Alice’s Montessori Learning Centers Inc.

We had 2 children attend Alice’s and were there for over 5 years. This is such a wonderful preschool with loving and caring teachers! Like the other reviews, I can’t say enough positive things about this school. We really liked Alice because of its «at home» feel and small class size. Prior to Alice, our oldest child was at a larger preschool in the same area. We made the move to Alice because of the smaller class size which provided a more nurturing environment. Unlike the larger preschool, the teachers at Alice take an active role in the curriculum and activities at school. They actively participate in all of the different «work stations» at school and work towards making the children’s experiences at those stations both more meaningful and enriching. We would recommend Alice’s to anyone looking for full time child care!

Our daughter attended Alice’s for just over a year. She started when she was 3 and left when she was 4 in August to attend Transitional Kindergarten at our local public school. Since we were new to the area we did a lot of research and meetings and felt Alice’s was the best in the Pleasant Hill area. Teresa and the rest of the staff at Alices’s were great with our daughter and the other kids. They were wonderful in assisting us with potty training and were very communicative about anything that came up. All of our emails and questions were answered quickly and respectfully. I would not hesitate to recommend Alice’s to anyone looking for full time child care. Our daughter still has friends from Alice’s and asks to come back and visit on a regular basis!

I currently have two sons at Alice’s — one is five and a half, and heading to Kindergarten next year, and the other just turned four. Both kids have been at Alice’s since they each turned 2 as both myself and my husband work full time.
I cannot say enough good things about Alice’s. My kids are very different personality-​wise, and both have thrived in the environment that Ms. Teresa and her teachers provide. One is an ‘old soul’, and the other is very much a free spirit, and they’ve both found ways to grow immensely in their time at preschool. Mr. Ricardo teaches Spanish to the kids on Friday, and my older son is very comfortable speaking both English and Spanish both at home and in restaurants. They also teach Science to the kids in Extended Day (the older four and five year-​olds), and my older son has learned to ask questions and experiment to see why things work the way that they do in the world around him. Not all Montessori’s offer foreign language and science; this is something that really sets Alice’s in Pleasant Hill apart from other preschools.
Both kids love trying new things, enjoy reading, writing, and drawing, love getting dirty, and play well with kids both older and younger than they are. The multi-​age classroom has allowed my boys to be together for the past three years, and for that I am so very grateful. Verbally, both of my kids are very comfortable having grown-​up conversations with adults. They have incredibly expansive vocabularies and they know how and when to use words in appropriate context. Other adults are continually surprised to hear the way that my boys speak, and it makes me incredibly proud of them both.
Lastly, Alice’s works hard to teach the kids how to be polite and respectful of one another. Little people need to work hard to use their words to solve problems with one another, and the teachers really engage and encourage the kids to problem solve in a very mature manner.

My son just «graduated» from Alice’s after attending from age 3 – 5, and I must say I’m sad to see him go. This is such a great learning environment for the kids, and the staff is really great. If you’re on the fence about whether or not to send your child here, let me give you a brief rundown of my experiences.
— They really focus on education, both through learning tools and real life experiences. They bring in guest speakers, in-​class field trips, promote a culture of learning. They have had librarians, musicians, gymnastics, Spanish daily and even African drumming circles to give the kids a well-​rounded, balanced experience. They’re all about bringing the classroom to life!
— The school promotes socialization skills, courtesy, and learning how to be a good friend. It sounds simple, but amongst a group of 3 year olds, that can sometimes be a difficult task. They really learn how to be independent, clean up after themselves, and treat their friends with respect.
— Wonderful teachers. I can honestly say that my child came out of Alice’s with a great EDUCATION. He can write his name, is learning to read, speaks in Spanish, knows human (and animal) biology. They really do impressive things with these kids, and that’s largely due to great teaching.
I hope you find your experience at Alice’s as rewarding and gratifying as I have. Little sister will be heading there as soon as she’s old enough! :-)

My daughter came to Alice’s a shy and timid 3 year old. She is now 5 years of age and has become a confident child. She is currently enrolled there and will go to kindergarten in the fall. I can’t say enough good things about this school. She has learned so much and will be more than ready for the transition from preschool to kindergarten. They emphasize independence and respect that each child is unique and learns at their own pace. They provide an array of hands on materials allowing the children to learn by discovering concepts as they manipulate the world around them. The teachers are wonderful, caring and kind. Through their gentle guidance she has grown in so many positive ways. They truly nurtured her as an individual and she has thrived in an environment that allowed her to find her own way without being pushed. These educators are amazing and have given her the fundamentals she will need to succeed throughout her elementary school career! They have boosted her confidence and she is proud of herself and what she can accomplish. Priceless! It is important to note that the site is very clean and the outdoor area offers lots of room to run around and play. I highly recommend Alice’s Montessori to anyone who wants only the best for their child.

My daughter started here just after they opened, just before she turned 5, and spent almost 3 yrs here. The teachers are great and really care about the children. The facilities are nice and comfortable. It is almost like a family. My daughter has thrived here. She will start kindergarten this year knowing all her numbers and letters, basic math, some Spanish and being able to read and write several short words. I am sure Alice’s has given her a head start emotionally, intellectually and socially!