Explorer Pre-School

This is a review for the open house on Feb 8, 2016.
We have been to many open houses but this is the first one where we were asked to leave as soon as the tour was finished. Isn’t the point of an open house to get a feel for how the classes operate? We were practically being escorted to the exit. It was not welcoming.

We couldn’t be happier with Explorer Preschool! My son has attended for the past three years and we will be sad when he has to leave this nurturing environment for Kinder next year. Teacher Annie in the Together Time (toddler class) and 2’s program is just wonderful. Such a loving teacher that guides the students and parents with child-​centered approaches. Teacher Konne has taught my son in the 3’s and 4’s classes. Her patient, creative and kind heart shines through with this age group.
The school is parent-​participation and does require some volunteer roles to keep the school running. The upside of parent participation is being able to really get to know your child’s peers as well as join a wonderfully supportive group of parents. I love how diverse the school is, my child is exposed to many other cultures because of the diversity.
The parent education portion of school is highly valuable, with excellent speakers on child development. 5 stars for Explorer!

We are headed into our fourth and final year at Explorer. We’ve had an incredible experience here. The teachers are experts in early childhood and the experiences offered to students are thoughtfully created and developmentally appropriate. I love that students are approached as people and that teachers are authentic with children. The program is child-​centered, so the teachers aren’t overly enthusiastic or asking students to look at them. They make space for the kids to be the explorers; there are no adults performers. The curriculum is the star, and kids have access to so much exciting stuff! Science, art, literacy, cooking, dramatic play, and outdoor options mean every kid can find something they are interested in. Because there are so many adults involved, kids have access to experiences that can’t be replicated in the typical classroom. My children have held newborn chicks, gone on hikes and played in creeks, regularly visited a local nursing home, built a nature store/​pirate ship/​rocket, performed the Nutcracker, observed the silkworm lifecycle, had their work shown in a school-​wide art show, and experienced the food, music, stories, and customs of cultures around the world.
I’ve also appreciated the personal attention I’ve received from all the teachers when I’ve had questions about my own parenting or a challenge with my children. I’ve had many thoughtful conversations with teachers here. I love that they are observing all the time and noticing the nuances of each child’s growth. And I have really enjoyed the parent support and community. It is a commitment of time and energy to participate and I am thrilled to meet others who are doing their best to grow as parents, even though it requires sharing our weaknesses and admitting our mistakes. When my family experienced a loss, the community came out in force to support us with meals, carpooling, errands, housework, and child care. If you are a transplant to the area and don’t have a lot of familial support, this community can be invaluable. It does take time to build these relationships, but I have no doubt that they happen regularly here.
I feel like I have learned so much here and that my children have blossomed. My older son has carried his Explorer skills with him into elementary school and is thriving. My younger son is thrilled to get back to Explorer this Fall. And I’m so grateful to have another year to learn as much as I can. Choosing a school is personal and there are so many factors to consider, but I know that this school has been more than I ever dreamt of for our family.

Attended their open house last month. Man was it packed! This place is very popular. They were pretty well organized with multiple tables set up so parents can get the info they need. They also set up a table for the kids to color and provided water, bananas, chips and cuties. We were then taken on a campus tour with a few other parents. The twos classroom was very bright and clean. Seems like they just put in new carpet. All the activity tables were nicely organized. They have a generous maternity leave policy and they also have a nice nursery room where new moms and babies can hang out while older siblings are in class. Their outside play structures are sufficient. Unfortunately my daughter did not qualify for the 2 year and 9 month group so we decided to go with discovery preschool instead.

I had my older daughter in this school for TT and had mixed feelings about it and so we stopped going. I thought the best part of it was Teacher Annie. She was very sweet and the kids were very drawn to her, although I would have liked to see a preschool teacher be more silly and outgoing towards the kids personally. Rarely did I ever see her actually physically playing with a child beyond circle time. I also thought the environment was a bit (okay a lot) cramped for the size of the class. The outdoor area is merely a picnic table and a sand pit and an area for them to paint. A playground of some sort would be nice and some running water, perhaps a garden? I realize it’s a TT class but still don’t those kids deserve more? Inside it didn’t get too much better. I always felt like I needed to find a corner just to get away from the crowd. The bathroom had one sink and one toilet for everyone and when you have a kid that needs to go potty sometimes it’s hard to wait:(I really had thought this was the best thing out there having read the reviews myself but once I changed schools I realized how much more/​better is out there! I had no clue, thought I needed to be in a tiny classroom on a side of a church for 4 years lol! I never really felt that sense of community which I think might have kept me there too that maybe comes only after more than a year there. Not sure.

I was blown away by the passion I experienced from the Explorer Open house in 2013. The positive energy from the parents and teachers were at the next level compared to the other great parent participation preschools in the bay area. We were fortunate to be accepted into the 4 day class, and participated in their summer program.
The other 5 star reviews have explained and described in length about the strong sense of community the school’s excellent philosophy and mission statement. Also the infinite number of benefits your child will experience at Explorer Preschool.
However I feel there is a very important aspect the Unilocal reviews have slightly overlooked.
After the enrollment at Explorer Preschool, my growth as a parent has been exponential. Being immersed in the Explorer Preschools philosophy/​mission and personally coached by Teacher Konne, and Teacher Jackie once a week was more than I could ask for. The teachers have given me over 100 new parenting tools that I can use immediately to shape my child into a happy and balanced individual. It’s as easy as reading the suggested annual reading, participating in the parent education meetings, and practicing these techniques/​philosophies during your daily life. As an added bonus; being around the seasoned Explorer Preschool parents allowed me to see the positive discipline parenting skills in action.
I know that we all have a higher education in some category in life, however I can now see how important it is to build a higher education in parenting; our most valuable profession. Thank you Explorer preschool, Teacher Konne, and Teach Jackie.

Quite simply the best preschool I could have imagined for my child — and for me. We are mid-​way through our second year, and I have been absolutely thrilled with the thoughtful, caring teachers we have had, as well as the wonderful community of mothers I have been lucky enough to get to know. I feel like my daughter and I have both made strong and lasting friendships.
I have already signed her up for next year (her last), and I will be starting my other daughter in Together Time next year so she can start her own Explorer journey. We will be there for many more years! I highly encourage you to check out this school if your schedule allows for a parent participation model — I feel so lucky that we have been a part of it!

This review is purely for their registration process. I have never had any children attend here and after touring it, it did seem like a wonderful environment.
Today there was an open house. We are very graciously welcomed. Spend an entire hour taking a tour. The staff and parent volunteers were very open and friendly. After all that, I was informed that there were less than 5 spots available for the class I just spent an hour of my time learning about.
I am sorry, but what a waste of my time.
On top of that, they wanted $ 50 (non refundable) registration fee to put my child’s name in a lottery to be held that evening… for the remaining 4 or 5 openings. When I questioned the amount of money considering the poor odds of being chosen, she held up an inch thick stack of papers from others who had applied for this lottery. Very disappointed with the process. It would make sense to me if the $ 50 were refunded if you were not chosen. Sounds like a genus marketing ploy to make some good cash for the school though.

We chose Explorer for our then 15 month old son per recommendation of other mothers and after doing some research on our own. We absolutely loved Together Time! it was perfect for my son’s needs and even more so for my needs as a new mother. The parent education and support is timely and superb. The weekly readings were exactly what I needed and the friendships with other parents were so appreciated. Of course we decided to return for the 2’s class and I’m so glad that we did! I believe the opportunity for growth is immense and the learning curve is met with knowledge, patience, and expertise. I’m talking for the parents! The children are just having a blast in their awesome outdoor play kitchen, water play, playground, indoor paint play, sensory play, dramatic play,. catch my drift? PLAY! This is a play based school, and it is very well thought out play. All activities are perfectly matching the child’s current growth and development. The teachers are exemplary. In fact, I’m still in denial that Teacher Annie will not be my little boy’s teacher forever! In a a way, she is as we have both learned so much from her. This is a caring school which is lovingly taken care of by all the teachers and the parents. Too good to be true… Check it out!

This is our third year at Explorer and my son attends the MWF (3-​day) class. The highlights of this class for us are:
— Show and tell — this daily activity is great for building their confidence. The children choose and item to bring, are asked if they would like to «tell us about it or answer questions». They learn to speak in front of their peer group, ask and answer questions, and sit patiently and listen. And it is charming to see what the kids bring in to share.
— The teacher is highly credentialed and is a great resource for both children and parents. She performs student assessments and provides half hour conferences to discuss and answer questions.
— The lesson plan — a lot of thought goes into developing the lesson plan and a calendar is published with the theme of each day. For instance, the children had two weeks covering different body partys and were given a multitude of activities throughout the classroom focusing on that theme. Another example, we just completed a month of learning about different workers, including an actual firefighter and dentist who were invited to the classroom to share about their work. There was tremendous interest from the children was definitely carried outside the classroom.
— Storytelling and «writing» — the children dictate the story in the literacy room and the teacher reads them out loud at the end of the day. Most children in this class have learned their alphabet and are beginning to read and write.
— There is calmness to the classroom even though 18 children and 8 adults are sharing the space. The lessons are so well organized, the materials are interesting and ever-​changing, and there is a wonderful camaraderie between the children and the adults. Suffice it to say, the classroom becomes a place of enrichment for everyone. In my opinion, this school is doing everything right!

At Explorer, as others have mentioned, I have found a community where I have learned to become a better parent at the same time as seeing my son thrive in a spectacular preschool. The teachers’ experience, knowledge and education is exceptional, even when compared to many other good schools and teachers. I found that my approach to disciplining my son changed to make our relationship better after learning from the parent edays at Explorer. I am excited to put my 2^nd son into the school next year. That said, my only issue with co-​op preschools in general (not exclusively Explorer) is that unless you have an involved grandparent around who can help, it becomes more difficult to work various days the more children you have enrolled, since you will have to work a day for each of your children. It’s possible, but more difficult than those who have only one child, or who have an older sibling who is already in school. That said, I feel that it’s worth it.

I love Explorer. It is unique in really being «play-​based» learning. The children have freedom to do what they need on any particular day. The adult-​child ratio is great since it is parent-​participation, so there is an adult per every two kids or so. All of the parents take part in parent education, so everyone learns about positive discipline, ages and stages, and about everyone’s kids, not just their own. We are in our second year with Teacher Annie, who is fantastic, not just because she «knows» toddlers well, but because she really does enjoy the little ones.
On a whole, the teachers are warm, all of the parents are highly involved with their children, and you will make friends there.
A bonus if you are trying to raise your children in a more «granola» kind of way? The school is media-​free!

We are starting our 2^nd year at Explorer Preschool and I can’t share how many ways it has been a blessing. The amazing teachers, community and the kids are amazing and supportive. It is the model co-​op that truly creates the standard for what to expect at a parent participation school. It has definitely help me define the type of parent I want to be and what I want for my children’s education. The confidence and friendships my children and family have gained from being a part of the school has made our transition to San Jose a happy one.
We’ve done the 4day class (4 – 5 year olds), Friday 2’s, and now the T/​TH class.
There is so much to gain for children and parents. I hope your child has the opportunity to join this fabulous school. I really encourage anyone who is curious about the school to reach out and ask more about it.

We are starting our second year at Explorer and we love it! We did the MWF program (Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings) last year and it was wonderful! Teacher Jackie is so great with the kids and I’ve learned to better communicate with my son and other children as well! There’s show & tell, healthy snacks, outdoor art, field trips, and such a wonderful community of families!
We’re so happy to be starting another year at Explorer. This year our program spends 12 weeks at a local park– outdoor school! There are 6 weeks in the fall and 6 in the spring. We are outside for the whole afternoon… exploring the creek, doing art, having snack, playing sports, and reading stories under the tree! We’re just a few days into the program, but already my son & I love it!
It is a parent participation school and I love working in the classroom. I’ve learned so much from the teachers, other parents, and of course, other kids!
5 stars for sure :)

We started our daughter at Explorer last Fall when she was 15 months. Another mommy who I really trust recommended this fine school, and I also did extensive research. We wanted a program to engage her and encourage her. She wasn’t yet walking when school started in September but she still was able to engage. When she started walking, we liked the environment and Teacher Annie so much that they found a way to add us to a second day. She goes twice a week with me for 90 minutes which is a perfect amount of time.
She loves Circle Time at the end of class which is different each time but has enough predictability and repetition that she gets excited.
The mothers you meet in this class will be long time friends. Everybody is incredibly nurturing and helpful, I never worry about anything.
She will continue this summer with their one month summer program which incorporates more water play and outdoor activities, and then she will continue into the 2s class in the fall.
We are very grateful to Explorer, especially Teacher Annie. My daughter has prospered here and I’ve learned so much about her and developed great friendships with wonderful moms to boot!

I attended the open house and just knew this was the place for my little boy. the best decision I made as a new parent was to register, knowing we were number 12 or 14 on the waitlist for the Two’s class. We were elated when we got accepted.
I love this school, a perfect mixture of talented, experienced teachers, wonderful accredited curriculum that provides free play and learning for the children; and not only a place for parents’ involvement in their child (ren)‘s early education, but also where parents are learning and growing themselves. This co-​op environment is the place to practice and improve on your parenting skills, have better understanding of children and their actions, watch your child (ren) thrive, learning and gaining confidence and positive social skills.
This is our third year at Explorer Preschool, with 2 children in the program. We are fortunate that our family can be part of this great co-​op community.

Explorer has been great for our family! Having never left my son with anyone other than family I had separation anxiety. Teacher Annie was very understanding and helped me get over my anxiety about leaving him at school. He gets a chance to explore indoors and outdoors and he loves going to school. It’s nice to meet other parents with children the same age and the monthly parent classes are educational and entertaining. If you’re looking for a co op preschool Explorer is a great choice.

This school is wonderful. The teachers are AMAZING!!! The substitute teachers are even AMAZING. Teacher Annie knows exactly what a two year old needs. I enrolled my twins in her two year class and just love it. I know for a fact that I am a better parent because of this school. I have learned so much at this school — and my kids love it here too. It’s hard for me to articulate into words what this school has meant to me. It has meant a lot. The teachers have all been at explorer for a long time which says a lot about this school. The other thing that I love about this school is that the kids learn while playing. They get dirty and that’s okay. They have fun and learn while doing it! I am better equipped to handle my two year old twins because of techniques I have learned from this school.

Explorer is more than a school it is a community where both children and parents can learn valuable skills and have lots of fun doing it.
The idea of a Parent Education preschool sounded both interesting and daunting. I thought I would enjoy being in the classroom with my son, but wasn’t sure about all the Family Commitments and what it would be like to be with so many kids and parents. Now in the middle of our 4^th year here, I can say that this school has far exceeded my expectations.
Early on, I read books like, «Positive Dicipline» and «Parenting with Love and Logic», etc. that felt like the right way to raise our child. When I went looking for a preschool I never thought I would find one that truly embraced this way of thinking — but I found it at Explorer.
I think what surprised me the most was the sense of community that the teachers and other parents foster. The parent education meetings have been invaluable to me as well as the opportunity to watch how other parents deal with certain situations. The teachers are very accessible and have helped my through some perplexing parenting situations.
The Family Commitments are very doable and I can see why they are required and how they benefit the school. Another surprise for me was how much I’ve enjoyed being in the classroom. I get to see my child growing and learning as well as the other children, some of which have been in his class for a few of years.
We have loads of fun in and out of the classroom with class playdates set up so that the kids can get together during school breaks or for special outings on the weekends. Social gatherings for just parents and kids set up by the school or other parents. Kids and parents also benefit from carpools and daycare swapping for kids not in school.

Searching for a preschool for your child is quite a process. I researched approximately 20 different local preschools — reading reviews online, attending open houses, talking to staff/​parents. I knew I was looking for a co-​op preschool since my daughter was just 2 years old and I wanted to remain a strong influence in her education, growth and development. As a parent it is amazing at the choices available when searching for the right preschool. After considering the necessities of a safe, clean, stable, educational environment, I really wanted a school where she could learn from her peers, teacher and yes, still a little from mom.
I stumbled across an Explorer booth at the Las Madres School Faire and instantly I knew this was the top contender. I immediately applied and noted the open house on my calendar. My eggs were all in one basket. I was ecstatic when we were accepted into the Friday 2’s class. The school, lesson plans, teachers, moms and students have all surpassed any expectations I had entering the preschool world.
There is a lot of strength behind the community unity when all parents choose to be invested in their children’s education. My daughter and I have truly thrived attending Explorer.