As a former educator, I placed a lot of pressure on myself when selecting a preschool for my daughter. After reading reviews and talking with various people, Garden seemed to be a good fit for our family. Garden Montessori fosters independence while providing a warm and supportive environment where children thrive. The teachers encourage children to create and discover new things. I appreciate that my daughter has the autonomy to choose what she wants to work on or learn, on a daily basis, while still being prepared for the next steps in her education. My daughter loves learning and practicing new skills, and I feel that the teachers at Garden really help fuel that passion. In addition to academic skills and independence, Garden nurtures children to be confident, kind, and caring. Garden is a great place that my daughter looks forward to going to everyday, and I agree with the other parents when they call it a gem! I am so glad to be part of the Garden Montessori community. read more

This is my way overdue review for Garden Montessori. My daughter is already 14 yo, she attended Garden when she was 3 to 4 and it had such a lasting impression on her. It shaped her learning experiences, she still remembers the tree climbing, plucking the fruit trees, preparing the stone soup for Thanksgiving, teas with parents and not forgetting the furry bunnies. She learnt so much on the essential life skills, social skills and most importantly having fun at school. She grows up to be an independent and responsible girl. I am grateful Garden built this foundation during her early years. Garden Montessori is a hidden gem. Thank you to Jaye, Troy and Karine. read more

Our experience at Garden Montessori has been AMAZING. We are so grateful to the wonderful staff that has created such a lovely environment for my kids to learn and play in. I have four kids, one has already gone to Garden Montesori, and the other currently attends. Like anyone, I was nervous for school. While touring, I knew in my heart this was the right place for my children. Not only is the back yard huge, they have sweet bunnies and a turtle that the children can help care for. Inside the classroom children learn skills for everyday use. Jaye, Colleen and Tracie have made the classroom such an inviting warm place to come to. Colleen, the main teacher, is so lovely. She always has a smile on her face and you can tell she truly loves teaching the children. I could not trust anyone more with my kids. She has such a special bond with every child. She truly wants the best for everyone. Anytime I have a question she is so helpful and kind with her responses. She has helped me so much personally with raising and shaping my kids into the wonderful people they are. I am so happy that I have two more kids that will be joining Garden Montessori. Many more years of the best childhood memories :) I highly recommend this gem of a school and hope all children can have this great of an experience read more

This is my daughter's second year at Garden Montessori. We found this gem after having conducted a valley-wide search and visited at least 8 preschools. Here is our criteria and how we found Garden Montessori met our high standards: 1. LOVE OF LEARNING: We firmly believe that that learning is a lifetime endeavor, and specifically sought a learning environment that would set the foundation for an enduring love of acquiring knowledge and exploration. At Garden, we were so pleased to find that the curriculum is multi-layered. On one layer, the school covers the traditional Montessori curriculum of people, plants and animals of all 7 continents (over a period of two years). At another layer, they cover art and science (rotated over two years), one year culminating in an Art Show while the other year culminating in a Science Fair. On one visit, I watched a child cut out a species of fish that swam in South American waters (active learning and practicing manual dexterity) and excitedly informed me about the fish. 2. INDEPENDENCE & SELF CONFIDENCE: Our daughter is cared for by two parents and two sets of grandparents. While she's fortunate to have so much care, an unintended consequence is that she is showered with constant reminders of how wonderful she is - and inadvertently training her to be dependent upon their affirmation of her own value. But we know she'll need to build a solid foundation of her own sense of self, a strong internal compass to withstand the inevitable onslaught of peer pressure later. At Garden Montessori, her teachers have been working to build up her confidence so she can work independently. I would agree that the concept of refraining from praise (as a form of encouragement) was hard for us. But I understand its purpose - to raise children who seek achievement for personal satisfaction, rather than for the approval of others. 3. HOLISTIC LEARNING (versus rote memorization): We toured a large number of preschools and noted that many children were learning by memorization. They can easily recite their numbers, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ..." but didn't understand if you said, "Can you hand me 5 pencils?" We love Garden Montessori because they teach a core understanding of a subject matter, and not through rote memory. They don't teach children to memorize that the word "cat" is C-A-T, but that the construct of the word is C-AT (cat), which can also be H-AT (hat) or B-AT (bat). Basic principles that can be applied in other situations. 4. CHOICE IN ACTIVITIES: In other preschools, we noticed the children were organized into small workgroups that worked on a single exercise (example: making a butterfly, because they were learning about butterflies that day). But what if the child didn't want to make a butterfly? Another reason we chose Garden is because each day, the school is set up with a wide range of activities that all support the learning of a concept - and the child is able to choose from among the activities set out. We subscribe to the fact that individual choice (which is not free play) supports active and engaged learning. 5. GRACE & COURTESY: In short supply these days! At Garden, I've noticed that these elements are a part of their everyday curriculum. The older children are taught to mentor the younger ones. During the fall, the children practice a simple task of pouring and serving tea (over and over) - culminating in a Mother's Tea in December - a demonstration of their ability to practice grace and courtesy. 6. CALM & ORDER: One of the most astounding aspects of Garden Montessori is the miniature child-sized kitchen. During our first visit, our jaws dropped when we watched this 4 year old set out his own place setting, microwaved his own snack, and cleaned his own dishes afterward - oblivious to our stares. After that - we were sold! 7. SETTING: And lastly, Garden Montessori is located on a 1/3-acre in a residential neighborhood, within a home that has been reconstructed to adapt to the scale of little ones. It has a large green space for the kids to run during free play, a vegetable garden, and play structures. It's home-like and it makes me feel good to drop off my daughter there. Because it's in a neighborhood, I can understand why the school has a strict drop-off/pick-up protocol - they are simply being good neighbors. I have found that each of the teachers are available to discuss any issue during the course of the school year. I am disappointed that the prior reviewer had such misperceptions. But as a mom who has wanted to place her child in Garden Montessori for a long time - it has definitely met my expectations. I would encourage anyone to make an appointment to visit and judge for themselves. read more

Both of my children attended Garden Montessori and absolutely loved it! The school is really a hidden gem of Danville. Unlike many Montessori's in the area, you will have a warm fuzzy feeling from the moment you walk into the school. The children are exposed to bunnies, a turtle, birds, and fish, and a super cute outdoor space to play. They offer a wonderful, loving, culture all while following the traditional Montessori method. Highly recommend!! read more

Garden Montessori is hands down, the best preschool in the area. The teachers are phenomenal and have been there for years (which is so rare to find in preschools). They really 'get' child development and it is amazing how well they are able to nurture all aspects of a child. Social, emotional, physical, and academic development are all finely tuned under Troy, Karine, and Jay's watchful eyes. Their curriculum is engaging and really speaks to their students. I am still floored by how much my daughter learned during their simple machines science unit last year. Don't let the 2.5 hour/day schedule turn you off. It is the perfect amount of time for 3-5 year olds and they have in car drop-off and pick-up so you don't have to waste time parking and hauling everyone out of the car. Many educators who also know child development send their kids here. It's THAT good. And please read the "Filtered" Reviews. Those are other true testaments to why this school is so amazing. read more

I enrolled my daughter at this preschool for fall of 09'. I should've known better...... I went to Montessori as a child and can remember making good friends and doing the same puzzle for about 4 months during work period until finally my teacher took it away and had me try something different. This school has a great teacher, Miss Karine, and for that I give this school 2 stars. But the head teacher is a whole nother' bag of chips. This school doesn't believe in rewarding or praising kids for doing something good. So, when children draw a pretty picture you can't say "How Nice", "Great Job",etc....... or when your child finally learns how to write his/her name you can't say "great", "Way to Go!". Its very strange to me. Also its very hard to measure progress as they don't teach instructionally like most schools. My daughter attended another preschool when she was 3 and would bring home work she was doing during school. I could see she was working on letters, numbers, cutting , tracing, matching, sorting, etc. At this school most days she comes home and tells me she is playing with Play-doh or , doing a simple puzzle that she could've done a year ago. They don't challenge her and help her to work on things that are more age appropriate. The things that she did bring home were a simple drawing of a circle, or a picture, or random lines she drew on a piece of paper. I was very disappointed in this program, as I can't measure ANY progress my daughter has made acamdemically since starting here. When I asked the head teacher why my daughter isn't introduced to other material here that will help her learn more and challenge her, she said that this is because my daughter chooses the easy work. Thats fine that she chooses easy work but she needs to be taught to do more challenging activities as well. This school doesn't do that. They serve merely as an observer to the activities that your child decides to engage in. If you are looking for a more involved teacher/student experience where they will help your child learn and grow, and challenge them at the level they are ready to be challenged at I would choose another school. Only when I said I was pulling my daughter out of the program did the teachers says they would develop a different more challenging approach to teaching my daughter what she was ready for. Everyday she would go to school bored, and in my mind I was wasting my money on sending my daughter to a school where she could do activities like playdoh and puzzles for a few hours, all of which we have at home. The teachers should really play a more active role in teaching the child what he or she is ready to learn for their age or skill set instead of just observing them. Also, you just pull up to the front of the school to drop off and pick up your child as the teacher has them come out and meet you. This could be convenient, but you miss the opportunity to go into the classroom everyday and see what your child has been doing/working on. They make a stale effort to write on the whiteboard an activity of the day the children did, but again, there is no work brought home to back that up. Or, I will ask my child if she did that activity and she will say no, I worked on something else. At my daughters old school you would go inside to pick up your child and talk to the teacher and see what your child has been working on for the day and learned. At this school you wait in a long line in the car like you are going to a fast food restaraunt to pick up and drop off your child and get maybe 60 seconds at most to talk to the teacher as they are more concerned with making sure your child has gotten into the car , and that you pull up quickly and efficiently so the traffic flows smoothly. I appreciate a school where I don't feel RUSHED when I get my child and I know exactly what is going on and taught everyday. That school is not Garden Montessori. I genuinely feel like they are more concerned with the flow of traffic than how my daughter is doing, or what she is doing. If you are looking for a school where there is constant, clear communication about your child and their learning,and a place where they will be challenged intellectually, this is not the school for you. If you are looking for a school where your child can freely do whatever activity they choose and you don't need/want to praise your child for a job well done then this may be the program for you. But I am less than impressed with this program! read more

We recently moved to California and found this place by chance. We are so glad we chose Garden School for our daughter. Their drop off and pick up process makes letting go a little easier! Their warm and personable teachers are always willing to talk openly about progress and things to be worked on. Inquiries are taken seriously and feedback is tremendously helpful!!! I've seen such a difference in my daughter's development just within the last 5 months! read more

I can't say enough great things about this school. When my daughter was three, we introduced her to a different preschool setting and no matter how much time passed, she would cry hysterically every time she had to go. We eventually enrolled her in Garden School and she began to thrive. She became less anxious, and became so much more confident. I wasn't sure how much she would actually learn here if she wasn't actually forced to learn things but I was shocked to find her writing letters at the end of her first year here. The teachers are absolutely amazing and so understanding. My daughter will for sure look back at her time here as magical. read more

This is a fabulous preschool! I have two daughters, we are starting our 4th year at Garden School and are beyond pleased. My older daughter was fully prepared for Kindergarten and transitioned seamlessly. If you are looking for a preschool, you should set up a visit at Garden during school hours. It is amazing! During "work item" children are working independently, and cleaning up after themselves. They have a child size kitchen, where the children prepare their snack. I was sold when I saw a 4 year old boy putting together his quesadilla, microwaving it and sitting nicely at the table where he had set out his place mat - and then washed his dishes when he was done! The teachers are great! I am confident they actually KNOW my daughters. They know their personalities and treat them as individuals. I would absolutely (and have) recommend this school to my friends and family. Keep in mind that this is a preschool, there isn't an option for extended hours. They offer a 2 1/2 hour program. You can choose morning or afternoon class and choose 3, 4 or 5 days/week. School runs from Labor Day to mid June. They do offer summer camp for 5 weeks in the summer. read more

Why consider Garden School--let me count the ways: *This is the school where teachers, like myself, send their own children! *Montessori school that gets children ready for elementary experience with traditional Montessori activities like choosing work on his or her own and working at child's own pace, yet providing enriching group activities like circle time and calender to prepare for kindergarden. *Teachers with longevity and Masters degrees--they truly know children at the preschool age/stage *Very affordable for Montessori and twin discount offered ($350 for 3 days a week, I think, per child) *Garden School is truly a hidden gem that does no advertising--it gets preschoolers through word of mouth--I can honestly say it is THE BEST experience my 5 1/2 year old twins and almost 4 year old have had to date--I feel lucky to have found them 3 years ago... *Study of the seven continents, animal habitats, flags of the world, weather, and so much more to engage children and offer a wealth of academic knowledge--my own children chose to be flags, yes, flags for Halloween (United Kingdom, France, and Germany)--we know this is because of what they learned at preschool. What other preschoolers want to be flags for Halloween? *Learn independence including making one's own snack, dressing oneself, choosing his or her own work I can go on and on even more-- e-mail the director, Jaye with questions or even to observe--you will be amazed: jaye@.... Also, check out their website at gardenschool.net. It's definitely worth looking at--your children will thank you!!! Sarah Frank read more

Please note that there are 10 filtered reviews at the bottom of this listing. This is an amazing school!!!

I can't say enough delightful things about Garden . The teachers, Miss Colleen and Miss Karine and director Miss Jaye,are what make this school so special. They create a warm, friendly environment where the kids learn, grow, use their imagination with an emphasis on kindness and independence. We feel so lucky to be part of the Garden School family! read more

What I respect most about this program is the school's effort to do what is in the best interest for the kids. I know the 'good job' thing is widely commented on and I have to say--wouldn't it just be much easier to run a school where you just say 'good job' over and over? read more

Two years later, our younger daughter is finishing up her school year at Garden. It is very bittersweet for us. We are so happy that just like our older daughter, the experience was just as great for my younger daughter. Not a single day of "I don't want to go to school". Minor concerns I had about my daughter, Troy helped me keep an eye out for throughout the school year. Unlike many other schools, I greatly appreciate Garden for not approaching parents to donate every other week. The few times we donated, we did it voluntarily on our own without being asked by the school. They truly are open for the kids, not to run a business!!! Thank you for the spectacular memories!! We will come by to visit!!! read more

Garden Montessori is a magical school. If you are looking for a preschool, there is no better place than this one. Having visited a dozen preschools from the peninsula to the east bay, this one stood out from all the rest - ranging from the school's philosophy, the teachers to the environment. I believe the uniqueness of the school stems from the fact that the founder/director, Jaye, deeply cares about children and has a well thought-out philosophy on early childhood education. Everything they do is with the intention of instilling these principles: 1) a desire to learn for the sake of learning and not by the motivation of external rewards, 2) everyone is accepted and embraced for who they are, and 3) a sense of community and the importance of being a good citizen. The teachers, Troy and Karine, are wonderful, loving, kind, and have a wealth of experience and knowledge. They are extremely perceptive and give us new insights on our children and provide us strategies on how to deal with various challenges. Most of all, they care about all the children. My children love going to school and each time I drop them off, I know they are in great hands. The school itself is designed for children. It has a kid-sized kitchen where the kids prepare their own healthy snacks and all the sinks are at kid-level (no stools needed to reach the faucets). The outside space is a beautiful area replete with swings, slide, a rock wall, a garden, sandbox, a habitat for the tortoise and another for the bunnies. The school not only has birds, fish, two bunnies and a tortoise, but the length at which the teachers go to care for these animals is impressive. For instance, when the tortoise got sick last year one of the teachers took him home and gave him daily injections to nurse him back to health. Both our children attended Garden and our son recently finished his last year. On the last day of school, he was asked to draw a picture for the cover page of his portfolio binder. He drew a picture of the two bunnies, Magic and Giggle, and the resident tortoise, Sheldon, sitting on the school's tire swing, smiling. It is a simple picture but it perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the school, which is that of a special, innocent space where children come together to learn and have fun in a warm and loving environment, surrounded by a host of adorable animals. read more

I can't say enough about what a special little school Garden Montessori is. Exceptionally beautiful environment. So completely equipped. Really rich curriculum. And the staff is so dedicated, patient and insightful. It's got the lowest turnover rate you're ever going to find in a preschool. The Head Teacher had been there 15 years and the Assistant for 7. The director has owned it for over 30 yrs. That says something about a program. Happy staff = happy children. My child was beyond well-prepared for K and for life in general. He LOVED his time there and still wants to go back! My next one will most definitely attend! I can't wait for her to start in the fall! The curriculum was both challenging and engaging to my son. He learned Science concepts, Fine Art themes, Music, Literature-as well as a solid Math and Reading foundation. He had something interesting to tell us almost every night at dinner about what he did or learned at school that day. This enthusiasm for learning has carried over into Elementary both academically and socially. I credit Garden School's wonderful emphasis on social and emotional development and truly child-appropriate curriculum. They always respected my child and taught him to respect himself and others. This has made him so successful and joyful in school ever since! Go and visit Garden School. You won't find anything like it anywhere else in the valley! read more

Montessori education is sometimes misunderstood, partly because it is very different from mainstream educational approaches, and partly because there are schools who use the name "Montessori" but don't closely follow the principles of Montessori education. In Danville we are fortunate to have a Montessori preschool that respects the Montessori philosophy and ensures that children are nurtured and encouraged to develop their potential as human beings. One key element of Montessori education is the focus on intrinsic motivation, and at Garden Montessori children develop a feeling of pride from their work and their abilities that motivates them to work harder and harder. Rather than pushing children to meet a one-size-fits-all set of standards or bribing them to achieve with rewards or shallow compliments, the instructors at Garden Montessori help each child develop a real LOVE of learning that motivates them from within. The school has been designed to put the children first and allow them to be successful and independent. One striking example of this that other reviewers have mentioned is the child-size kitchen where children learn to prepare their own food and wash their own dishes. Garden is a place where children start learning how to be successful adults, and the joy they get from being empowered in this way is a beauty to behold. Both my son and daughter built a great foundation at Garden, not just academically, but a great foundation for their lives overall. Making sure kids can use scissors or say the alphabet is easy compared to making sure they develop confidence, independence, and positive social skills. I'm so thankful my children got to experience the whole-child humanistic education that Garden Montessori provides. read more

Garden Montessori is a wonderful preschool! I have been so pleased with my child's experience there. He is in his second year and has grown and learned so much. I am a past kindergarten teacher and I looked at many preschools when it was time to make a decision for him. I knew from the moment I walked into Garden that there was no other choice. The classroom is warm and inviting. I appreciate the print-rich environment and how everything is level to and accessible for little ones. Even when filled with children, it is a consistently peaceful, calm setting which is very conducive to learning. The children are focused on their individual work as the teachers weave through to quietly assist and guide. Circle time exposes them to daily lessons, stories, and songs which I always get to hear about. The playground is a big, beautiful backyard with various play structures and equipment, trees, flowers, and a seasonal vegetable garden. The teachers are amazing. I consider it an honor to have these women influence my child's growth and development. They have endless patience. They want the children to feel heard and they listen to them. They help them learn how to resolve their own conflicts which is truly a lifelong skill. They teach them how to be good role-models even at their tender age. They are completely invested in not just the children's academic growth, but their social, emotional, and personal development. They nurture the WHOLE child, and are in tune with their individual strengths and weaknesses. To this day I am amazed at how well they know my child, and they offer me a new perspective that as a mom I may not have. The curbside drop-off and pick-up is a very convenient system when you have another child. This may not be the best time to approach the teachers with questions or concerns, but notes are responded to by afternoon, phone calls are returned at the end of the school day, emails are answered promptly, and conferences can be arranged in person or by phone whenever requested. The head teacher once took over an hour out of her personal time in the evening for a phone conference with me, something I greatly appreciated as a busy mom of 2. They want to work together for what is best for my child and they have had such a positive impact on my parenting. The curriculum is beyond impressive. Language, math, sciences, social studies, the arts, practical life- they have it all. I'm amazed by how my son challenges himself and how passionate he is about learning new things. I never imagined my preschooler would come home and talk about the 7 continents and what makes them unique, living and non-living things, natural habitats and more! Even more importantly, in my opinion, is that the children are learning important life skills on a daily basis. Independence, responsibility, accountability, grace, courtesy, and more are integrated into everything they do. All these things bring forth self-confidence and what I want is for my children to grow up to be confident and happy adults. As an Art History major in college, I appreciate a concept known as "art for art's sake". I'm not sure how to really translate that into preschool terms, but I see it as it's not the end art project that is important, but the creative process. I have watched my child's creative development over 2 years through his school easel paintings. Bold, beautiful, and bright paint strokes have naturally evolved into clear shapes, forms, and compositions that have come from his imagination and skills. I love it. In addition, some art projects are just as creative and free form, while others are a direct extension of the curriculum. These are not cookie cutter, mass-produced art projects that children are instructed to trace, cut, and paste. There is a lesson learned in each one based on their units of study and their development as children. My son brings work home which I eventually return to his teachers because they take the time to create individual binders for each child's school work. When he graduates from Garden, he will bring home that binder filled with his work from day one for me to save forever. You can't ask for a better keepsake than that! There is no greater feeling than seeing your child take pride in his accomplishments and thrive in his school environment. I have been so sad as the end of the school year is approaching because it means my son's days at Garden Montessori Preschool are coming to an end as kindergarten nears. On the bright side, he is ready for kindergarten academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Luckily, my second son has the privilege of beginning his school years there this fall and I can't wait to watch him grow at Garden. Please check it out. Look at their website, go for a visit, and meet the wonderful teachers. You won't be disappointed. read more

This is a great school. The setting is perfect, small but with lots of TLC. The teachers (Troy and Karine) treated each child with love and respect. It's like every child is their own. However, if you are looking for babysitters, this is not a place for you. They want each child to be independent but also caring to other children. My child has been there for almost two years now and we watched him grow so much. He was having a difficult time at the beginning because of language barrier but Troy and Karine were very patient and understanding throughout. Unfortunately, we would be saying good bye to this special place at the end of this school year. I would strongly recommend this school to any parent. read more

I can't say enough about what a wonderful place Garden School has been for my two children! We moved last year from a nearby city, so my daughter changed to Garden School and my son started his first year here as well. One of the things Garden School offers is something that the other "developmental, play based" preschools don't offer: a chance to become independent, responsible people. Being at Garden School has taught my children to think for themselves and take care of their own needs as much as possible. They come home from school and will decide to start their own project on their own! They take initiative with things like making breakfast and making up their bed, clearing their dishes.....and I have to credit Garden School for this attitude! At Garden School, children learn to do things for themselves, from making snack to doing the dishes afterwards - and the kids love it!! Garden School has amazing teachers as well. Troy and Karine have been working together at Garden School for many years now. They both have backgrounds in Montessori education as well as child development and really understand the development of young children. I have learned a great deal from the respectful, attentive way the teachers interact with the kids. The observations that both teachers have made about my kids are spot on: I can really tell that they have taken the time to get to know my children. Contrary to what someone said in a negative review, I like the carpool line where we pick up our children because it gives me a DAILY opportunity to check in with each teacher about the kids and how things are going. This has worked out well for me. I really feel like I have a partnership with Troy and Karine to make school the best experience for my kids that it can be. Something else I love about Garden School (and maybe all Montessori schools have this...) is the way that the classroom is run. It takes a lot of patience and time at the beginning of the school year on the teachers' parts, but it is worth it! The children learn that when it is "work time", that that means they must choose a work and work on it. It is amazing to me how responsible the children are - during work time there is very little off-task behavior! The children are genuinely involved and invested in the "work" that they choose. Some of the projects the children take on are long and complicated; the children have a basket where they can keep work that will take two days to complete. The times I have been in the school to observe, I have been hugely impressed by the ownership that all the kids feel about their work. This sense of responsibility and ownership on the kids' parts helps the teachers work with children on specific skills. My daughter had difficulty (and was easily frustrated) using scissors at the beginning of the year. Troy worked with her in the fall, and now my girl can cut anything! More importantly, she has confidence and pride that she has mastered this skill. At her pervious school, she had trouble cutting, but because the class was not Montessori style, it was more difficult to find time to work with individual children. Here at Garden School, children learn to do their "work" independently, which leaves the teachers the time to work with kids on an individual basis. Now my daughter comes home with a project that involves cutting several times a week because she has mastered that skill and likes to practice it! My son, however, is not developmentally ready to do big cutting projects, so he comes home with simpler, more basic projects. The type of "work", or activities that the children can choose from is astounding. Everything is very meaningful. There are many math activities to work with, from counting, to comparing, to developing spatial skills, to activities that involve looking for patterns....as well as beginning reading, letter recognition, and phonics based "work" to choose. There's tactile works, things to improve fine motor skills, handwriting skills, and art projects with different mediums. It's enough to wish you could spend a weekend there and do all the activities there yourself! (ok, I'm a teacher myself, so yes, this sounds fun to me. :) ) Simply put, if you are looking for a high quality preschool program, you should look into Garden Montessori School. It has been a fantastic program for my two children. read more

As a parent there are few things you know your doing right. Sending our daughter to Garden School was with out doubt one of those right decisions. The incredible teachers and learning environment serve as the perfect start for a life time of learning! read more

I had to research preschools in a whirlwind last summer, and the staff at Garden School made it so easy to go and visit the school with my 3 year-old. I love the fact that the classes are a mixed age group of 3 to 5 year-olds, which is great for kids with fall birthdays who are right on the cusp of kindergarten, but may be on the old or young side because of the new laws that push back the age limit on kids entering kindergarten. The teachers, Troy and Karine, are so dedicated to the kids, and the school's director, Jaye, does a great job of keeping things organized and parents informed. The staff is so mellow compared to some of the go-go 'rat race' of the San Ramon Valley-- it's refreshing to know that my job as a parent is just to love my kid and not worry about flash cards or 'homework' for a preschooler. My daughter loves Garden School, and barely gives me a kiss or a backwards glance in the morning-- she's so excited to be there! read more

We're just completing our 6th year of Garden Montessori School, spread out over three children during the last 9 years. I'm sad that our time with them is coming to an end and realized I should take the time to write a review before we leave. I can't say enough positive things about our experience. I honestly believe this school got our children, and us, off to such a positive start. My husband and I were not "Montessori" people when we began looking for preschools for our son. Honestly, we didn't even know what Montessori meant. After asking around, I received a couple of recommendations for Garden School in downtown Danville. During our first visit to the school, were able to speak with the teacher and observe the children during "work time", which is a self-directed portion of their school day. Some children were outside painting, some were building with blocks, reading books, practicing letters or shapes and some were making their own snacks. We'd seen other preschools where children are provided snacks, or even bring their own from home, but this was a whole new universe. As the teacher was telling us about the school, I watched a 3-year-old child who was empowered to make his own snack completely autonomously. He collected a tortilla, grated some cheese, put his creation in the microwave, poured himself a glass of water and then sat at a carefully set table with his friends to eat. After he was done, he got up from the table and washed all his dishes, dried them and put them away. We'd never seen such a young child have so much freedom and responsibility. This kid was SO PROUD of himself. Needless to say, our jaws were on the floor and we were hooked. In our experience, Garden School has provided our children with gentle structure and guidance, teaching them to be self-sufficient and self-motivated. They gave them the tools to accomplish their goals and tasks and treated the children with care and respect as they learn and grow. Over the two-year program, the younger kids learn from the older children in the class and, as they grow, they can take on the role as "mentor" for the younger children. This was outstanding in building their self-confidence. Finally, with our children who are now in middle school, I firmly believe Garden gave each of them an excellent start to their education. All 3 of our kids hit kindergarten ready to go. They were academically ready, but were also well-adjusted socially. Their time at Garden taught them not only letter sounds and how to count, but how to be kind to your friends, be problem solvers, and to be educated, thoughtful little people. If I could talk Jaye, Troy and Karine into continuing the school up through 8th grade, I'd sign my kids up in a heartbeat. read more

My son & daughter attended Garden Montessori from 2010-2012. I give 5 star ratings for both the preschool and Kindergarden-prep programs. Specifically, Tyler blossomed in Garden's learning environment becoming self-confident; independent; more willing to express how he feels; self problem solver; and can doer. Teachers Troy, Karine, and Jaye are so caring and truly excellent in every way. The large yard was used for kids play, gardening, sports, and a special gated area for Nibbles, the rabbit. There's a nice deck area for painting. If you can make it work in your schedule, do the PM Afternoon class. Lunch bunch day(s) just prior to class time was such a bonus! Tyler loves sings daily...especially days of week song. Prior to Garden, he was so shy about singing/dancing! My daughter, Kaitlyn thrived at Garden as well. She's won many 2012 Kindergarten "K" drawing/art contests which I would not have known her passion for drawing and art had it not been for Garden! A young K, she's right on target with all the K standards, an artist, and loves learning! Kid signage & drop off and pick up was so personable & easy- Teachers take time greeting you and then open your car door so your child gets out/ then later in safely- parents do not need to leave their car. read more

My two youngest children, both boys, went to Garden Montessori for two years each, and I couldn't be more pleased with the nurturing environment and whole-child experience and education they received there. My boys both looked forward to school everyday, and I felt confident sending them there, knowing they were in such experienced, loving hands. After four combined years of Garden Montessori preschool, I have seen such growth in my children, both developmentally and personally. In addition to the fine motor skills kids needed (such as cutting with scissors, writing their name, etc.) the teachers provided opportunities for my boys to pursue academics at their own pace, in a way that felt engaging and inspiring to each. For example, one of my boys was drawn to math, and spent hours absorbed in number books, learning some elementary counting and addition. My other boy is less interested in number books, but he loves cutting out days of the week and numbers and arranging them all in order, and then gluing them into the monthly calendar. They were both getting exposed to numbers and mathematical concepts, but in ways that felt exciting to each personally. Both boys became more independent, proud to take on bigger jobs at home and share in the family chores, and able to follow increasingly complex instructions. Socially, I saw a leap in their ability to navigate interpersonal issues (working collaboratively, sharing, responding to someone who said or did something that hurt their feelings). I loved how much my boys were growing, but they loved the challenges in the classroom and the pure fun they had with their friends: playing on the playground, watching butterflies hatch and grow, feeding the rabbits, learning songs, looking at books, painting, stringing beads, counting, preparing their own snack in the tiny kitchen, learning about all the continents of the world and impressing their family with facts about the animals of Asia or Australia...their daily experience was a joy. As a Garden parent for four years, I always felt like teachers Troy and Karine were my most critical teammates in nurturing my children's love of learning and their readiness for Kindergarten. My boys both have late-summer birthdays, which made the Kindergarten decision a little more complex. And each boy had different readiness levels socially and academically. I had moments of being on the fence with both of them...should I send them to TK or go straight for Kinder? Throughout the months where I was making this hard choice, Troy and Karine shared their observations and insights about each boy's strengths and areas for growth, and they helped me work through my concerns and in the end, make what I believe was the right decision for both. My older son, now in 2nd grade, sailed into Kindergarten as the youngest child in his class, completely prepared to succeed in every way. He was able to work cooperatively with other children, listen and follow directions, play well with a variety of new friends, and work at the top of his class academically. My younger son is headed to Kinder this fall instead of TK. He's got a different personality and different interests and skills than my older son, but I believe he is also just as prepared to succeed in Kindergarten and that for him, Kinder is the logical extension of the solid foundation he built at Garden. I have also appreciated both Troy and Karine's patience and genuine knowledge of each of my children as individual people. When my boys were involved in the inevitable playground skirmishes or were on the giving or receiving end of hurt feelings, they related the events to me so that I could reinforce the right messages at home, or help my child find a more constructive way to respond in the future. When one of my children was the aggressor in a situation, they were firm but loving. They didn't make my child feel like a bad person, but encouraged him in making different choices and expressing his feelings in a better way the next time. In my four years as a Garden parent, I have consistently been pleased with the education that has enhanced my children's natural curiosity and desire to learn, the nurturing environment that allowed my children to thrive, and the loving, personal attention of the teachers. If you are seeking a preschool that embodies the Montessori philosophy, Garden is first rate. read more

Before I ever sent my children to Garden School, I was a long time admirer of the Montessori philosophy. I had visited countless programs all over the Bay Area looking for a quality, "true to the philosophy" program. I stumbled across Garden School in my search. I called for an appointment and was invited to visit at my convenience, which was such a difference from the other schools I was looking at. When I entered the school I felt myself sigh with relief. I had finally found a beautiful, welcoming, child friendly environment, warm and rich with stimulation. The children were amazing! They were peacefully working alongside each other in harmony. There was this "work buzz" that made me smile. The children were having real conversations with each other, showing respect and kindness in their words and actions. The teachers were addressing the children at eye level, listening attentively, and responding with great respect. I knew this would be a perfect place for a parent like me who was looking for a nurturing environment for my daughter, and I was right. I sent all three of my children to Gardeen School, each of them thriving! As I sit through parent teacher conferences with my now elementary age children, I am proud and thankful for their Montessori start with Jaye, Troy, and Karine. Garden School provided a safe, inviting, and stimulating environment where children are treated with respect, love, and kindess. We still visit the school, even to this day, because it holds such a special place in all of our hearts, especially my children's. read more