Early Childhood Center
“The secret of good teaching is to regard the child’s intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination.”
— Maria Montessori
Within the nurturing atmosphere of TBS’ Early Childhood program, children aged two+ to four naturally work with interest and focus, developing concentration, self- confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. Our program incorporates what we know to be the best of developmental and progressive educational practices. This includes a blend of Montessori education, practices from Italy’s Reggio Emilia schools, and a commitment to environmental stewardship.
Here, children are encouraged to think creatively and critically, engage in collaborative play, and work with the arts as a way to express themselves and understand the world — all of which align with the 21st century habits of mind and heart we encourage in our elementary and middle school.
We value our Montessori roots, and this is reflected in our belief that every child develops according to his or her own natural rhythm. Also, each of our multi-age classrooms has two full-time, trained teachers, some of whom have been with us for as long as 20+ years. Our classrooms are beautiful, organized spaces, full of concrete experiential materials that spark learning and creativity. The environment is prepared with intentionality, and includes activities designed to practice language, cultural studies, practical life skills, math, and art. You will also find blocks, sand and water tables, and dress-up and dramatic play areas.
Our preschool’s rich program also incorporates principles and ideas found in Italy’s Reggio Emilia schools. Reggio’s foundation is an emergent curriculum, one that builds upon the interests of children with collaborative group work, projects, and storytelling, all of which are necessary to advance cognitive development. Documentation is also an important component of Reggio schools, which you will see reflected in our community. Pictures of children engaged in their life at school are prominent on our campus, and their words, feelings, and observations are also captured and documented throughout the classrooms so that the children know their experience matters.
Our ECC campus is just the perfect scale for young children, with a yard full of gardening opportunities, dramatic and arts play, and gross motor experiences. It’s often referred to as a children’s magical kingdom. We use the outside space as an extension of the classroom. There are opportunities for building, climbing, running, art, and gardening, as well as generative projects that the children guide. Within the large yard, our young children experience every aspect of learning about the environmental 3 R’s: Reducing waste, reusing materials, and recycling garbage. They learn about organic gardening from seed to table!
At the ECC, we honor the parent/child bond of attachment which you’ve carefully nurtured for the first years of your child’s life, and we “follow the child” when it comes to separation. And throughout TBS, we are a dedicated community of learners. We believe our responsibility extends beyond the child; we strive to serve you in your role as a parent by offering personalized support and many parent education opportunities throughout the year. Uniquely, parents form a strong bond here at TBS, which is a necessary support during this very active, quickly-changing early childhood stage.
Our community reflects the diversity of the Bay Area, and we welcome families of all cultures and structures.
