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October 2023 by Selena D.
We love this school so much both my boys went here and one is still attending! The teachers are very kind and they teach the children to be kind independent human beings. My son loves yoga and I believe because of the school they really nurture what your children love to do. My son is only 4 and doing 1st grade math. This school is a community and with parents who are involved. My child is learning French, music, Spanish, yoga and sports. He is telling me what continent and country is his favorite. They have beautiful graduation ceremonies and potlucks. The teachers are there with us crying once we say good bye. This school will be the foundation of my children's learning and I'm so proud and lucky to have found this gem
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August 2023 by C H.
We have a 5 year-old son and a 3 year-old daughter and while they are quite different from each other, the have both thrived at EMM. It is hard to know where to begin but we would highlight that during the pandemic, EMM was AMAZING in accommodating all of the families and their varying comfort levels. EMM simultaneously ran an incredible virtual program where parents were taught how to teach their children in the Montessori way at home, children were given both group and one-on-one Zoom sessions, and weekly kits were available for pick-up that had all kinds of crafts and learning materials that kept my son busy and engaged. (They also helped an anxious mother who felt so lost in figuring out what to do with a 2 year-old stuck at home!) We were amazed by how beautiful and thoughtful the learning materials were--they spared no expense or effort in turning our homes into schools. We didn't do the in-person program for the first year (2020) but the families who did were grouped into pods, they didn't get a single COVID case, and they did beautiful things like make 100 aprons that they switched out constantly so that children could feel comfortable giving their teachers hugs. Most importantly, coming out of the pandemic, and transitioning to in-person school, my son developed selective mutism and EMM was life-changing in how they highlighted the issue and then thoughtfully encouraged us to look into how to help him. We are hyper aware of boys being over-diagnosed and the school was very supportive in helping us find a way to understand and investigate our son's issues with him never even knowing all that was happening in the background. Ultimately, the school, we, and a specialist developed together a low-impact approach that was hugely helpful and set us on a path that has led our son to a place where he is now happily performing in the school play. When he got up on that stage, we literally wept and we could see the teachers crying with us. All of this is not to mention that the school is known to be academically and developmentally strong. My kids are challenged, independent, and fully able to advocate for themselves and express their feelings. With this reputation, and with the knowledge that my son leans more advanced/intellectually capable, I was actually most impressed by their decision not to focus too much on his academics in his first year in-person, and to put all of their energy into his social and emotional growth. They knew that for him this was the most important thing and that he could catch up on the rest later. This is exactly what happened and it takes a lot of confidence and experience to make this kind of choice (shout out to the amazing Ms. Barbara!). Also, with so much that went into supporting my son, I was often moved to tears to see how much the teachers made sure that my daughter got just as much attention. (At our parent-teacher conference, they asked to speak about our daughter first to make sure we didn't end up in a place where we could run out of time for her if she went second.) Lastly, we were very appreciative of how much the school embraces and celebrates diversity (Ms. Barbara asked our son early on to teach her Vietnamese words), how much we loved and engaged with the other parents, how much parents were given so many opportunities to volunteer, and how no detail was left behind when throwing events like the English Tea Party (there was a harpist and our kids learned to waltz), the Multicultural Fair (the whole school turns into a museum displaying things the kids made from around the world), and the incredible school plays (full makeup, costumes, singing and dancing!). We cannot recommend or thank EMM enough for all that they have done for our family and for all of the EMM families. We highly recommend this school.
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August 2023 by Shiva S.
I take great interest in our children's education, so when it was time to choose a preschool, I must have toured every preschool in the city. When we walked into EMM, I knew it was the one. From the school performances and multicultural day to the diverse community of parents, the lovely and caring teachers and staff, and the year-round calendar so I don't have to sign up for camp every summer, the list of things I love about EMM goes on and on. If you're not familiar with Montessori, it may seem strange to walk into a preschool where children are quietly working on "jobs" and not allowed to wear clothing with commercial characters. However, they have tons of fun, lots of opportunities for play, and they actually enjoy having structure, predictability, and freedom within boundaries. They learn how to be independent, emotionally intelligent, and very well prepared for Kindergarten by the time they graduate. The policy of not allowing commercial characters is great because it removes unnecessary competition between the children at this young age and keeps the focus on things that are important. Our son just graduated, and our daughter is entering her 2nd year. The tuition may be on the higher side for a preschool, but it's worth every penny because every morning I drop them off with full trust and confidence that my kids are having the best preschool experience possible.
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April 2023 by Steve D.
I cannot recommend Exploring Minds Montessori enough! My daughter attended this school and it provided her with the solid foundation she needed to excel academically and personally. Thanks to the excellent education and nurturing environment provided by Exploring Minds, my daughter was able to transition smoothly to Curtis School and is now accepted to Marlborough for middle and high school.The curriculum at Exploring Minds Montessori is truly exceptional, designed to stimulate a child's mind and encourage independent thinking. The teachers are highly trained and dedicated, creating a safe and supportive environment for children to learn and grow. It's no wonder my daughter received straight A's in 5th and 6th grade at Curtis School!Overall, I am so grateful to Exploring Minds Montessori for providing my daughter with the foundation she needed to thrive academically and personally. If you're looking for a top-notch Montessori education for your child, look no further than Exploring Minds Montessori!
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November 2022 by Skip C.
We just cannot say enough about Exploring Minds - our girl's time there was so incredibly special. The potential in the Montessori Program is amazing alone, but what Doha and her entire team bring with their passion for the program is something we will forever be thankful for. From the first days of Parent-And-Me classes to our daughter's "graduation" day, we saw how she was excited to learn every day. But all the while, guided to be independent by the Montessori Program and encouraged to explore and embrace the world and culture around all of us. Her passion for reading and learning as well as her polite confidence are all rooted in her time at EMM. Additionally, I think that in this current era it's also important to note their complete preparedness and plan for Covid. While most other preschools were closed for months, EMM was able to reopen very early with their outdoor space. But more than that, and most importantly, the prevention plan they had in place was incredible. After the first days of apprehension that any parent felt at that time, we began to feel confident with their safety protocols. While there were inevitable cases that popped up, EMM was able to make it through the entire pandemic without any outbreaks and never had to close. And finally - there is a lot to be said about our time beyond EMM. If you're considering EMM for preschool you're probably looking ahead to kindergarten as well. I have no doubt that our daughter is where she is for school because of Doha and her understanding of each child. She and her team guided us through all the application processes and led us to the perfect place for our daughter and family. We will always treasure our time at Exploring Minds - it's such a special place full of love and a passion for education that we will always be thankful for.
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October 2022 by Bahareh N.
My daughter attended EMM and we loved our experience. I had toured other Montessori schools before this and found them to be very strict and not fun at all. When I toured EMM it felt like the opposite; the kids all were happy just being kids while being in a nurturing environment, learning and playing at the same time. The mommy and me before my daughter started prepared her for the school in a way that she never looked back, and not even once cried at drop off. Without an exception my daughter looked forward to attending EMM every single day during the period, and made friendships with both kids and teachers that we hope she could carry forward into her adolescence and beyond. Ms. Doha and her staff are meticulous, very caring and responsive and attend to each child based on their needs. Throughout the 3 years at school, my daughter grew to be independent, confident and kind. She was more than prepared for kindergarten both academically and socially.
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July 2022 by Jamie S.
Both my kids went to EMM (one current, one a graduate) and my only complaint is that they don't have an elementary school! My kids grew so much, learned so much and felt so safe during such a crazy time. My daughter was more than prepared for kindergarten, both emotionally and academically. EMM is hands down the best preschool in Los Angeles.
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July 2022 by Dana V.
Our daughter is starting her second year at EMM and we couldn't be more thrilled with our experience! We have seen her thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We love hearing reports from her teacher on specific areas of growth they've noticed throughout the year. Their attentiveness to the specific ways our child learns has been such a boost to her self-confidence. Our daughter just went from the two-day program to the five-day program and every day she is excited to go to school and comes home talking about the new countries she's learning about or a new word she learned in Spanish or French. We are always so blown away by the scope of learning and the level of excellence EMM provides for our child.We are grateful for Miss Doha and the amazing teachers and staff at Exploring Minds Montessori! I would recommend this school to anyone looking for the best start to their child's early education.
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November 2021 by Aden I.
Shady admissions. We put a deposit in July 2021 for my son, never heard back. Meanwhile had a few friends put a deposit in after us and their kids were admitted for September 2021. This is one of those kinds of pre-schools that are looking for a "personality fit" (see email) which is code for discrimination. When I followed up in October to get a status update, Jessica wrote we "maintain a balance within the classroom based on age, gender, and/or personality." Well Jessica, the friends kids that were admitted were like my son - same age, same gender, same socio income bracket and never attended anything associated with the school. The one key difference was, they were white Caucasian.Luckily my son has a lot of personality and thrived at every school he's attended. He got admitted to several other great Pre-Schools, so no loss on either side (other than my deposit and time to write this review). However it's a shame that in LA in this day and age, there's still a school that operates like the old days.
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October 2021 by Jerri P.
My 2.5year old started "school" at the beginning of July twice a week, at first he absolutely loved it and would come running out happy and he would be excited to go the next time. Now before this next part, my son has a speech/language delay on top of being stuck in the house with just me the last year, before I signed the contract I had informed the school of this and asked if they could handle it which they responded with absolutely! Well the week before last they informed me that he was having a bit of a hard time with one transition in the day, so I spoke with his childhood development teacher and she asked if she could go to the school to see what was going on so we could work on it at home. Well they said yes and we sent in the paperwork and were just waiting on the official day she could go. In August I received an email informing me that my 2.5 year old son touched a kids mask and giggled so they had to do "positive" discipline and he refused to apologize (which I've explained to them that we are working on because of the delay/doesn't fully understand) after that we had to go pick him up because he became extremely upset. The next day we went to take him and he was ABSOLUTELY terrified to get out of the car so we decided to keep him home that day and speak with his coach. She emailed the school the next morning asking if she could come in the following time my son comes to school, not even 10mins later we received an email releasing him from the school. No phone call, no conversation, no prior warning. I'm completely dumbfounded and upset by this situation, I find their timing extremely odd. I asked them what happened the day of this supposed mask incident because my son's demeanor had completely changed. He refused to leave my side, clung to his lovey, woke up crying often in the night and then I couldnt put him down for a nap without him having a complete meltdown because he doesn't want to be alone. I would NOT recommend this school. They have a long waitlist and will happily oust your child no care at all because they can be easily replaced.
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December 2018 by Katie Jane
EMM is a gem! My daughter started there at 2 years old til she was 3 1/2. The only reason why we left is bc we relocated but this place is unlike no other. Trust me, I'm having a hard time finding her a new preschool now bc EMM sets the bar so high. The owner and director Ms. Doha is so involved and you can tell. Everything and I mean everything is immaculate, from the classrooms to bathrooms to the playground. The teachers and assistants here are the sweetest people I know, you can tell how much they loved my daughter. My daughter has become so curious, imaginative, and independent. It's so amazing to watch her progress. I can go on and on, the enrichment classes, the student to faculty ratio, the diversity, the flexibility, the easy access to speak to anyone, the security, the beautiful ness of the place and a big one for me was how far Ms. Doha goes to make the children feel even more independent that they have made a kitchen counter for the children to prepare their snacks and also the bathroom sinks and toilets are small for the children too. I can't believe that I've toured preschools where they can't even have a child size toilet for them. EMM even had a farewell ceremony for my daughter and all the children and teachers had a chance to acknowledge my daughter, hug her and say their good byes. Lastly, I appreciate the healthy eating environment they create. I toured other preschools that serve pizza and ice cream every week. No thanks. EMM covers all bases, if you have the chance to have your child attend, you'll see what I mean. EMM is THE best.
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December 2017 by Brooke Thatawat
We love it here, and feel part of a strong, caring community of teachers and parents. My child has blossomed here and has made friendship bonds that I hope last a lifetime. We enjoy and have become friends with many of the parents.
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December 2017 by Amanda Ramirez
We love exploring minds!
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December 2012 by Jodi M
When I saw the 1 review posted, I just had to write an opposing review for Exploring Minds Montessori Preschool because we absolutely LOVE the school!Our daughter has been at Exploring Minds for 3 years (including the parent program) and our experience has been beyond FANTASTIC!!!! Our daughter has thrived developmentally, socially, intellectually, and physically thanks in large part to Exploring Minds.We are so very thankful to the school's Director, Doha, who has always been easily accessible and available to answer all our questions and offer guidance to our family. In addition, the entire staff has ALL been outstanding including the full-time teachers, extra-curricular activities teachers, office personnel, and even the lovely housekeeping staff. Everyone is very caring, attentive, nurturing, and personable. The curriculum is truly excellent as well. Our daughter has gained valuable knowledge from the various subjects, topics, and activities she has been exposed to at Exploring Minds. All the while having a really FUN time in preschool!I just asked our 4 1/2 year old daughter to tell me why she likes Exploring Minds and here is exactly what she said: "I love the teachers and I love the kids. Exploring Minds is the best school ever and I never want to leave that school ever!!"I can't offer enough compliments about Exploring Minds and how incredibly grateful we are to have found this preschool. It has been the perfect fit for our daughter and our family. We have connected with so many other incredible families and have made lifelong friends.I HIGHLY recommend Exploring Minds!
