how things are made - and the most wonderful, educated and thoughtful community of educators and families together.

Tarrah Smith Pollaro: Perfect place for our daughter and family. The staff and community are great, the learning/exploring environment is top-notch and the Italian immersion is a bonus.

Marco Paglia: Lovely school managed by lovely people.

The Principled Academy Social Media: Wonderful graduation ceremony for the 7th and 8th grade class of 2021! A preschool to 8th grade. A school of character education and presenting core values: compassion, integrity, responsibility, gratitude, respect.

최예민: You can see the principal talking and communicating with each child from morning to evening. He always runs around school and works hard. He talks from the children's perspective and guides them to have the right thoughts and live a life for the good. At first, when my eldest daughter was having trouble adjusting to school, the principal took care of her separately. My daughter loved coloring pictures.The child stopped crying and became absorbed in coloring. Thanks to his careful consideration, the child was able to have a good time. These days, I also play in the water. The children love the school's programs so much that they ask to be allowed to play more.

K Kim: The Principled Academy is a wonderful school that helps students become good, well-rounded individuals through their focus on character education. They help students learn to become compassionate and responsible individuals in and out of school. Additionally the teachers are great, the staff is supportive, and I love the Christmas and graduation performances they put on every year. Two of my kids went there and two are currently attending. They all have learned and matured a lot during their time there. Overall, The Principled Academy is a great school.

David Dufour: My sons are having a wonderful experience in the preschool program. The teachers are extraordinarily kind and the other parents in the program have become good friends

Hydee Davidson: This is an amazing school. My son has attended classes here since kindergarten, he's in the fifth grade now. Low teacher/ studet/ratio. So kids get personal attention with teachers that want to ensure success. Great communication between all staff and parents. They use positive discipline and reinforcement methods that work.I suggest The Principled Academy to everyone looking for a great school!

Lee Silence: helping our student learn and grow.

Maria DiBlasi: My daughter has been attending The Principled Academy since preschool and she she is now in third grade.Everyone has been great since the very beginning. Specially now during COVID-19 all teachers and staff have done their best to bring the kids back to in-class learning. I am very grateful for all the dedication and full efforts.Our daughter loves to go to school everyday and she always has positive things to say about her day and what’s she’s learned.

You-Jin Moon: adjusted well to the new language and environment through this school.  I think teachers here are very kind and our daughters are always excited to go to school. I am very grateful to the teachers and staff.

Victoria Maeda: It has been a very positive, uplifting place for me children , as well as a learning place for myself! Go visit! You’ll probably find it’s worth it!!!

Lien Ha: Small class, great teachers! My son loves it here !

Eiko a'Beckett: It's a small school, we know each other, like a family. Helping, support and growing together academic and character area. I really appreciate all the teachers and staff's full efforts.

Chi Le: Very friendly school

Jason De Ponte: We have had our children at The Principled Academy for 6 years. We are so happy with the community and the educational opportunities. At this school you are not just another face, you are part of a small family. I highly recommend TPA. It's also great that its K through 8th. The teachers are very talented and the principal is extraordinary!

Gabriela Lopez: My daughter is new this year. Everything meets or exceeds expectations. Back to school night is tonight. Eek!! EXCITED!!

Isabella Hansen: I was a student at sunset and it has great staff and after school teachers. If your looking for a small cozy school then this is the one. Its right next to a libery to.

Sophia Nguyen: It has tons of cool activities and fundraisers and afterschool programs ots a great place to learn

thomas ng: sunset is a nice school with lots of nice and funny teachers

David: The Beverly Hills Playhouse is one of the best experiences I’ve had in my entire life. The two teachers each bring their own unique style and high acting IQ’s that create the perfect balance. This allows the school to avoid being one dimensional just as the craft itself should avoid.Rob, is a master at finding what makes each individual actor/student tick. He’ll cut through, capture and crystallize what is inside of you as an actor and where you shine and what you need to work on. He almost has a third eye in seeing you in all of your ability and weaknesses to work on not just as an actor but as a person. I’ve had many acting teachers and what I love about Rob is the class is not about him. I truly believe he only has one focus and that is to bring the best out of you in all forms to enhance your ability...whatever it takes and if you’re willing and hungry. If acting is inside of you..Rob has the ability to take that spark and turn into a roaring blaze. He knows how to light a fire under you and put you into a zone where you feel not just the clarity of the duty within but “alive”. I can only guarantee this if you truly must act within.Peter, is the other beautiful flip side of the coin. He’s a master at choices in acting like I’ve never seen from any teacher I’ve had before. Robert DeNiro says, “acting is all about the choices.” Which makes Peter an incredibly valuable asset. In my opinion, he’s also a borderline genius director. This could come from his vast ability in seeing brilliant choices in his mind’s eye. He brings the art in him to the art in you when teaching. He opens your heart and then your mind to the infinite choices while staying true to the character and script. His love and joy for acting is infectious in the classroom and just like Rob he cares deeply about each student.You’ll be safe here, better here and I can guarantee one thing...YOU’LL NEVER FORGET THE BEAUTY AND MAGIC OF YOUR TIME HERE...if you’re ready to bring everything and simply LISTEN.

Anna Sun: I have been a part of BHP SF for 2 years now with no prior acting experience. This has been an amazing training ground to get my acting career started and continue to hone my craft. The teachers have a ton of experience and have helped prepare me for the industry. Most importantly, they love what they do and are committed to their students. I have been with an agent for a year now and started working as an actor within the first few months. It has been such an amazing experience to have teachers and classmates that inspire you, support you and want to see you succeed. I couldn't have asked for a better place to become an artistic killer.

Stephen Wilson: Rob Zimmerman and Peter Allas are some of the best acting teachers you can get in San Francisco!Following in the footsteps of Milton Katselas, these two bring his teaching to anyone who is willing to put in the time and effort to improve themselves as actors.A continuous scene study class you learn how to become a professional working actor, with a solid toolkit to bring a script to life!Just as importantly, you learn how progress yourself in the bussniess of acting, whether you are just starting out, or if you've been in the game for a whileThey have high standards and demand their students never fall short of them in both the talent side as well as the business side.Highly recommended!

Connor Mullaney: . Within a year of study, I got an agent and worked on a good number of commercial, television, and film sets in the Bay Area. Sooo I guess BHP was helpful ^__^

Brittany Fritz: I can’t say enough good about BHP. I was lucky to study with Rob Zimmerman and Peter Allas for close to three years. I’ve seen the theater grow when they began putting productions on. It’s a place where standards are high and so is the love for the industry. Rob does a great job of preparing students to get out there for auditions in theater, commercials and television. The students who go here are fantastic and quickly become family to one another. If you’re looking for a place to study the craft or see a high quality production, come check out BHP!!!

Robert Shepard: This is the finest acting school I have ever been to. So much more than the excellent core of scene study, the schools focuses on actor administration and actor attitude. Because of this school, I was able to get an agent fairly quickly, having no prior experience with how to go about this. Both teachers are fantastically generous with their time and commitment to each student as individuals, and all of the students are tremendously warm and supportive. I studied there for several years, and cannot recommend it more highly.

Robert Faltisco: Peter Allas is a great teacher. Rob Zimmerman is one of smartest teachers and simply a dramaturgical wizard. He could teach a tree not only how to act, but how to make it in the industry. These guys are the best acting school in San Francisco, and I have been around for a long time.

Louie Loo: Bs

Sebastian Alexander Johnson: I'd give a 5/5 if they stopped having those cheese bagels.

Arden Brailer: go ms Raynor

tana smith: Because it is the BEST school EVER!!!!!!

travel resorts: Keeping 100 years of tradition in tune with today's time! Besides the required academics, plenty of fun activities, art, tinker lab, sports, outstanding music and drama, hip-hop dance, plus Spanish from K-8.

Pauline Luke: on so many fronts for me and my family since we started our piano programs with the school. The programming is done thoughtfully and led by talented teachers with many opportunities for adults and children to share their music through open mics and more formal recitals. I also had the opportunity to participate in the recording session with Ciara and the Tiny Telephone team in Oakland and that was really special. What came out of that was a beautiful video recording and experience that left me feeling empowered and inspired! I'm also grateful for the amazing community that comes with MMS, both staff and other students. I highly recommend McAllister Music Studio for anyone looking to learn, explore, or expand their experiences with music.

Zach Kysar: for the past year or so. I’ve made huge progress in my own personal songwriting goals. Ciara has kept me accountable and I’ve learned so much working with her. She has a incredibly strong musical background and brings a special positivity to every one of our lessons. She’s helped shape my hobby into a passion and has given me huge direction for the future. I’ve recommended MMS to so many of my close friends including my partner who also started taking Piano classes and reported a similar experience with a different instructor. MMS provides a warm and welcoming community for shared musical growth. I wholeheartedly recommend McAllister Music Studios.

Phil Bailey: Cannot say enough good things about Ciara & MMS. While born of the pandemic, the annual recording session is now a highlight of the year. Ciara’s expert coaching both before and during the session makes this an incredible opportunity to develop another aspect of performing music. Recording isn’t the same as playing live, both are cool, but different. The studio, Tiny Telephone and its engineer Beau are incredibly welcoming to everyone. People you have heard of record here, but the welcome is universal.If you have never done this, you really should.

Alicia: who has an amazing way of breaking down and de-mystifying information in a way that is both empowering and inviting.

Brady Shutt: Fantastic school and community environment for growing musicians, singers, songwriters, beat makers, etc. Many fantastic teachers that cover a wide range of expertise from classical and jazz piano to music production, lyric writing and song development. Many opportunities to perform to a supportive community, including a special winter recital and a professional recording session at Tiny Telephone. Highly recommend this place!

Celeste Villalobos Tahamont: .

molly fields: MMS has been such a positive music studio for my family. The teachers are all talented and knowledgeable about music playing and theory. My sons piano teacher is incredibly patient and kind, yet knows when to challenge him. After every lesson he comes home to practice on his own. If you want a positive music environment and a place that sparks joy and love of music all while learning, give MMS a try. You won’t be disappointed.

ana martinez: I can’t say enough great things about MMS. To begin with their teachers are highly skilled, patient while all levels and know how to keep students motivated. If you are looking for a school that goes above and beyond look no where else. Also all the opportunities to perform outside of the classes are amazing.

Andrew Michael Berrios: I have to start with I LOVE the McAllister Music Studio family. I cannot express in words how much this school has helped me develop my musicianship. I have been working with the owner Ciara and her incredible staff at MMS Mission for years now. As a professional working singer, songwriter, and musician in San Francisco, I am constantly in admiration of the knowledge, skill, passion, and professionalism each and every teacher possesses at this school. It's truly a haven for music in San Francisco.The MMS Mission location is in the heart of the Mission District in San Francisco, surrounded by incredible restaurants, boutiques, and local music venues. It was built as a recording and performance studio, with integrated practice and teaching rooms for aspiring pianists, singers, and songwriters and anyone who has the desire to develop their passions in music. With a mix room, sound room, performance space, and stylish interior it is an inspirational environment for music making and has such a warm, eclectic vibe where I feel like I'm in my apartment playing piano!Ciara is an indescribable badass. She's a fierce singer, songwriter, pianist, business woman, and artist in her own element and you can feel how much love she pours into her school. Naomi is amazing. She handles all administrative and scheduling stuff and she's always so incredibly simple, easy, and professional to work with. I talk to her whenever I need to book a lesson or set up a show and it's literally instantly figured out. And as I mentioned earlier, every single person apart of the MMS is incredible and are actively apart of the local music and arts scene here in San Francisco, which I find invaluable because you are seriously learning from the best of the best.McAllister Music Studio Mission is a true haven for aspiring and established artists in San Francisco. It's so rare these days to be able find and be apart of such a thriving, spirited community of musicians in the Bay Area, and if you are looking to do that MMS Mission will offer this and more!

Sanjeev Kriplani: I feel very fortunate to have found this great teacher and school.

Marta O'Shea: We've been working with McAllister Music Studios for several years now - our teenager has been taking piano lessons with Natalie. We have had such a great experience with McAllister: Natalie is an excellent teacher and has great patience as well as energy. Our daughter has developed a great bond with her. Also, any administrative requests we have had have been addressed quickly. We highly recommend McAllister!

Allison D'Ambrosio: I'm 28 and I've been working with Patrick Hagen through MMS for over a year. I began with a little singing experience and essentially zero piano. Working with Patrick has been nothing short of incredible. He is patient, thoughtful, and creative with his teaching strategies. He pulls from a deep well of knowledge to communicate through auditory, visual, mental, and emotional queues. His sincerity and thorough understanding of the voice and piano have taught me technical skills and helped build my confidence to a place it's never been. A year ago I didn't know which keys were which, couldn't read music, and had zero musical theory. I now have a few pieces of actual music under my belt and have the skills to learn more in between the songs we work on together. I can't recommend MMS and Patrick enough, I look forward to working with him every week.

Sara Tansey: as an adult because I wanted to be able to sing with people but felt embarrassed. Lizzie helped me build the technical and emotional skills to reach my goals.

Sophie Cooper: I've been taking adult piano lessons at MMS since mid-2019 and absolutely love it. I've loved having a creative outlet and learning a new skill. The teachers are professional and friendly and do a great job of helping you grow while also taking your musical interests into account. The sense of community and group open mic/performance nights were a huge draw for me as well, and I was so glad that they found a way to move lessons and music nights online during quarantine so we could all continue to learn and stay connected. I'd highly recommend MMS!

Amy Matarazzo: , and how much the lessons are tailored uniquely for my needs. My teacher is able to correct my form and technique even through the computer and is always adjusting what songs and exercises I work on to keep the learning challenging, fun, and rewarding. The school also offers casual and friendly open mic nights

Leisl Zabelin: When the pandemic hit and I was stuck at home, it quickly became apparent that I was yearning for a creative outlet. Finding my singing voice again was just what I needed. After my first lesson, Patrick knew exactly which vocal exercises would be beneficial to help me reach my singing goals. As we moved forward my vocal range expanded just as I hoped it would. Not even a full year later I now have a repertoire of songs to use for auditions and the confidence to set even loftier goals. And all of this happened over zoom!My 10 year old also takes voice lessons with Patrick and looks forward to his lesson every week. He has enjoyed learning how to use his breath to support his singing voice and he likes that he can pick fun songs to work on. Thank you Patrick and McAllister Studio for all your support in our musical journeys.

Jessica Seybert: We started lessons mid-pandemic while looking for a way to keep our daughter more engaged in an activity throughout the day. She's only 5, but already I can see her confidence growing and she's having a blast learning all her new skills and playing for friends and family! I love the balance her teacher, Natalie, has when it comes to discipline of practice and learning the actual needed skills to play while also incorporating the fun and creative side of exploring music. I can see us sticking around for some time!

Brian Johnson: Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality,ValueI’ve been taking lessons with Andrew at McAllister for a few months now. I’m learning a lot from Andrew. It’s exciting and fun. Andrew’s guidance is helping keep me motivated and making progress.

jake lu: .MMS has adapted super well online over ZOOM - I'm impressed that they can catch every mistake or wrong note over video call - I'm still excited to go back into the studio once things reopen though.Thanks Kate!! If you were my piano teacher when I was 5, I probably would have stuck through with it all the way until now :

Gigi Irwin: , and Halloween and dinosaurs

Judy Liu: , the songs they learn to sing, and quotes from all the kids in the class.My kids' Mandarin has improved by leaps and bounds, and the teachers have fostered their love of learning it. The cutest thing is when the two of them randomly break out into a Chinese song together. My son just passed the SFUSD language assessment with full marks, thanks to the teachers' careful preparation. He went into the assessment completely comfortable and confident. When trying to consider elementary schools for my son, he adamantly wanted to join a dual language program. I think this really speaks to the educational philosophy of Fun with Mandarin and its fostering of love for learning. She has also been very good about notifying us about the procedures for applying to elementary school, and follows up to see if we have questions, and to make sure we know all the necessary requirements.My daughter also loves the school, and on days when she is feeling ill, she practically has a meltdown when told she has to stay home from school. Regarding behaviors such as meltdowns, I have been impressed with how well Bin Bin socializes the kids, and disciplines them in a loving, gentle, and firm way.Regarding covid, they had quickly created clear and safe Covid 19 policies, requiring kids to have temperature checks, wear masks, creating plans for pickup procedures to minimize contact. I have felt that my kids are as safe as they possibly could be.Fun with Mandarin is clearly a labor of love for Bin Bin, who was previously a Presidio Knolls teacher. I am continuously impressed with how talented she is at teaching, her boundless and positive energy, attention to detail and dedication to the kids. We feel very lucky that our kids are able to have such an experience.

Ray Yeung: We were very grateful for the support we received from FWM throughout the pandemic. Through the weekly virtual class, our son continued to maintain a sense of community with the preschool, which helped tremendously when he returned to in person. Our now four and a half year old son, who tends to be on the slow to warm up side, easily transitioned back into FWM after not attending for a year. This really speaks to how comfortable he feels being at FWM. He has grown tremendously in his confidence and language skills. We also notice a marked improvement in his fine motor skills since being back in person.

Rachel Sauer: and I can't say enough wonderful things about them.  We originally chose FWM because they accept younger children and our daughter missed the age cutoff for our older child's school

Hannah Mo: I used to pick up and drop off my niece from FWM and was amazed by the consistent positive energy and vibe, warmth and professionalism there. All of the staff at FWM I encountered are so friendly, professional, and seem to have a natural passion and enthusiasm for the kids and their jobs. My niece always looked forward to going to school and constantly talked about how much she loves her friends and teachers there. I definitely highly recommend this place!

Ian Bronson: Our son began attending Fun with Mandarin in September of 2020 and we have been delighted with our experience since then.Bin Bin Laoshi, Ben Laoshi and all of the other teachers work incredibly hard and with tremendous creativity to include, engage and educate our son. He loves going to school, and is always smiling when he walks back through the door coming home.The school has coached us on potty training and has been very helpful in providing tips and advice on parenting in general. When we have behavior challenges or are stumped ourselves, they have been an open book resource for us to consult. I love that we can work with experts to help us navigate the challenges of having a VERY energetic and demanding little boy.At this point, our son could open an art gallery with all of the wonderful drawings and sculptures he has made with the school. We love the daily report of activity at school, and despite COVID we have enjoyed the contact we have had with other parents. Being from a non-Chinese family, we feel very welcome and included. We love that he is learning Mandarin, and it has not impacted his English speaking at all. He speaks both languages very well at almost 4 years old.The school has helped us as we begin to navigate future schools as well. They have an extensive resource list to find schools, and contacts at each of them.One of the best parts of living in our area is the wonderful early childhood education available here. Fun with Mandarin is like the cherry on top for us. We are very grateful for this special place.

Shannon Bronson: I am writing this review to express my heartfelt appreciation for Fun with Mandarin School. It’s hard to express the gratitude our family feels for the gifted and caring Teachers, engaging and creative curriculum and inclusive community feel of this school.Our son has been attending since September 2020, and sending him here has been a huge blessing in our lives. It’s been a huge stabilizer for us during the chaos of the pandemic.Every day my son proudly shows me his latest art project as he comes joyfully out the door at pick up. The projects are so cool and imaginative, it’s really blown my mind to see what treasure you can make with paper plates, coffee filters, paint and popsicle sticks. They bring so much delight into our home, we have an art gallery going. I am trying to encourage Teacher Ben and BinBin to create a book of the innovative projects they have invented for the kids!What I notice even more is that these projects are tied in to curriculum themes that structure the days and months. The concepts that are introduced in art class continue into the day and provide lots of cohesion for the kids to learn.I’ve watched our son learn about the seasons, food, holidays, and different useful plants in the 6 months he’s been attending. Having taught children myself, I know how much hard work goes into developing a consistently stimulating and fun curriculum as Teachers Ouyang, Lei, BinBin and Ben have!I have also enjoyed the daily pictures and written report of our sons activities that we get every day at pick up. I get to see our son having a blast at school, smiling, laughing and playing with the other children and teachers. It’s nice to have the staff as a touch point for parenting advice and as experienced professionals. They also keep me updated on the San Francisco school system and seem to want to help prepare us for an eventual transition into a great fit.The food at the school looks consistently nutritious and delicious too!Of course we are thrilled that our son is learning Mandarin! We love the multicultural perspective he is getting of the world. He is learning about Chinese holidays and traditions as well as Western holidays. We value the diversity in the kids, and are so grateful that he is being exposed to so many different and enriching experiences each day. It’s been school in the time of COVID, so being able to socialize with parents has been limited unfortunately. That said, parents that I have crossed paths with have been friendly, warm and open to chatting in the small windows of opportunity that we can.TBH, we feel kind of jealous of him sometimes that he gets to go here! I totally would if I could! I often say I wish I could go to school with him! Thank you to all the Teachers, families and kids at Fun with Mandarin!

Jessie S.: and fosters an environment that is truly immersive. We are a split language household at home

Wendy Lin: from the care of grandparents to a preschool environment. The healthy hot lunches that are provided make life much easier for me and have helped encourage healthy eating habits for my son outside of school, which is every mother's dream. I'm also a fan of the routine updates we get on how the kids are doing. We get daily reports on nap times, what he ate, and general behavior, bi-weekly reports on classroom curriculum and the learning that is going on, and monthly photos/videos of the kids in action.We started at FWM 4 years ago with our first child and now our second one is attending FWM as well. What makes us the happiest is the progress we see in our children's all-around development. Whether it's social-emotional development, language development, or academic readiness, we're always amazed and proud of the changes we see in our children. I know the teachers at FWM are instrumental to the growth of our children and are great collaborators in helping with their development.

Carlson Cheng: Our daughters continue to receive compliments on their fluency in Mandarin and how much knowledge they have overall. Our daughter's Mandarin Immersion kindergarten teacher recently asked us where she learned her Mandarin from as she was completely impressed with her. We credited Fun With Mandarin and their staff for our daughter's performance. It is well known that Fun with Mandarin does not miss a step when it comes to preparing your child for his/her success in school. The dedication they have to their students is apparent and noticed by other schools, our pediatrician, and friends!

Natalie Monk: and it's been a great experience. We do not speak Mandarin at home, and she is constantly teaching us new vocabulary and Chinese songs! We've loved having her learn a second language at such a young age, but for us, the real value has been in the social skills that Bin Bin and the other teachers have instilled. The school follows the Emilia Reggio philosophy

Lan To: As a teacher, Binbin is a naturally gifted teacher. As someone who work closely with preschool teacher on a daily basis, my first impression of a good preschool teacher is someone who always gets down to the children's eye level when talking to them. Binbin always does so. It's a habit that is so ingrained in her that she even kneels down when talking to adults. Another quality in a preschool teacher that isn't able to be trained through any teacher training program is good intuition. Binbin is very intuitive about each child's style, personality, and needs. She is able to adjust her style and approach to meet each individual child at his or her comfort level. Both of our sons have different personality. Our four-year-old is extroverted, verbal, and social but somewhat emotional. Binbin was able to foster his strength and engage him in discussions that cater to his language ability at the same time working with him on regulating his frustration. Our two-year-old is much more introverted and slow to warm up. With our younger son, Binbin takes a slower approach to give him the time and space, at the same time providing him with much care and special attention to adjust to the school when he first started. Binbin was able to work with us and provided additional accommodations, including giving him his favorite snacks from home to, allowing him to carry my shirt and his "stuffy" from home for comfort. Our younger son does not quickly become comfortable in a new setting or with new people without us around. The fact that by the third day attending the school, he allowed Binbin and the teacher to receive him and hold him at drop off and there was a significant decrease in his crying throughout the day, is a testament to how much attention and comfort he received from all the adults.In addition to being intuitive, Binbin also has a deep understanding of child development and she applies this by setting very developmentally appropriate expectations on the students and challenging their skills at the appropriate moment. Our four-year-old started at FWM when he was 20 months old. When he first started the program, the teachers would write his name on his art work and he was expected to make attempt to trace it. When he turned three, instead of expecting him to trace his name, they started expecting him to write his name. This approach of exposure through natural opportunities, as well as imposing developmentally appropriate expectation to foster the skill, was how our son learned how to write his name effortlessly.A good quality and enriching preschool program is one that does not keep the children busy with reproducible online worksheets. Binbin's curriculum is enriching and emphasizes learning through exploration and natural opportunities rather than drill-and-kill. Binbin's curriculum include a daily art project that allows the students to freely create when provided with different types of mediums. Through this we were able to see our son's natural skill progression from just scribbling freely on a piece of paper at 20-months old, to simple circles, to simple stick figures, and now different abstracts shapes and figures that illustrate his ideas at four years of age.Lastly, what is most comforted for us as parents is that Binbin is highly involved in the school and she is so detailed-oriented. She is the kind of teacher that people in my field would say "have eyes in back of her head" because nothing escapes her eyes throughout the day at school. If there is ever an incident at school, which is rare because the staff is always so present supervising the students, Binbin is always able to give a detail account about what happened. Because she is so detailed-oriented and involved, she also always is able to pinpoint areas where the student needs further fostering or encouragement to develop.There is much more we can write about how amazing the program and staff at FWM are. We highly recommend FWM to any parents.

Zaid Kahn: Our Son has been with FWM for 2 years. We are incredibly proud of his mandarin and it is a testiment to BinBin and her amazing school. Both my wife and I do not speak Mandarin at home, my wife speaks a different dialect of Chinese and we also speak different languages but we wanted our son to speak Mandarin. Over the last 2 years we are impressed with how much our son has evolved with his Mandarin. We hear him singing songs at home and he can describe things entirely in Mandarin.BinBin is also a very caring teacher. When we go to pick up our son after school she is present to give us information on how he did during the day and pays attention to detail on his behavior, eating habits, naps etc. I am also impressed with how BinBin has a theme every month that focuses on things like Planets, Earth, Plants etc that teaches the children to care for the environment. They also take small field trips that help teach children about community and be thankful to people who provide service to community. Our son also developed some great friendships with other children during his time at FWM. FWM also has a fun art program. Our son developed a love for art and looks forward to his art projects at FWM. He has learned to draw a lot and also build art objects. We also like how good manners are taught at the school, conflicts between kids are resolved quickly and sorry cards are written so kids show compassion.If we didn't have to leave San Francisco we would have loved to see our son complete his final year and we are certain he would have tested well. We are very fortunate that his mandarin in the next immersion pre-school will be very good because his foundation is solid. We highly recommend FWM to any parents looking for a mandarin immersion program. We think FWM is the best in San Francisco with good student/teacher ratio and a caring and nurturing staff for any child's development.

Jennie Liu: Our son was at Fun With Mandarin for almost two years, and he had a wonderful experience. We were so impressed with the level of care, love, nurturing and child-specific attention that was given to him. He developed close bonds with the teachers there and was very much enriched by the curriculum and activities. His Mandarin is excellent, even attending only 2-3 days a week. Binbin and the other teachers are amazing; they truly care about the kids' development and well being. Binbin is also extremely responsive and receptive to any concerns you have and will take the time to discuss anything with you. Her level of energy is incredible, and she is so devoted and dedicated to the kids and the program. A lot of time and thought goes into making each day enriching, stimulating, and educational.Our son is very high energy, emotional and intense. Binbin and the other teachers, through their perceptive care and constant positive reinforcement, have taught him how to play well with others and work together in a group. He has developed a love for arts and crafts through the daily art activities they engage in, which he always brought home proudly. Through each theme period, our son has learned so much, about the seasons, different holidays, family, helping out at home, dinosaurs, etc.Our son has truly flourished during his time at FWM. We were so sad to leave after we moved out of SF! FWM is a unique and special place, and I feel very fortunate our son had this experience.

Patricia Liu: to both comprehend and express herself in Mandarin. She also has the opportunity to participate in varied and stimulating activities like yoga and music classes and field trips within the community.I really want to stress that first and foremost, Binbin Laoshi is a true educator who has helped not only to support my daughter's language development, but also social and emotional skills. She is extremely detail-oriented and thorough, as well as a wonderful communicator who provides valuable feedback at the end of every day to ensure that we can help reinforce behaviors and learning at home and vice versa. It has been so helpful to be on the same page as she has helped with major transitions including starting a new school, potty training, and now introducing a younger sibling into our home.I would gladly recommend FWM to any parent!

Chris Sadler: , we highly valued 3 things. The first: Mandarin immersion. We really wanted an environment where our children could get that experience since neither myself nor my husband speak it, but we wanted them to learn it. Second: a nurturing environment for our children no matter what strengths and interests they have. Third: an environment that would help our children grow into compassionate, kind, considerate people. The teaching philosophies at FWM and the priorities of Binbin and her teachers align perfectly with our values, and FWM has exceeded all our expectations.Our oldest is a very high energy three and a half year old. FWM provides constructive outlets for his energy. He enjoys learning a lot about specific topics that interest him and Binbin does a great job of both getting him excited about the topics they are discussing in school as well as giving him opportunities to go deep on those topics. For example, they just finished a unit about the solar system. We are blown away by how much he knows. He can pick out planets at random and tell us which one it is both in English and in Mandarin and tell us what is special about each planet. Binbin communicates what the children are learning about at school in bi-weekly newsletters and at pick-up which makes it easy for us as parents to continue the lessons at home.We're constantly amazed at how quickly his language skills and vocabulary are growing. He speaks in paragraphs in both Mandarin and English, and we obviously can't take any credit for his Mandarin skills.FWM was also instrumental in helping us potty train him. Life has certainly gotten a lot easier now that he's potty trained!Our youngest is also flourishing at FWM even though he has only been there a few months. Binbin has great intuition for his strengths and weaknesses and really understands that while he is constantly following his brother around, that he is a very different child and ensures he follows his own interests and nurtures his personality. We've seen him mature dramatically and go from speaking random words to complete sentences since he started at FWM. Just tonight, he taught me how to say butterfly in Chinese. Both boys are excited in the morning to go to school, what more could a parent want!We highly recommend FWM and believe it's a great place for our children to grow and mature and prepare for the next step, especially if these three things are as important to you as they are to us.

Shaida Nieblas: I love it

Kel Moy: it think this school had some good people there and some nongood people there. i didn't like the looks of the houses in the neighborhood. they cost $1million or more and want to make people feel depressed by looking at them. our architecture teacher told the seniors to look into Cal State San Luis Obispo and that where Weird Al went. I wasted time on my architecture homework at this school. i was in the russian club. too bad we didn't go to russia. they wouldn't let us i guess. i also waited for an algebra 2 book for 3 weeks and then i guess i was in the wrong class. the geometry teacher could write faster on the board than you could in your notebook. my freshman class was so dull i had to flea and transfer

Lilian B: Gave me a good start to college. Yes it's nerdy but I want an education, not parties. Yes it's heavily Asian but you are admitted on merit and grades, not race. As a parent I have no problems with either.

Jonathan Lui: Be humbled, knowing you won't always be the best at something. I've made lifelong friends there and happy to be a graduate from Lowell.