So far we have been to many different and interesting places. Friday we went to a Montessori school in La Carpia. It was really interesting; I’ve read about them but had never seen one before. The students ranged in age from two to eight and there were a few sets of siblings. I really wanted to know more about the school but the teacher was busy taking care of at least twenty children. I learned that the school does not have any set standards as far as learning goes because it is private. I was talking to my hermana tica two days ago about preschools in Costa Rica and actually learned they are pretty similar to preschools in the United States. She is a second grade English teacher in a private school that has a preschool in it. They have different levels of preschool; maternal, kinder, and one more (that I can’t remember), then the students go to kindergarten. The public preschools have government mandated standards and curriculums and all students going to a public elementary school have to take an assessment of their skills before they can go. I also learned that if a student is advanced enough as soon as they meet the age requirement for the next grade level they will be moved into that classroom.

            We are now in Monte Verde and the home I’m staying in has two four year old twin girls that are in maternal right now so I should be able to find out a lot more about the preschool system while I’m here.