faqs

Founder Yvonne Gonzalez was the Head Teacher/ Director at The Thompson Street Playgroup in Soho for ten years before leaving to start MI ESCUELITA in 2005. Due to popularity and demand, Mi Escuelita opened a second location on the same street on 2006. Overall, Yvonne has over 28 years of experience working with children and developing a curriculum based on language, arts, sciences, social interaction, and nature/environment, creating a community that has grown to become a fundamental link for many families in our neighborhood.

ALL teachers (TIAS – AUNTS ) speak Spanish at Mi Escuelita. We approach the language organically and naturally: through play, songs, dance, projects, and everyday interactions. Each project includes a language aspect where the children learn the words in both English and Spanish. The teachers interact with the children in Spanish daily.

At MI ESCUELITA, we have always combined our groups into a mixed-age classroom. The children range from 2 to 5 years old. This way of teaching is by far the most progressive way of learning.

The mixed-age group environment creates an atmosphere where children learn to help and be helped by other children, as they interact with friends whose age and abilities vary. Our teacher approaches each child individually, considering their developmental and emotional needs. All the children choose to work at their own pace, as the classroom is set up for multiple age groups. The younger ones learn manners, respect, responsibility, and problem-solving skills by watching their older peers, while the older friends learn patience, tolerance, empathy, compassion, and leadership.

We try our best select students based on equal distribution of gender and age ratio. We believe it is most beneficial to conduct the classroom in a healthy, diverse setting. We also select families with similar interests in our teaching philosophies/sensibilities. We aim to create a sense of community beyond the time spent at Mi Escuelita alone.

Priority goes to alums and current students. We begin contacting families as soon as space is available. First come, first serve. A deposit of $3,000 is required to reserve the spot, which is non-refundable. The deposit will go towards the total tuition.
The mixed-age group environment creates an atmosphere where children learn to help and be helped by other children, as they interact with friends whose age and abilities vary. Our teacher approaches each child individually, considering their developmental and emotional needs. All the children choose to work at their own pace, as the classroom is set up for multiple age groups. The younger ones learn manners, respect, responsibility, and problem-solving skills by watching their older peers, while the older friends learn patience, tolerance, empathy, compassion, and leadership.

All our teachers have many years of experience working with children and are very passionate about what they do. For example, Tia Luz, one of our head Teachers and co-Director, has been part of Mi Escuelita for 15 years. We value knowledge and wisdom through experience, dedication, and passion.

Priority goes to alums and current students. We begin contacting families as soon as space is available. First come, first serve. A deposit of $3,000 is required to reserve the spot, which is non-refundable. The deposit will go towards the total tuition.
The mixed-age group environment creates an atmosphere where children learn to help and be helped by other children, as they interact with friends whose age and abilities vary. Our teacher approaches each child individually, considering their developmental and emotional needs. All the children choose to work at their own pace, as the classroom is set up for multiple age groups. The younger ones learn manners, respect, responsibility, and problem-solving skills by watching their older peers, while the older friends learn patience, tolerance, empathy, compassion, and leadership.

Yes. MI ESCUELITA is a Family Group Daycare facility regulated by the Department of Health. Mi Escuelita is licensed under DOH, which we renew every two years. M

To obtain our license, all the teachers MUST (including assistants) have to have 60 hours of Health and Safety training, CPR/First Aid training every two years, along with various other courses regarding the Principles of Childhood Development, Nutrition, and Health Needs, Child Health, and Safety and Security procedures.

Yes, it is a requirement by the Department of Health that all the staff is trained in Pediatric CPR/First Aid every two years.

No, we take children who are still in diapers and phasing into potty training and fully potty trained children. We take a very gentle, natural, and loving approach. When your child is ready and showing interest at home, we can begin the potty training phase here in school. During this time, communication between parents and teachers plays a vital role.

Weather permitting, we bring the children outside every day. Outdoor activities vary but usually consist of playground time, outdoor walks, or just walking right into our backyard garden area and using our bicycles, play house, or simply enjoying some fun games. In addition, the children attend a weekly yoga session with our excellent yoga teacher tia Mariana. We also love to cook! The kids do a cooking project at least twice a month. Most importantly, during our free play periods, they are encouraged to learn through play.

During nap times, the children are all on mats with their blankets/small pillows and even a nap time buddy (stuffed animal) from home. Our goal is to make this time as comfy as possible..

The possibility of staying with Mi Escuelita for the last year before kindergarten is always an option.

There are several schools we have heard excellent things about: P.S. 84, P.S. 132, Arbor, the Children’s Workshop, and the Earth School, some of which come highly recommended by our Mi Escuelita community. The possibility of staying with Mi Escuelita for the last year before kindergarten is always an option.