First Steps Wonderschool

Our Teachers

Maria Mariscal, Head Teacher Maria Mariscal is the founder of First Steps Wonderschool. She was inspired to start her own program because she has loved working with children since she was young. She has 15 years of experience working with young children.

Maria Macias, Assistant Teacher Maria Macias is the assistant teacher, and she loves playing with all the children in First Steps. She has worked with infants and toddlers for 8+ years and has previous experience as a nanny. Originally from El Salvador, Maria loves sharing her language with children and speaks only Spanish to them to help their language skills grow. She has worked at First Steps for the past 4 years.

Maria Mariscal, Maestra Principal __Maria Mariscal es la fundadora de First Steps Wonderschool. Se inspiró para comenzar su propio programa porque le encantaba trabajar con niños desde que era pequeña. Ella tiene 15 años de experiencia trabajando con niños pequeños.

Maria Macias, Maestra auxiliar __María Macías es la maestra asistente, y le encanta jugar con todos los niños en Primeros pasos. Ella ha trabajado con bebés y niños pequeños durante más de 8 años y tiene experiencia previa como niñera. Originalmente de El Salvador, a María le encanta compartir su idioma con los niños y les habla solo en español para ayudarles a crecer sus habilidades lingüísticas. Ha trabajado en Primeros Pasos durante los ultimos 4 años.

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Testimonials

From Berkeley Parents Network

“My 21-month old has been at First Steps Daycare (now commonly known as Chayo’s) near San Pablo Park for 6 months.  We all love Chayo’s!  My son is happy and well-fed every day, and he is learning Spanish as an extra bonus. He loves his friends there, and they spend much of the day outdoors in the park when weather permits.  It is relatively inexpensive compared to other nearby options.  The kids are fed breakfast and lunch.” By meenalifshe on Feb 1, 2017

“Our daughter just turned 2 and goes to a Spanish immersion day care. Not sure how close to Emeryville you need - this is across the street from San Pablo Park in Berkeley, so near Ashby and San Pablo. We love the day care provider, Rosario Mariscal (goes by “Chayo”). She speaks only Spanish to the kids, even though some come from only English-speaking homes. I’m not sure if she will have an open spot in June, but if she does, your child would likely be the right age. Chayo speaks great English. Good luck!” By rabbyzzu on Apr 19, 2017

“I would like to recommend Carmen’s Daycare near San Pablo Park in Berkeley. They currently have a few openings, particularly for 2-3 year olds. The program is run by a very warm and caring family. I sent my daughter there for 2 years and will be starting my 1 year old son there soon. The children learn Spanish, sing lots of songs, listen to stories, do lots of projects, are fed home-cooked lunches, and best of all, receive a lot of love. You can call: 548- 1970. And ask for Carmen, Rosario or Mari. “ By Ellie in September 2006

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Philosophy

At First Steps Wonderschool, we believe that children grow, learn, and thrive by feeling safe, loved, and nurtured. We provide an environment that helps each child to feel confident and capable. In our program, children feel empowered to follow their own interests in a safe space.

Aqui en First Steps Wonderschool, creemos que los niños crecen, aprenden y prosperan sintiéndose seguros, amados y educados. Ofrecemos un ambiente en que cada niño se puede sentir seguro y capaz. En nuestro programa, los niños se sienten capacitados de seguir sus propios intereses en un espacio seguro.

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Location

First Steps Wonderschool is located in a welcoming, bright single family home in the San Pablo Park neighborhood, across the street from San Pablo Park, an historic park in Berkeley.

Our environment has plenty of opportunities for play and learning and includes areas that allow children to explore various developmentally-appropriate activities based on their interests. Some of our favorite areas include sensory area (for spatial awareness and learning through the five senses), block area (for gross motor skills and problem solving), and reading / cozy area (for literacy, relaxation, and respite).

We take frequent trips to the park right across the street.

First Steps Wonderschool se encuentra en una casa acogedora y luminosa en el barrio de San Pablo Park, al otro lado de la calle de San Pablo Park, un parque histórico en Berkeley.

Hemos diseñado nuestro ambiente de cuidado con áreas de juego y aprendizaje que permiten a los niños que exploren diversas actividades apropiadas para el desarrollo basadas en sus intereses. Algunas de nuestras áreas favoritas incluyen área sensorial (para la conciencia espacial y el aprendizaje a través de los cinco sentidos), área de bloque (para habilidades motoras gruesas y resolución de problemas), y área de lectura / acogedora (para alfabetización, relajación y descanso).

Los niños tendrán un tiempo al aire libre todos los días en una mezcla de mi patio privado y los parques y patios de juego locales. Conectarse con la naturaleza es vital para la felicidad y el crecimiento de un niño.

En First Steps Wonderschool, quiero proporcionar un ambiente enriquecedor donde los niños se sientan libres de explorar y jugar.

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About our program

First Steps is a Spanish immersion child care program. Research shows that there are many benefits for children, especially in early education.

Cognitive benefits of bilingual and language immersion early care

• Children who attend bilingual preschool have a better ability to monitor their immediate environment compared to monolinguals. They exhibit more mental flexibility and a stronger ability to switch between tasks (also known as ‘working memory’)
• Children who attend bilingual preschool show increased self-regulation skills
• Early and consistent bilingualism has been shown to delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s

Click here for more information on the benefits of immersion based care: https://www.wonderschool.com/p/parent-resources/bilingual-preschool/

First Steps es un programa de cuidado infantil de inmersión en español. La investigación muestra que hay muchos beneficios para los niños, especialmente en la educación de la primera infancia.

Beneficios cognitivos del cuidado infantil bilingüe y de inmersión lingüística.

• Los niños que asisten a una escuela preescolar bilingüe tienen una mejor capacidad para controlar su entorno inmediato en comparación con los monolingües. Exhiben más flexibilidad mental y una mayor capacidad para cambiar entre tareas (también conocida como “memoria de trabajo”)
• Los niños que asisten a preescolar bilingüe muestran mayores habilidades de autorregulación
• El bilingüismo temprano y constante ha mostrado la retrasa de la aparición de la demencia y la enfermedad de Alzheimer

Haga clic aquí para obtener más información sobre los beneficios del cuidado basado en inmersión: https://www.wonderschool.com/p/parent-resources/bilingual-preschool/

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Admissions

Join the First Steps Wonderschool community in four easy steps:

1. Explore our website

We’ve provided information about our philosophies and offerings to help you decide if our program may be right for your family.

2. Tour our program

Come see what makes First Steps Wonderschool unique. Please schedule a tour or attend an Open House event.

*Please note that we are not currently offering tours. Please reach out directly if you would like to receive more information about our program.*

3. Submit an Enrollment Application

If you would like to enroll, please submit an application. Please note that we require tours for all prospective families. Please do not submit an application if you have not visited the program.

4. Enroll

After reviewing your application, we’ll send an enrollment invitation. Upon accepting your invitation you’ll pay your enrollment fee, fill out enrollment documents and review our Parent Handbook.

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