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San Francisco, CA
Stepping Stones Preschool

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents.

Review this preschool

neighborhood: Inner Sunset ·  Telephone: (415) 665-4189  · Website: www.steppingstonessf.com

• Summary
• General Info
• School Philosophy
  & Day-in-the-Life
• Curriculum &
  Teaching Approach
• Quality of
  Teaching
• Home/School
  Connection
• Discipline,
  Health & Safety
• Ages, Schedule
  & Tuition
• Application &
  Admissions
• Kindergarten
  Placement&Tips

General Approach to Learning

	Play-based
	Play-based with some structure
	Predominantly teacher-led instruction
	Montessori
	Waldorf
	Co-op
	Reggio-Emilia

source:

Director's Comments

Our program provides a nice balance of free play for children and teacher led instruction. We alternate both methods throughout the day.

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (4.4)
This school has increased my child's:
Ability to listen and follow directions
Ability to sit still for longer periods of time
Ability to be a part of a group of children
Self-sufficiency and independence
Awareness of others’ feelings
Cooperation with other children

source:

Curriculum and Teaching Approach

	PLAY-BASED	PLAY-BASED WITH SOME STRUCTURE	MOSTLY TEACHER LED	NOT FORMALLY IN CURRICULUM	CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT
Language					Yes
Oral language	-	-		-
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs	-	-		-
Storybook reading	-	-		-
Emerging literacy skills	-	-		-
Cognitive Development
Math and number sense	-	-		-	Yes
Time & space	-	-		-	Yes
Sci. reasoning/physical world	-	-		-	Yes
Music	-	-		-	Yes
Visual arts	-	-		-	Yes
Physical activity	-	-		-	Yes
Other subjects taught

source:

Director's Comments

We focus on educating the individual child. If she/he needs to be challenged we will nurture that interest and growth. If she/he needs more attention in specific areas we would.

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
The curriculum is very well balanced between basic academic learning (ABC's, numbers, writing, shapes, colors, etc.), physical movement (daily outings, play structures, dance, etc.), and arts (drawing, painting, craft projects, etc.). The biggest surprise is how much our children learned about social studies and science -- getting along with others (manners, helping out, awareness of different languages, customs, food), knowing the seasons and celebrations (all major holidays, ethnic celebrations, key leaders, etc.), environment studies (re-cycling, plants, bugs, animals, etc.), and how to handle emergency situations (fire, earthquake, encountering strangers, being lost, etc.). They have had guests (dentists, fire fighters, police, musicians, etc.) come for visits and field trips (zoo, ocean, restaurants, etc.). There is plenty of time for free play (children choose their own activities) in addition to the teacher-led instruction. We love the fact that the children walk to the park everyday (weather permitting) and are exposed to everyday life and not indoors all day.

Parent #2
This school is very strong on academics. The teachers rely upon repetition, rhymes or songs, and memory devices to help the kids learn the basics of literacy/math. The kids learn the alphabet, numbers/counting, colors, shapes, days of the week, months of the year. My son passed his (private school) kindergarten tests with flying colors as a result of the curriculum here.