Business Details
17 Years
experience
Trusted Spanish Immersion Preschool in Portland, OR
At Aprende Con Amigos, we are dedicated to providing an innovative and research-based preschool program designed to enhance children's social, emotional, cognitive, and gross motor skills while supporting their learning of a second language. Our approach is rooted in Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences, ensuring that all seven intelligenceslinguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonalare valued and nurtured. We implement a 90/10 Spanish immersion model, where 90% of the day is conducted in Spanish, fostering natural language acquisition through engaging, purposeful activities. Our curriculum is student-driven, beginning with a Big Idea and allowing children's interests to shape the learning journey, ensuring depth and meaningful exploration.With two locations in Portland, Oregon, we serve children aged 3 to 5, prioritizing a balanced environment that combines mixed-age and focused-age group interactions. Our team of experienced educators, including certified parent coaches and curriculum specialists, is committed to empowering growth in learning for both children and families. We offer summer camps that maintain stable groups and provide enriching experiences in art, science, and language arts. Our program emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and discovery, ensuring each child meets their full potential in a nurturing, culturally rich setting.
Services
Spanish Immersion Preschool
Summer Camp Program
Parent Workshops
Curriculum Development
Educational Consulting
Details
- Year established: 2009
Highlights and features
- We implement a research-based 90/10 Spanish immersion model for effective language acquisition.
- Our curriculum is driven by student interests and aligned with Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory.
- Experienced educators prioritize holistic development in social, emotional, cognitive, and physical domains.
- Summer camps provide stable groups and enriching activities in art, science, and language arts.
- Two Portland locations offer flexible enrollment and a nurturing, culturally rich environment.
What people say
Nurturing environment
Effective Spanish immersion
Dedicated educators
Engaging curriculum
Strong community bonds
Services
Spanish Immersion Program
Our Spanish immersion program uses a 90/10 model, with 90% of instruction in Spanish, fostering natural language acquisition through engaging activities. Children develop bilingualism while exploring topics like 'My Neighborhood' and 'Up in the Sky' through hands-on projects. The curriculum aligns with Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory, ensuring all learning styles are supported.
Summer Camp Program
The summer camp offers seven weeks of structured learning in art, science, and language arts, with stable peer groups. Children aged 3-6 engage in experiments, creative writing, and cultural activities, maintaining Spanish immersion. The program emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and exploration in a nurturing environment.
Parent Workshops
Parent workshops provide training in child development, bilingual education, and positive discipline. Led by certified parent coaches, these sessions empower families to support learning at home. Topics include fostering curiosity, language acquisition strategies, and creating nurturing environments aligned with our educational philosophy.
Curriculum Development
Our curriculum integrates Reggio Emilia, High/Scope, Waldorf, and Montessori methods, focusing on student-driven exploration. Teachers scaffold learning around Big Ideas like 'Me and My Family,' allowing children to delve deeply into topics. This approach ensures meaningful, memorable learning experiences that develop all seven intelligences.
Educational Consulting
We offer consulting services for educators, including staff development and coaching in immersion programs. Certified trainers provide workshops on bilingual instruction, curriculum design, and child development. Our expertise supports schools in implementing research-based practices and fostering inclusive, engaging learning environments.
People
Stacey Dunbar
Owner
Stacey Dunbar has over 25 years of experience in education, holding a degree in Early Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She founded Aprende Con Amigos in 2009, integrating her expertise in immersion education and parent coaching to create a research-based preschool program.
Tuly Novoa
Owner/Overlook Director
Tuly Novoa is a licensed preschool teacher from Venezuela with extensive experience in early childhood education. She became co-owner and director of the Overlook location in 2022, bringing expertise in Spanish immersion programs and a passion for child development.
Teresa Hernandez
Owner/Cully Director
Teresa Hernandez, a native Spanish speaker, has worked with children for over a decade. As Cully Director and co-owner, she focuses on creating a nurturing environment where children feel loved and supported while developing bilingual skills.
Norma Moreno
Owner/Curriculum Coordinator
Norma Moreno, born in Mexico, brings experience as a preschool teacher and curriculum coordinator. She became co-owner in 2022, combining her expertise in early childhood education with a commitment to culturally responsive teaching and community engagement.
Questions
What age groups do you serve?
We serve children aged 3 to 5 years old for preschool and offer summer camps for ages 3-6.
What is your Spanish immersion model?
We use a 90/10 model, with 90% of instruction in Spanish and 10% in English to ensure natural language acquisition.
Are there summer programs available?
Yes, our summer camp runs seven weeks, offering structured activities in art, science, and language arts with a Spanish immersion focus.
How does enrollment work?
Enrollment is based on availability and filled on a first-come basis. Applications are submitted via our website, with notifications sent in March.
What educational philosophies do you follow?
Our curriculum integrates Reggio Emilia, High/Scope, Waldorf, and Montessori methods, emphasizing student-driven learning and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences.
Reviews (5)
John Branam
Dec 14, 2016
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Aprende con Amigos is fabulous. Our daughter is currently enrolled there and has been for two years. The teachers are wonderful and the pedagogy is thoughtful, full of best-practices, and consistent. The environment feels like a family and Stacey, the owner, is always available to connect (and genuinely cares about each and every child). We cannot recommend ACA enough!
Nocnica Fee
Nov 07, 2016
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My kid learned so much at Aprende, it's really improved our lives. It's a place he always looks forward to going to, and I'm certain that without them he wouldn't be ready for Kindergarten. Along with Spanish, my kid learned counting, writing, colors, shapes, and natural science while at Aprende. That experience of having your kid say "Papa, when they dig up dinorsaur bones it's not really bone it's a bone that got replaced with rock" when they're 4 years old is amazing.
Also, the community of parents is great, and we made some great friends at the community events.
Finally, there are just amazing
Also, the community of parents is great, and we made some great friends at the community events.
Finally, there are just amazing
Sd F.
Nov 02, 2016
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This school is a very special place and we have missed it dearly since our daughter graduated. It has been a year and she still lovingly speaks about Aprende and her teachers there. Not only did she become almost fluent, while we speak barely any Spanish ourselves, but Stacey also was such a support to all of us parents with her vast knowledge of child development and successful parenting techniques. It was such a supportive loving and educational environment, so well rounded! I wish public schools could be this well rounded. We would definitely recommend them without any hesitation!
Lin Ambroz
Aug 04, 2016
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Trust is everything when it comes to preschool choices. After attending the open house for Aprende Con Amigos, we were certain this was the preschool for our daughter. Not only has she gotten great experience with the Spanish language, but she is in a very nurturing, imaginative environment with fantastic people. Cannot say enough great things, we are lucky to have found Aprende Con Amigos.
T. C.
Jul 24, 2016
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Our son has been attending Aprende Con Amigos for more than a year now and loves it! The curriculum is phenomenal, the structure is oustanding and the Spanish immersion is unlike anything else out there. Our son, Cason, is flourishing in his understanding of both Spanish and English and it has been awesome to watch his development since being in the program. I highly recommend this school both for its rich curricular content and for the caring, passionate teachers that make this program what it is.
