San Francisco, CA
Alta Plaza Preschool

Teachers Are:

OVERALL RATING: (4.6)
Full of energy and seemingly happy in job
Patient and affectionate with children
Talks with children and listens carefully when they are talking with him/her
Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior
Provides feedback on what my child does during the day
Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate
Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses
If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off
Resolves disputes quickly, calmly and fairly in a manner that allows children to learn from the dispute
Notices children who are not on task and/or engaging with other children appropriately and quickly reengages them
Manages the energy level of the children so that all children feel safe and able to learn
Provides additional support to a child when s/he is clearly failing in her/his efforts
Strikes the proper balance between active and quiet play for children

source:

Parents' Comments on Individualized Teaching

Parent #1
All of the teachers at Alta Plaza are wonderful and I cannot say enough good things about them. My son has one main teacher but after group time all teachers are responsible for all groups.

Parent #2
The program is an open mixed age program so my answers reflect a combination of all the teachers. They provide approx two extra activities a week. Gymnastics every week and music, dance, yoga, science once or twice a month. My kids attend almost full time so not only do the teachers provide academic age appropriate activities, they have become like a second family for my children. They treat the kids with a lot of love and respect.

Parent #3
I have been thrilled with the teachers at Alta Plaza Preschool. They are all in constant communication with me. I have been very impressed with their level of patience, understanding and care I have witnessed when volunteering at the school. Most importantly, my son adores all of them.

Parent #4
One of the teachers we ranked who was truly amazing is no longer with the school. Although our son wouldn't have had her as his primary teacher this year, her leaving is a genuine loss for the entire school. His new teacher is highly competent but just has a very different personality--she's less warm and more reactive vs. proactive with feedback or insight into our son's day/activities. I also rated one of the school's aides and she's fantastic all-around.

Parent #5
Clarification to above answers: all of the teachers were full of engergy for the children, and happy towards the children but were very unhappy working there b/c of lack of support from the director all the problems they saw at the school but could do nothing about b/c the director was rigid. The director, however, paid the teachers higher and higher salaries b/c she didn't want them to leave. Examples of problems: one of the teachers was responsible for moving all the furniture every friday afternoon to one side of the classroom so that the space could be used on the weekend for the church above. The teachers couldn't buy supplies, the director held a tight fist on purse strings and they were frustrated by not being able to buy supplies for the kids. When the 3 teachers left, most of the books left too b/c they were personal property of the teachers. Apparently the Director must not have allowed books to be purchased. The teachers who were there when my child was there, were very very good at so many things....setting up art projects, leading the kids in song, fostering friendships, etc. The only thing lacking, with one exception, it was rare for them to give hugs.....not a lot of love or affection here. There was a gymnastic teacher who came once a week, which was great for our child. The foreign language was taught but my child never spoke one word of spanish that year...the instruction didn't go well. There was no music teaching....but there were songs sung at circle time. The singing was so frequent and engaging that my child learned them all and sang at home all the time. The list of 'specialists' that the director tells you about are more about the ones you have come over a few years time, there aren't that many specialist who come in one year. None of the specialists come during the summer program!

Parent #6
The teachers at Alta Plaza are wonderful and they work with each child's personality to help them flourish in the preschool environment.

Parent #7
The teacher have very poor communication with the parents and offer no advice or resources when dealing with issues that arrise with the child.

Montessori? Waldorf? Play-based?

What school type is right for your child? Is one model better than another? What does the research say?

View an example from the Savvy Source guide to learn more.

Trace around your child's foot, with shoe on, on a piece of white construction paper or card stock. Have child cut out the shoe print and add a spooky face. Glue it to a popsicle stick and you have a ghost stick puppet!

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