Tandem, Partners in Early Learning

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Tandem, Partners in Early Learning

Our mission is to co-create equitable, high-quality early learning experiences for children ages 0-5. Visit us at www.tandembayarea.org.

Tandem, Partners in Early Learning® is a Bay Area nonprofit working at the intersection of social justice and early childhood education. We work alongside school districts, early childhood education providers and community-based organizations to co-create equitable, high-quality early learning experiences for children ages 0-5. By partnering with adults across children’s lives, we deliver impactful learning experiences that meet community priorities and address systemic barriers to opportunity.

09/01/2026

Join Tandem this September virtually or in-person at our many community events!

Our interactive Read Alouds promote social emotional awareness, math, language, and other key skills critical to early development. You can register for all of our virtual Read Alouds at www.tandem.ngo/signup! (Check your email for the link to our Zoom Room)

The virtual Early Language and the Growing Brain workshop is perfect for educators and caregivers! Come and learn how we can support early brain development through our everyday interactions with little ones.

For an in-depth look into our events calendar, visit tandembayarea.org/calendar !

08/26/2026

Storytime is in Session: A+ Reads for Back to School Book List! 📚️

Starting a new school year, whether it’s a child’s very first day or a return after a long break, can bring a mix of emotions. Children might feel excited, curious, nervous—or a wild mix of all three at once! One of the best ways to help your child prepare is by sharing stories that reflect these big feelings. These books offer gentle introductions to school routines, model friendship and inclusion, and help children name and talk about their feelings. Book List available on our website www.tandembayarea.org

As you read, take time to ask questions, talk about what your child might see or do at school, and invite them to share how they’re feeling. Get them involved in preparing for school. Ask them to help pack their backpack, choose their first day outfit, or pick out a lunch item. Giving children a sense of responsibility helps build confidence and makes the transition feel exciting and empowering.

This collection of books supports emotional readiness, encourages conversation, and helps set the stage for a positive start to the school year!

08/24/2026

Take a peek behind the scenes of our home-based program Read & Play Club!

Through our Read & Play Club program, 1,300+ children and educators receive an early learning kit that includes books, thoughtfully paired with activity guides and early learning materials designed to supplement and bring the activities to life. Every book comes with its own activity guide — including a hands-on activity to extend the story and guided talking tips to spark meaningful conversation between kids and the adults in their lives.

None of this happens alone. This month, we've had incredible support from volunteers at the Foster City Library, First Data Bank Health, the CORO Youth Leadership cohort, and so many generous individuals who showed up to prep, pack, and pour into our littlest learners.

It takes a community to make early learning happen — and we are so grateful for ours. 💛

08/21/2026

We are excited to share our annual report! Thanks to our team, our strong partnership and our dedicated funders, we continued to bring high-quality early learning experiences to children, caregivers, and educators across Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco.

Together, we…
⭐️ Served 21,000+ children caregivers and educators
📚️ Distributed and rotate 90,000+ high-quality books
✏️ Engaged ~5,400 caregivers and educators with family and professional development workshops

Behind every number is a circle of people: a child building confidence, an educator with new tools, and a parent who came looking for an activity and found community. This captures the essence of our mission: relationship-centered, high-quality early learning experiences that ripple throughout families and communities.

You can find our full annual report at the link in our bio!

08/03/2026

Join Tandem in-person this August at one of our public library read-alouds or community resource giveaway events!

We are excited to be welcomed by so many great organizations to table at their community events and distribute books and early learning curriculum materials to children and families in the Bay Area.

For an in-depth look into our events calendar, visit tandembayarea.org/calendar !

07/31/2026

STEM in Storybooks Book List

Did you know storytime is one of the best ways to build early STEM skills? We're revisiting one of our favorite reads that is great for helping little ones explore STEM concepts through the magic of picture books!

From counting claps in “Clap, Clap!” to exploring shapes in “Shapes”, and diving into discovery with “Press Here” and “Field Trip to the Ocean Deep” — these books turn everyday storytime into interactive STEM learning.

Every book on this list comes with a FREE virtual read-aloud AND virtual activity guide — available in English, Spanish, and Chinese! Keep the learning (and fun) going long after the last page - resources can be found on our website (www.tandembayarea.org)

07/29/2026

Kindergarten readiness starts long before the first day of school - that's why family engagement and shared learning at home matter so much.

That's the heart of Tandem, Partners in Early Learning's core school-based program, StoryCycles. Through this school-to-home book-sharing initiative, we provide over 12,000 children with access to up to 100 books each year, all designed to support language, literacy, math, and social-emotional learning through interactive reading experiences.

But StoryCycles is about more than just books—it's about building confidence. We believe the adults in a child's life should feel equipped with the resources and skills to turn everyday reading into powerful learning experiences that boost brain development from the very start.

Because when families have the right tools, book-sharing becomes more than a habit—it becomes a bridge to a lifetime love of learning.

07/27/2026

Through partnership with family child care centers and home visiting organizations, Tandem is able to reach 1,300+ children with our home-based program, Read & Play Club. Children who are a part of this program receive high-quality books, activity guides, and supplemental learning materials aligned with California Preschool Learning Foundations. Participating caregivers and family support staff are also equipped with extra books, resources, and strategies to support learning.

We know learning starts at home and we’re excited to help make it a joyful, hands-on experience by preparing the adults in children’s lives to be their first and most important teacher. 📚🌟

07/23/2026

At Tandem, Partners in Early Learning, we know that school readiness starts long before kindergarten — and early math is one of the most powerful predictors of a child's future academic success.

Through our community-based programming, we implement our Give Me 5 curriculum: a five-week, interactive play-and-learn session designed for children ages 0 to 5 and their caregivers, focusing on school readiness through multilingual, play-based activities.

We recently partnered with West County First 5 Center () to bring GM5 to local families, with a special focus on mathematical reasoning. Using "Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes" as a jumping-off point, caregivers and children explored counting and patterns together — then celebrated with a hands-on painting activity, creating their own pairs of "white shoes." It's an example of how playful, everyday moments build the love of learning and foundational skills kids need to thrive in school and beyond.

Thank you to West County First 5 Center for another wonderful partnership!

07/16/2026

In San Francisco County, Tandem, Partners in Early Learning facilitates home-based learning through our Read & Play Club. This program supports 1,300+ children and their caregivers through home-based settings, including family child care and home visiting programs. Participants receive children’s books, activity guides, playgroup sessions, and learning opportunities for both caregivers and family support staff.

We're currently looking for volunteers to help power the Read & Play Club launch this August on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm. Come solo, or rally your friends, family, or coworkers for a group volunteer day! Together, we’re building a community of caregivers equipped to nurture curious, confident learners. Reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Address

1275 Fairfax Avenue #201
San Francisco, CA
94124

Telephone

+14156835460

Website

http://www.tandembayarea.org/, http://linktr.ee/tandembayarea

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