Who we are?

We are a small preschool, nestled in the green orchards of Santa Rosa Valley, California.

We began our search for the perfect place to create a Learning Home two years ago. We found the meandering horse trails and hiking spots perfectly placed, ready to lure young investigators out into the sunshine. Avocado and orange orchards, set for young hands to harvest and invent tasty recipes with. A close knit community with families young and old, many homing a menagerie of animals, as their extended family!

We knew then, there was no better place for our small Preschool.

Roots & Shoots Preschool strives to bring all these wonderful qualities together, with the Reggio Emilia Educational Approach. It is our hope in doing so, we foster curiosity, creativity and a life-long joy of learning in our students, in turn molding engaged, creative and thoughtful adults.

-“Nurturing Creative Hearts and Minds!”


  • Our greatest desire is to foster a positive self-concept and life-long joy of learning in the children and families we serve.

  • At Roots & Shoots Preschool we believe if one is to create a culture of engagement, creativity and optimism for it’s learners, educators, families and communities alike, one needs to embody the very values one is advocating

  • The Reggio Emilia approach, developed in the mid-20th century by educator Loris Malaguzzi and parents in the Italian town of Reggio Emilia, emerged as a response to the devastation of World War II. Seeking a new, child-centered educational system, they created a philosophy emphasizing the potential of children, their rights, and their ability to construct knowledge through interactions with their environment/ nature.

Our Vision

Programs that have enjoyed the greatest success toward this vision, are those that practice more emergent, eclectic methods, tailored to meet the specific learning needs of their children. The Reggio Emilia Philosophy perfectly illustrates this vision while putting it to practice.

We believe teaching and learning are a collaborative process with many players. Our children look to family, friends, peers, teachers and community for guidance and support. It is our vision to bring together all these rich resources for the benefit of the children in our care.

“It takes a village to raise a child”
— African Proverb

Our Philosophy

Our Reggio Emilia Approach shines with seven key principles that illustrate our philosophy.

  • We believe all children are capable, passionate and creative thinkers, who are active participants in constructing their own knowledge of the world around them. Our curriculum is child-initiated or teacher provoked, evolving with new insights and creating new possibilities and application.

  • We believe teachers are co-learners and collaborators with the children. Through careful observation, extensive documentationand thoughtful inquiry, our teachers work and play in partnership with the children. Togerther they engage in explorations, deepening their learning experiences and nurturing relationships.

  • Through notes, photographs, videos, artifacts and performing arts, our teachers reflect on the children’s experiences and analyze their work to gain a deep understanding of the concepts and theories the children are exploring. The collaborative process enables the teachers to as more complex questions, create new and meaningful provocations, and explore other learning strategies or materials, extending the children’s thinking and support creativity.

  • We believe multi-layered, rich and complex environments support curiosity engagement and learning. Each of our outdoor and indoor spaces are created with intention. Access to an abundance of nature, beautiful materials and intentional design is transformative; changing as children explore and evolve their ideas.

  • We encourage our children to express their understanding of the world through many symbolic languages, including drawing, sculpture, dramatic play, dance, movement, mathematics, poetry, writing, science and technology.

  • We believe parents are our partners and best resource in developing and sustaining our vital caring community. Parent’s participation supports the richness of the daily life in our school and their collaboration has been in the creation of many of our unique provocations.

  • We believe extending our learning outside the walls of the school, encourages our children to be more connected to their community and our community more invested in our children. Together, we are able to explore diverse local environments, such as beaches, tide-pools, canyons, forests, farms, gardens and local businesses. We can build social-stewardship through visiting museums and cultural events; fostering positive on-going relationships with naturalists, farmers, gardeners, and many other types of community members.

Our History

“hundred languages of children”
— Loris Malaguzzi

The Reggio Emilia approach, developed in the mid-20th century by educator Loris Malaguzzi and parents in the Italian town of Reggio Emilia, emerged as a response to the devastation of World War II. Seeking a new, child-centered educational system, they created a philosophy emphasizing the potential of children, their rights, and their ability to construct knowledge through interactions with their environment/ nature.

This approach integrates the arts, natural elements, and collaborative project-based learning. It has since gained international recognition and is now implemented in schools worldwide, renowned for its innovative practices in early childhood education.

Here & Now

Now after years, that humble little town in Italy inspired numerous schools across the world. Our school, is one of a specialized handful found here in Southern California.

Roots & Shoots Preschool sought a location that would give space for the approach to be fully realized. We discovered the perfect space for it here, in Santa Rosa Valley, California. Academic language: Kaleidoscope Preschool implements an educational approach deeply rooted in the principles of the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Central to our methodology is the belief that children are active protagonists in their learning journey, equipped with extraordinary potentials for growth and development. Our curriculum prioritizes child-led exploration, inquiry-based learning, and documentation of the learning process. Through our carefully curated environment and emphasis on the hundred languages of children, we aim to create a dynamic and enriching educational experience that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and social-emotional development.

A large part of why Reggio Emilia methodology is successful internationally is its seventh key proinciple; adapting to the community it serves.

Here in Santa Rosa Valley, there is wide reaching appreciation for the outdoors and a desire to preserve and remain connected to the land. both through practical skills and through stewardship. Innovation is also a key trait reflected in community counsil There is also to the outdoors; our environment and environment adapted to our community needs and interests. We foster a child-led learning atmosphere enriched with natural elements, where children can explore and express themselves through the "hundred languages" of creative materials.

We prioritize collaborative, mixed-age learning and actively involve families and the local community to reflect the diversity found in our home community. Our educators practice intentional and reflective teaching techniques, using documentation to make learning visible and evaluable. By emphasizing art, creativity, and continuous research, we aim to cultivate a joyful, life-long love of learning, preparing children to become engaged, creative, and thoughtful adults.