Basics
Parents also searched for
Our Teachers
Hello! I am Jeanne de Marrais, the founder of The Mulberry Tree Wonderschool. I was inspired to start my own program because I am passionate about early childhood education. I have over 20 years of experience working with young children and hold a Bachelor’s degree from UNC - Chapel Hill, a Master’s in Arts from UCLA, and a CA Master Teacher Permit. My prior employers include Westside Waldorf, Pacifica Montessori, Crossroads, and YAYOE.
I believe the most important things we can provide to children are consistent love and warmth. The child needs that emotional grounding to grow and learn. But for us to be our best teaching selves, we must go further. My love for children compels me to learn more, so that my time with them is both well-intended and well-crafted. Only by bringing both of those elements can I truly enable each uniquely gifted child to grasp his or her potential.
Testimonials
“Gigi is such a natural teacher; she is kind, energetic, creative, patient, and clear in her class instructions. I worked with Gigi as an accompanist for her World Dance classes at the Westside Waldorf School; I was so impressed with her ability to connect with all the children, guide them through the lesson material, and maintain a positive group dynamic. Gigi has a unique ability to connect empathetically with students to resolve problematic behavior. Every class was a fun experience!” - Rich S.
“The Mulberry Tree preschool has amazing space and teachers! It also has big playground and all [wooden] toys inside & out. It has the most important curriculums which are music, dancing, playing instruments. Picking veggies from the garden washing and chopping for snacks, this all will give life lessons to the kids. I personally went to see the place and I’m in love with it!
The most beautiful that happened to me is meeting the founder and the teacher of The Mulberry Tree, she has a beautiful soul who cares and loves the kids! Thank you Gigi for providing and creating this amazing preschool for all our community also for giving your knowledge, time and energy!” - Mary L.
Philosophy
The Mulberry Tree Wonderschool is a Constructivist preschool program in a home and garden setting
The Mulberry Tree provides a rich learning environment in a home setting primarily for children 2 years of age and above. We provide the warmth of a home-based program with the trained teachers, research-based curriculum, and professional materials of a center. Here we nurture all domains of a young child’s development: social/emotional, intellectual, and physical.
In our program, nature frames our day. Children harvest vegetables and fruits from the garden. Nature inspires our science and art projects. Plants and plant parts are frequent elements of projects (for example, grapevine wreaths). We have lots of opportunity to play in the dirt! Experts such as Jack Gilbert, Faculty Director of the Microbiome Center at the University of Chicago and author of “Dirt is Good”, note an abundance of research that indicates that early exposure to garden soil can benefit a child’s immune system for his entire life.
Healthy food choices are fundamental to our relationship with nature. Children grow, harvest, and prepare wholesome, organic foods throughout the year. They participate in conservation including hot composting and vermiculture. Teachers model healthy food choices. Our snacks are organic, unprocessed, and sugar-free.
Quality materials support child-directed learning. They help a child learn without the distraction of artificial stimulation. Loving care completes the setting, allowing the children to flourish as the individuals they were born to be.
Location
The Mulberry Tree Wonderschool is located in a welcoming and spacious single family home in the Santa Monica neighborhood.
The play yard is available throughout the day and can be seen from most interior spaces. Our private outdoor area offers children an opportunity to be immersed in nature with activities in our vegetable garden, compost bins, vermiculture (worm) bin, dirt table and mud kitchen. We also have blocks for outdoor constructive play and a water/sensory table. We intentionally designed this space for children to have gross motor play and imaginative play throughout the day.
About our program
Features of our program include:
- Child-centered learning - We meet the children as they are, where they are.
- Natural materials for creative, organic, open-ended discovery - We believe open-ended play empowers the child & natural naterials empower the play. At The Mulberry Tree, we use natural materials like wood, cloth, paper, wax, clay, paint, and wire. Instead of plastic toys and gimmick toys, we choose materials that lend themselves to discovery and wonder.
- Research-driven practice - Our play-based approach, music program, Social-Emotional curriculum, and science program conform to current research on development in Early Childhood.
- Music Learning Theory - Our music classes use the approach developed by Dr. Edwin Gordon, Music Learning Theory. The practical component of this theory uses movement and music experiences to challenge the developing brain to create and preserve neurological connections. Dr. Gordon’s research suggests that Early Childhood offers an opportunity to cultivate musicianship that will not be equaled at any other point in the child’s life. Laying the foundations of musicianship in the early years can benefit the child for a lifetime.
- National Science Teachers Association standards - Our science curriculum aligns with the Position Statement of the National Science Teachers Association and the California State Framework. At The Mulberry Tree, young learners are encouraged to explore their experiences with scientific reasoning, including hypothesis, testing, and evaluation of evidence. They are allowed to explore science projects that reflect their interests and evolve over the course of many learning sessions.
- Conscious Discipline - We draw from the Social-Emotional curriculum of Dr. Becky Bailey, Conscious Discipline. Dr. Bailey’s curriculum empowers adults to change their own behavior in a way that enables children to understand and manage their feelings. The approach is based on current research in child development and the functioning of the human brain. Adults following the program learn not only how to diffuse challenging behaviors, but also how to support and coach children toward independence, confidence, and compassion.
Admissions
Join the The Mulberry Tree 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 The Mulberry Tree Wonderschool unique. Please schedule a tour or attend an Open House event.
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.