questions to ask @ kindy info night?

[marbles]

Well, just when I thought not vaxing was the toughest parenting choice yet...here comes kindergarten!!! Just wondering if you have any ideas about good questions to ask at the info night tonight. Here is some history.

My DD is 4 and would start in the fall at either the expensive waldorf school in town which we can't afford or the french emmersion public school ( meeting tonight) or ****I have been tossing the homeschooling idea around for years...intuition tells me it might be right for us. DD is very social and can read. (teach your child in 100 easy lessons) She's bright and says she would LOVE school. hmmm.

any ideas are welcome...thanks mothering family!!

[lauren]

Oh it is hard, that first kindergartener going off! I am said that my 2nd and probably last little k-gartner will be heading off in the fall!

I would ask questions about how they handle children who need discipline (even if yours doesn't, how they are handling the ones who do will set the tone for the class)

How much time do they spend outside?
How many transitions are there?
How much down time?
How much free play? (this is still developmentally needed at 5 and certainly 4)
Strong focus on academics or play-based model?
How are art and music handled?
Are there themes for the year? Do the "specials" (art, music, gym) incorporate these themes?
What kind of communication can you expect? What does the teacher like from you?
How do they challenge a child who is bright and already reading (as yours is)? Will your child be bored going over the ABC's? How will they teach to her level?

These are just a few off the top of my head. I don't know very much about language immersion schools so there would surely be other questions that go with that.