My son was in Isabell's care from the age of 1.5 to 4.5years. He started in the 32nd Ave daycare and moved to the 22nd Ave Pre-school at 3. Isabell, Ingrid, and the other teachers have been wonderful and I honestly can't imagine sending him anywhere else. When he was at the smaller school they potty trained, taught foundational silverware, basic hygiene, letters, etc. In the preschool he had classes in everything from Yoga to Dance to PE. You don't get 'report cards' but the class is small enough that you get to know other families and the teachers really get to know your child. We've had friends who moved out of the area and they regularly mention how they miss having their kids learn new subjects and come home talking about everything from a types of cobwebs to facts about Germany to sharing what they learned about the Northern Lights. Also, it's such a convenience to have all the meals provided. If you take a tour and ask Isabell questions you'll quickly pick up that she is not a saleswoman. She's understated and direct. She also knows kids. She is wonderful at providing perspective when your kid has a rough day and understands how to adjust school activities to adequately challenge your child to learn new things. Ingrid, the head teacher at the preschool, also makes herself available for questions and advice. My second child will definitely be heading to SFMA when she's old enough.

My son has been here two years and it's time to move on to Kindergarten. We looked for a Montessori preschool because of all the wonderful things we heard about the Montessori method, and SFMA embodied all of them. The content is typically about the physical and natural world, such as the universe, cycles of nature, families of animals, the weather, etc. Whenever there’s a holiday, they also learn about the stories and key people who contributed to those holidays. The methods by which they learn about such content vary -- they do it through arts and crafts, stories, and writing. The writing often involves tracing letters of labels, e.g. the “cephalothorax” of a spider. Yes, the children are always bringing home amazing schoolwork and artwork. I attribute my son's ability to read and write at age 4 and great interest in math to SFMA. My son has enjoyed all the wonderful programs offered here, including music, arts and crafts, reading, yoga, and physical education. Other self-directed activities that the children may choose from include playing simple board games (my son learned checkers, animal bingo), spelling, modular blocks, drawing, and of course, playing outdoors. They've also brought in librarians, firemen, etc. to chat with the children. Of course, many of these activities were pre-Covid, but even during Covid they've done so well to provide a range of activities. When Covid began in March and most parents kept their kids home, the school also pivoted quickly. They showed leadership in a volatile situation, getting all the families to be aware of new procedures, and they cleaned, cleaned, cleaned everyday. I also saw that they remained open-minded to try new things, such as setting up zoom "circle time" and zoom time with the music teacher, and emailing worksheets to parents. All of this was a source of stability during a potentially confusing time for a child, and was much appreciated. During summer, they were able to bring back the music, yoga, and physical education classes. They also did their best with extra programming, including bringing in insects and butterflies for the students to interact (gently) with. We kept our son home for about 6 weeks in Spring, but once he returned to preschool he was much happier. He was able to maintain a lot of joy and positivity even throughout the pandemic, because he was able to keep going to school, keep learning, and keep interacting with friends. A wonderful Montessori preschool program is not just about the programming though. I think it's all the small things that add up to the total experience. Here are some of those "small things": - The school environment is very clean. They don't skimp on cleaning every day, and did even more because of covid. I am so grateful to their staff who exemplify cleanliness and hard work to the children. - It's a beautiful environment. There are usually fresh flowers at the sign-in spot at the door. There are fish tanks and a frog tank that inspire wonder. The children's materials are aesthetically pleasing. - They serve nutritious food, fresh bread and fruit every day. My son even started eating cucumbers and bell peppers this year. - The teachers reinforce good behavior, e.g. speaking politely, being kind, cleaning up after yourself, etc. If my son accidentally hurt someone, he’s been taught to not only apologize, but ask, “how can I make it better?” - To encourage quiet work in the morning they often play classical music. That seems to center the children and prepare them for the morning. There is no rowdiness inside the classroom -- they have plenty of outdoor time to unleash their energy. - Adults and children alike are always greeted with smiles and warmth at the door. We are so appreciative of how the teachers have shaped and guided our child. He was no model kid when he first joined as a 3 year old — unable to focus, unable to articulate well, and unable to keep his emotions in check. And he cried the first 7 mornings. However, the teachers were so patient with him, repeating guidance over time, until he got it. They were also really good at providing updates. If they needed to tell me about something that my child did that day, that update was always received with affirmation of his value as a person, and confidence that he will be able to do better. They teach with so much heart here. Their faithfulness and excellence in the ordinary things is what makes them extraordinary.

My Daughter has been attending San Francisco Montessori Academy for almost 3 years now and we could not have been happier with the school! The program is unbeatable, lots of arts and extracurricular activities are included, they have even partnered with SF library for story time. My child is excited to go to school every morning. Another huge bonus for us is the food provided. Kids are served a hot, nutritious lunch and snacks. We are really going to miss SFMA when we go to kindergarten next year