DS is going to be in grade K next year (we've decided not to skip straight to grade 1). One of our options is a private school that is a 15 min drive and lasts 7 hours a day but offers Spanish, music, art, skiing, dance, etc in addition to the usual academic subjects.

The other is a public magnet school 2 blocks away. The K day is only 2hr 40min and the curriculum at the school is child-led learning. I've heard good and bad things about this, the main downside is that kids don't get the challenge that the more advanced ones need. They mainly learn through play, even in the upper grades (similar to Waldorf).

DS would have friends in either school from neighborhood and previous playgroups and preschools. We are torn over which school to choose. Do we put him in an environment where he will get challenged academically as well as getting more opportunities in other subjects or in an environment without as much challenge and risk him getting bored but having more play time? (btw my parents would pay for the tuition so the financing isn't an issue)

I guess I would need to know more. How is the longer k more challenging? How does the magnet use play to learn? Have you walked through both schools? WHat kinds of things are hanging on the walls? Do the children look happy and engaged or zoned out with worksheets? What do parents say who send their kids to either school? And what about the older kids? What grade do the schools go up to and is it important to you if it is a k-8? Hee hee, I'm no help at all- all I have is questions...

could you do any trial days?

I would reccomend sitting in a classroom in both schools to see how it suits your child's needs. You said the magnet school is child led learning, well if they child seeks more challenges I am sure he/she would get it.

I've actually experienced two different schools for K so maybe I can be of some help.

Dd was in a US public school K for 2 1/2 hours/day for the first half of this school year. It was the basic public school curriculum with an emphasis on art. It is amazing how much was accomplished in those few hours! Dd learned to read! She did tons of art projects, learned about some team sports and basic children's games (ie hop scotch), learned how to count properly (finally!), did science projects, went on field trips, etc. The art projects up in the hallway were rotated weekly. The kids were very nice. I was very happy with this school.

She is now in a full-day K at a French school here. There is a mix of French and Ukrainian kids. All of them at least bilingual (most have 3 languages). Dd is the only kid in class who knows how to read and write. Mostly they do basic coloring projects. The art projects up in the hallway right now are from December and January, respectively. There is swimming/gym once a week. Other activities are extra-curricular. The kids (90% girls) are nasty and mean (most have nannies, busy fathers, etc.).

I think these are some of the things to think about when considering the two schools. Half-day doesn't mean less learning; language doesn't mean better for advanced child (bilinguals tend to be slower at learning reading & writing), etc. But your school is simply offering Spanish, right? It's not a school full of bilinguals, so maybe it'll be different.

Personally, my child enjoys the learning. I don't think she would be happy in a play-all-the-time school.

Definitely go to both if you can and observe. This is a situation where only you can know the answer (gee, I'm a lot of help aren't I :lol ).

But seriously, I desperately wanted my DD in a co-op school. I had visions of volunteering in the classroom, etc. As it turned out, my DD is the kind of kid that will run to mommy if mommy is visible but is very happy to be with her peers. I caused her a LOT of anxiety by being in the room with her because she was torn about wanting to be with me vs. wanting to be with her peers. She was so much happier when I changed that situation (and told me so!).

My DD is fiercely independent and very school oriented. She loves to learn and would be bored with no structure. Unlike her laid back mama, this kid loves a good schedule :) . Amazing how nature overpowered nurture in this instance, I would have loved to have no schedule, lots of unstructured time, etc. But my DD is anxious without it.

Go with what you really think he would like best and only you will know that.

My DD is in a daycare with a child-led curriculum. She is in the senior preschool room, with kids aged 3-5+. We can choose whether our kids will attend JK or wait til SK. This is the big topic of conversation in the cloakroom between parents right now!

There were a number of unhappy parents at our centre when they moved to a child-led curriculum (they call it "emerging curriculm") around the time our DD started there. A lot of parents worry that unless someone is sitting their child in a desk and making them learn by rote, they are not learning. Our teachers make daily observations of the kids, and structure their programming around what the kids are actively interested in. Its a lot more work for the teachers, so you need someone who is involved and committed to teach.

Kids learn through play. Please do not assume that your child will not be challenged to learn through play. Kids who are further along can be guided to help out others with their learning. You never learn more than when YOU are a teacher!

You need to get into both schools and get a gut feel for each place. You will know. Consider it in the context of your child's temperment.

As for all the extras at the first school - are these the kinds of activities that you already do with your family? We are not too worried about these kinds of things ourselves, because we already take our child to many arts events, a farm in the city, outdoor trips, etc.

Not sure of what your child is doing right now. Is he emotionally and socially ready for a new, full day program in a structured group?

My kid is NOT into structure, and I do worry about how she'll do once she gets to a more structured public school setting (we don't have the finances to chose anything other than public school, so we'll find the right ps). Talk to the teachers and principal about your concerns and see where they go.

Personally, my child enjoys the learning. I don't think she would be happy in a play-all-the-time school.

I can't believe how poorly I worded that! I am sooo sleep-deprived. Sorry!
I meant she likes the structure.

Neither of the schools my dd has attended was into rote learning.

I think observing a day at each school would be really useful, as another poster has said.

My son is in a child-led alternative public school here and they stress that they have no vertical limit in terms of achievement. And with my son at the top of his class, I have more or less found that to be true. However, I have found because it is child-led, you have to encourage your kids to be more assertive when they need to be challenged more. Not an easy thing for a five year old, but easier as they get older and certainly a very valuable thing to learn.