Home Page - The Room To Grow

There are still openings for children 3 to 5 years old in our unique and responsive learning community. We look forward to welcoming you!

Drawing on Reggio Emilia pedagogy, our program is based on the principles of dignity, respect and community, which children practice through play, self-expression and inquiry.

See what families have to say about The Room to Grow Preschool and our Staff!

We're ready to answer your most frequently asked questions

We support all types of families, if you can't find your answers here or have special needs please contact us

At The Room To Grow, our mission is to cultivate a community rich with diverse possibilities in which every child can discover their voice, value and purpose while recognizing the right of others to the same opportunities. We seek to create confident, caring, competent learners, one individual at a time.

Drawing on Reggio Emilia pedagogy, our program is based on the principles of respect, responsibility and community through exploration, discovery and play.

Community

Developing social-emotional health and awareness that are the foundation of an inclusive, responsive and joyful space.

Creativity

“Children need the freedom to appreciate the infinite resources of their hands, their eyes, and their ears – the resources of forms, materials, sounds and colors.” -Loris Malaguzzi

Image of the Child

Children have the right to be regarded as competent, to learn by having a voice in the community and the time to construct their own knowledge in their own way.

Joy

By developing the joy of connection, self-expression and curiosity, children become lifelong learners with a strong sense of competence and a growth mindset.

The Environment

The possibilities for how our surroundings can impact and influence our experience are innumerable.

Learn more about our
Reggio Emilia philosophy

The Room To Grow is a mixed-age, emergent curriculum progressive preschool for children three to five years old. We have locations in the Rockridge district of Oakland and the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. Neither school community has more than 26 families at any time. ‍ Drawing on Reggio Emilia pedagogy, we provide the nurturing, encouraging framework children need to have the confidence to construct personal knowledge. Teachers act as guides and protectors, learning alongside children as they support exploration and new experiences within a logical and meaningful context. Project work always starts with the questions "What do you already know about that? And what do you want to find out?" The inquiry that follows encourages kids to notice, wonder, collaborate and resource the community. Children use many expressive languages to make their ideas visible, including art materials, movement, storytelling and dramatic play. ‍ Equally important is the opportunity to build strong relationships, practice resolving differences, and creating a climate in which every child's story, their background and experiences, is honored. Social justice and social responsibility are emphasized in these early experiences of understanding and respect. The foundation we build our community upon is the practice of a democratic classroom, making agreements and decisions as a group after sharing concerns, ideas and solutions.

Choose a location to learn more about the school and Register for an Open House

San Francisco

3786 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-826-9598

License # 384001473

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Oakland

5766 Broadway Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
510-655-0300

License # 013418990

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Caitlin Hogan

Our family loves The Room To Grow. The teachers and director are energetic, loving, creative, and communicate well with us. There is an outdoor space that is always open, and the teachers reconfigure the classroom with new and creative activities so the kids stay curious and engaged. I really appreciate the school's individual support for my son -- he had a difficult transition but they school worked with him, and a few months into the school year, he blended in just fine with the rest of the class and had formed sweet bonds with his teachers and classmates.

Rachel Tucker

We loved the teachers, the parent community, the commitment to project and inquiry based learning, the emphasis on social/emotional development, the quality of the conversations happening between the teachers and children, the way our son was covered in dirt and paint at the end of his day, the way the staff leaned in each time we had a question or concern, the lasting friendships we formed with other families. This school is a gem.

Andrew Courter

We'd probably have left California, but we love Room to Grow and its community so dang much. The environment has been perfectly challenging and empowering for our daughter, so we're sticking around town to give her younger sister the same inspired preschool experience. Room to Grow really lives its philosophy everyday, in every interaction — it's not just a sales pitch, it's the real culture. And it's awesome.

Jen Tonks

The school fosters a tight multi-age community and close relationships between children and adults, so my child felt seen and appreciated. The teachers encourage the children to act with compassion and intention as they empower the children to explore in their areas of interest, taking each child's interests seriously. I was particularly fond of the art and literacy aspects of the program.The children had so many opportunities to explore with different materials for prolonged periods of time. My child saw this as an opportunity to create, explore, experiment and master materials and tools.

Idan Tendler

We fell in love with RTG from first sight. We, and our daughter, appreciate and love this unique place and community. RTG's team is dedicated to enable our kids to grow, to learn and to play. To gain essential social skills and to enjoy, to experiment with new adventures and projects, and to feel free to run barefoot. This unique combination makes RTG a special gem and a significant place for our family.