Anonymous wrote:We declined mundo for a few reasons:

(1) the spanish every other day model doesn’t make sense to me, a native speaker

(2) the math curriculum is not strong

(3) the fact that non speakers can enter at any time (past k seems like a bad idea, 1st-5th seems like a massive mistake)

(4) the playground walk

(5) the lack of grammar instruction

(6) personal to us but I don’t like the expeditionary learning model

Pros? Everything else. We thought it was lovely, and were sad to decline.

The lack of grammar instruction is a real problem.

Communication is lousy with the school. Our kids start tomorrow and we still are waiting for class lists.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Positive: It's really hard to describe unless you are frequently at school - there's just a real feeling of community within Mundo Verde; the children are taught empathy towards other chlidren and the environment; the teachers are really trained to take a positive approach towards all children. I think this is important for children at a young age to have empathy and compassion - yes, they are learning math, reading, etc., etc. It's just a really great place to be.

This is so important. Socialization and values are SO important.

Agree. We are happy, but teacher turnover and communications with families are not great. We've been lucky, but classroom management still a drawback for certain grade levels and can't be ignored.

Anonymous wrote:Positive: It's really hard to describe unless you are frequently at school - there's just a real feeling of community within Mundo Verde; the children are taught empathy towards other chlidren and the environment; the teachers are really trained to take a positive approach towards all children. I think this is important for children at a young age to have empathy and compassion - yes, they are learning math, reading, etc., etc. It's just a really great place to be.

This is so important. Socialization and values are SO important.

We turned down 1st grade to stay at dcps immersion schhol thats bee great for our kids but has experienced parental turbulence. Kids are doing great and learning so mich and lots of amazing educators.

I like the school but I think there are a lot of challenges. The commute for one- traffic around there is always a total cluster and no playground on site is a real bummer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Positive: It's really hard to describe unless you are frequently at school - there's just a real feeling of community within Mundo Verde; the children are taught empathy towards other chlidren and the environment; the teachers are really trained to take a positive approach towards all children. I think this is important for children at a young age to have empathy and compassion - yes, they are learning math, reading, etc., etc. It's just a really great place to be.

Translation - they've managed to keep the poors out, so we were comfortable there.

What a useless comment. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous wrote:Positive: It's really hard to describe unless you are frequently at school - there's just a real feeling of community within Mundo Verde; the children are taught empathy towards other chlidren and the environment; the teachers are really trained to take a positive approach towards all children. I think this is important for children at a young age to have empathy and compassion - yes, they are learning math, reading, etc., etc. It's just a really great place to be.

Translation - they've managed to keep the poors out, so we were comfortable there.

To the OP, it is much easier to get in for PK4. Lots more spaces and about half as many people do the lottery that year.

We declined mundo for a few reasons:

(1) the spanish every other day model doesn’t make sense to me, a native speaker

(2) the math curriculum is not strong

(3) the fact that non speakers can enter at any time (past k seems like a bad idea, 1st-5th seems like a massive mistake)

(4) the playground walk

(5) the lack of grammar instruction

(6) personal to us but I don’t like the expeditionary learning model

Pros? Everything else. We thought it was lovely, and were sad to decline.

We've been there since K (daughter going into 4th this year) and we've had a very positive experience at MV. The teachers have been excellent every year, haven't had a bad one (or one I thought was bad) yet. LOVE love the families. Yes there are some Type-A DC parents but luckily they are softened by the school's general inclusive multi-culti attitude. It is a very liberal school which I love, but might frustrate others.
Negatives (and this is nit picking) include the distance of the playground from the school (lots of walking back and forth). Between translations and the administrations tendency to talk in academic-speak (they love charts) some of the school meetings can take forever. Had some issues with poorly thought out field trips but they've gotten better at this.
Location is great for us as we're in Bloomingdale. Neighborhood is getting better but still has its issues in the blocks around there. School very well organized when incidents do occur nearby (not a lot of them thank goodness).

would anyone be willing to talk to me about MV's approach to education?
fdg7@georgetown.edu

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Padres Meetings which include general parents meetings AND courses for parents on parenting.

All with English and Spanish translation, I assume? They do this at our DCPS dual immersion and while it has to be done, it makes these meetings twice as long and so tedious!

Yes, there is English and Spanish translation. This does make it longer, but it is integral for inclusion.

Anonymous wrote:
Padres Meetings which include general parents meetings AND courses for parents on parenting.

All with English and Spanish translation, I assume? They do this at our DCPS dual immersion and while it has to be done, it makes these meetings twice as long and so tedious!

Kristen is not the principal, she is ED. Dahlia Aguilar is the principal. She is Chicana.