Tinker Preschool (Cole Valley)
1749 Waller St, San Francisco 94117
At Tinker Preschool, our children take the center stage in their own learning and our curriculum reflects that belief. As part of our Reggio Emilia approach, we implement daily outdoor nature learning. Our emergent curriculum holds a strong emphasis in S.T.E.A.M education. We value children as strong, capable, and resilient thinkers. Our approach supports our students to be able to reach their potential and beyond.
At a glance
What this means
Reggio Emilia is a child-led approach where learning grows out of children's own questions and projects, with teachers as guides rather than instructors.
Full immersion means most of the day is conducted in Mandarin Immersion, so children absorb the language naturally. It's normal for kids to understand little at first — they pick it up quickly.
Tuition shown is as of 2024 and may have changed — confirm with the school.
Good questions to ask on a tour
- 1How do children's interests shape the projects you do, and can you share a recent example?
- 2What are the exact drop-off and pickup times, and is there any flexibility?
- 3Beyond the listed tuition, what other fees should I expect (application, deposit, materials, field trips)?
- 4How do you handle the transition for children starting mid-year or moving up from a younger classroom?
- 5What is your potty-training policy, and how do you support children who are still learning?
- 6How do you handle discipline, conflict between children, and big feelings?
- 7How much of the day is in Mandarin Immersion, and do children need any prior exposure to the language?
- 8What is your application timeline, and when do families typically hear back?
- 9How large is each class, and what is the teacher-to-child ratio?
- 10What does parent communication look like — updates, conferences, opportunities to be involved?