SPARK Lab

Welcome to our cozy home-based learning community where young learners aged 4 to 7 embark on an exciting educational journey. Our space is meant to be a sanctuary, allowing children to fully embrace the wonders of childhood, immersing themselves in art, play, books, and outdoors adventures. We also aim to build a supportive homeschooling community for families and provide opportunities for children to nurture social-emotional skills.

What is SPARK Lab?

SPARK Lab, located in a private residence in the Evergreen area of San Jose, is a licensed drop-off program. Operating on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9am-1pm, our flexible program enables you to choose between enrolling for one to three days a week.

We pride ourselves on being a child-led program, where we take on the role of supportive guides. Our primary aim is to empower children, enabling them to actively shape their own educational journeys. In our unique approach to holistic learning, we nurture interests spanning a wide array of subjects. We harness the power of free play to organically foster language development, STEM comprehension, problem-solving skills, and social-emotional growth. We firmly believe that these experiences are of paramount importance in cultivating the distinct development of each child.

The SPARK Lab Difference

Setting us apart from traditional educational settings, our ambiance is warm and inviting and fosters intimate relationships among peers and adults alike.

Our environment:

  • is developmentally appropriate, with the perfect balance of challenge and support.

  • is tailor-made for a myriad of experiments, hands-on messy activities, and imaginative artistic journeys.

  • grants ample time for free exploration, hypothesis testing, and experimentation

  • is where creative expression is highly valued, and our fully-stocked art studio with quality materials reflects our commitment to the worth of each child.

  • 9:00-9:30 Arrivals and Morning Invitations
    9:30 A group gathering for community building through read alouds, open discussions, material introductions, and more.
    9:45 An open-ended focused project guided by an educator
    10:15 Snack and child-led explorations through multiple creative stations, an outdoor space, and access to natural, recycled, and open-ended materials.
    12:00 Reset space and lunch. We work together to clean our materials and set up for an outdoor lunch (weather permitting). We use this time as an opportunity to practice public speaking and self-reflection skills by discussing the day’s experiences, successes, as well as challenges.
    1:00 Pick up

  • Tuition is calculated per semester and paid monthly. Enrollment is ongoing and tuition will be prorated based on start date.

    Fall 2023 Semester
    9/19-12/21 (No sessions 11/21-11/23)

    1 day: $80/week
    2 days: $160/week
    3 days: $240/week

The Educators

  • Lesley Thien Huong Ou

    CO-TEACHER

    With a BA and MA in Human Development, I have dedicated my life to understanding what helps us live fulfilling and healthy lives in each stage of our lives. I have over 16 years experience in classrooms around the Bay Area and Chicago and have most recently run my own family child care program. I originally started Wonder Play Lab to support families with infants and toddlers, but have grown passionate about bringing creative experiences to a wider audience.

    I am a mom of 2 young learners, love creating with my hands, and chasing waterfalls. My big goal for the year is pushing myself to complete the 52 Hike Challenge.

  • Alexandria Alvarez

    CO-TEACHER

    I have been working with children for over 14 years, and have a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development. Over the years, my philosophies have relied heavily in nature, Reggio Approach, and respectful relationships/parenting. Now a mom of 2, I have been passionate about creating a safe, fun, and enriching environment for not just my own children, but our whole community.

    In my free time, I love spending time outdoors, playing the guitar, trying new things, reading all the books, and spending time with my family. One of my goals for this upcoming year is completing the 1000 hours outside challenge with my youngest, and reading at least 1 book a month.