“We adore this school. We did the typically daunting preschool hunt last spring to find a school for our then 2.5yo. Surprisingly, the majority of the schools that we looked at featured a loose, play-based curriculum. For some kids that might be preferred, but we wanted a school that did more to nourish our daughter’s curiosity and foster her learning style and burgeoning social skills. As such, we left most of our preschool tours feeling slightly disappointed. But when we first met with Csilla and Caroline it was like the heavens parted. The two of them were incredibly warm and exhibited such clear passion for teaching young children, and inspiring them to be their best true selves, that we immediately knew that My Own Montessori was the school for our daughter.

Flash forward eight months and we can’t imagine being at a different school. Our daughter has learned an incredible amount (seriously, she’s come home educating us on invertebrates, amphibian metamorphosis, the styles of different artists and actually came home the other day talking animatedly about a dinosaur called pachycephalosaurus) and the Montessori curriculum gives an important structure to her day and gives us things to talk about at dinner. The amazing teachers offer each child the respect and attention that they need while enabling the independence that they desire at this age. The facilities are terrific and, with only 18 kids, the school just feels right-sized.

We’re incredibly excited to return next year and couldn’t recommend M.O.M. highly enough.”

“We were introduced to My Own Montessori by a friend who sent their two children there. We looked at many schools before MOM and after our visit, we knew we had found the right school for our son.

One of my first impressions during the tour was the classroom and play spaces are organized, clean and filled with a lot of Montessori materials. The teachers are well versed about early child development. They are caring, warm and friendly. The way they carry themselves and instill the Montessori approach are definitely reflected in the children. We saw children independently doing their work, asking questions and choosing their own activities without much direction.

Our first impression of the school remain true in our family’s experience. My son, who is now in first grade, enjoyed the independence and being able to choose his learning space. As a curious, expressive, and indepent child, the tactile Montessori teaching materials supported my son’s learning style. He was allowed to think independently with the right amount of teachers’ support. Because of the small class size, the teachers were able to make note of what activities each child gravitates towards and redirect them so they get a good balance of math, language arts, science, art and outdoor play. The school provided a trusting place that is socially, physically and emotionally safe. As a parent, it’s always a relief to know your child is in good hands. We see the teachers during drop off and pick up and they always make themselves available to connect with parents and caregivers. I really enjoyed the parent volunteer opportunities at MOM. Before COVID, parents were invited to help the kids cook Stone Soup together, walk older children to the Rockridge Library for Storytime, and share presentations about their own culture and other fun topics. Being able to participate in these activities gave me a glimpse of my son’s day at school and helped me understand the social dynamic in his class. I also enjoyed learning about other parents’ cultural presentations through the teachers’ Friday letters to parents and through my son. In our family, we believe that it is important for our son to be surrounded and exposed to the rich diverse culture of the Bay Area. My son continues to thrive socially and academically. In short, we are truly grateful for the MOM experience that helped foster his desire to learn, be an independent thinker and stay inquisitive.”