We went to tour the Spanish immersion school today and I have mixed feelings. Their teachers are all certified in Mexico and they use textbooks and curriculum from Mexico so big plus on my chart. They are also a very academic environment and are ahead of PS by two years. So 4 year olds are learning addition and words but not necessarily reading. So if our choice of socialization doesn't work out the idea of academic would be a great option but here is our problem. Looking at academics: our DD will just barely be 3 in August when they start and she has already mastered the curriculum of 4 year olds and a lot of their kindergarten. The difference for this is all is taught in Spanish and that will be the challenge for her but for how long before that is not an issue?
I talked to the director about her abilities and are they forced to be in the grade by their age. She said that they could work with her by evaluating her at the being of school and if she needs to be in the grade above they could do that BUT I don't know if she is talking about her abilities in Spanish or English. In English she knows all of the curriculum but in Spanish only a little. So I fear she will be placed with 3 yr olds and a few months down the line when she fully understands the teacher she will be stuck b/c the classes will be full and unless a child drops in the other class she will not be able to be moved.
So I signed her up for the summer program but I am now going to look into the French Immersion Montessori school b/c if they truly follow the ideas of Montessori DD shouldn't be held back by her age.
