“We await the successive births in the soul of the child. We give all possible material, that nothing may lack to the growing soul, and then we watch for the perfect faculty to come, safeguarding the child from interruption so that it may carry its efforts through.”
A Little Bit About us
Cosmos Montessori is a home-based, authentic Montessori school located in San Francisco's Castro District. We emphasize eco-friendly living and mindfulness education, offering a unique Montessori program while promoting a sustainable Montessori lifestyle within the community. We firmly believe that our practices and Montessori philosophy are deeply interconnected. Our mission is to educate children on how to find inner peace, helping them become peaceful leaders in the world.
Montessori Education is an approach that nurtures a child's full potential. It emphasizes lifelong learning and encourages independence, self-discipline, and exploration in children. Each child is allowed to work at their own pace and can collaborate with peers to learn how to care for their environment. Children engage in individual and group activities, discovering, exploring, and working together based on their genuine interests.
The partnership with parents is a fundamental aspect of our program. We aim to empower all parents to feel more confident in their parenting. Our goal is to support you in acquiring the tools needed to nurture your children's natural desire for learning. Through this partnership, both parents and guides will share and promote the values of the Montessori philosophy, which encourages children to thrive.
THe Bridge
Our infant and toddler community provides a perfect transitional environment from home to school. Our supportive atmosphere helps children prepare for Montessori Primary programs and other educational settings. In this environment, children can explore their interests and engage with their natural curiosity outside the home. We also focus on developing their social and emotional skills.
We want all families to feel comfortable and confident sending their children to our community. Our guides are dedicated to assisting new parents during this transition and supporting the entire family as a whole. Our goal is for families to feel that this Montessori community is an extended family for them.
The Community
Our small Montessori community is carefully prepared and designed to foster curiosity, independence, and self-exploration in young children. In this nurturing and loving environment, children naturally develop confidence and thrive as they learn essential life skills through collaboration with their peers and guides.
Our community is also diverse and international, embracing the beauty of different cultures and unique perspectives. We encourage parents to share their customs, ceremonies, and culinary traditions. As a result, children are exposed to a rich tapestry of multicultural experiences within our community.
THe Children
We believe that children are more capable than we often realize when we provide them with guidance and allow them to face challenges. In a carefully prepared environment, children feel safe to explore their potential and are encouraged to challenge themselves repeatedly until they achieve satisfaction.
Older children naturally take on the role of mentors for younger children, while the younger children learn from their older peers. This dynamic creates an opportunity for everyone to be both a mentor and a student within the community. This natural learning cycle thrives in a mixed-age Montessori environment.
The Peace
Peace education holds a significant role in Montessori philosophy, and we believe that this small community represents our future. As the guides demonstrate how to be harmonious members of our community, the children naturally learn to become peaceful citizens who nurture the community with love and kindness. Our goal is to teach the children how to cultivate peace and harmony within themselves, enabling them to share that love and kindness with others.
The Guide
Miho Namba Alvarenga is a Montessori guide, as well as a mother, daughter, and wife. She was born and raised in Japan and moved to San Francisco in 2008 to pursue her education. Miho graduated from the California Institute of Integral Studies with a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary/Multiple Studies.
In 2015, Miho earned her AMI Assistants to Infancy Diploma (0-3) from Montessori Northwest. She has been teaching in Nido and Toddler classrooms since 2014. Additionally, she holds 30 units of Early Childhood Education (ECE) toward a program director-level teaching credential. As an immigrant woman, Miho is passionate about creating an anti-bias, anti-racism Montessori classroom that embraces diversity, particularly for minority communities.
In addition to her teaching, Miho is a certified Infant Massage Trainer and a Positive Discipline Educator. She also offers Montessori Consultant Programs for families with children from prenatal to age 0-3. Miho is dedicated to educating both children and parents as a whole.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling, learning about and exploring different cultures, trying out new foods, cooking, and taking walks with her child and husband. Miho has practiced meditation, Buddhism, and minimalism for over a decade.