hmmmm... lots of food for thought. We have plenty of time to figure this out - this would not be for this fall. (I'm secretly hoping that they suddenly change the math curriculum in the next year or two - I can dream grin)

I have pretty detailed curricula outlines from the private school for each grade level in all subjects, so I want to take a close look at those, for math and for everything else. I want to make sure my kids have actually covered all the topics they're supposed to. That's one aspect of montessori that I don't like - I'm often afraid there will be holes (perhaps wrongly).

I haven't asked them about placement tests yet - great question! Also, great point about bringing over current test results. The montessori school is pretty liberal about MAP testing starting in second or third grade, and at least one of the teachers may do it by special request. DD just did her third set of MAP tests this year over the last couple of days, which is funny because I had been thinking of asking the teacher to do that before the end of the year.

Also, I signed the older kids up for a few weeks of summer camp at this school. Ds actually requested a math class instead of a physical outdoor activity. It's grouped by age. I called the person in charge of the camp, and he said I can talk to the teacher about where he's at with math. Supposedly, the camp teachers are the regular teachers, so I'm hoping I'll at least get a little peek at what school would be like, at least for that one ds. DD will be taking creative writing, but most of the rest of the stuff will be non-academic.

Thanks for your thoughts! If anyone else has anything to share on this EM issue, please do not hesitate to do so smile