In a thread on Slow Travel, it was indicated that foreign kids are not placed in their home country grade level but one level below. Is this true? What is the experience of those of you who have non-Italian speaking children in public school? Also,what age are Italian kids when they are in the 3rd grade? So many questions! I need a new mental filing cabinet!

Matteo is 7 and goes 2nd grade.
3th graders are 8 or with the new laws at least 7 and half.
Kyle, italo american, first time in public schools coming here directly from Miami, 9 years old goes in 4th grade.

Is it answering to -at least some- of your questions??

Sorry Jane, I didn't see it was you!!

CIAAAOOO

Alex--that's OK! Your answer is right on target and clarifies for me. Casey, as you know because we are just about real friends now, will be 8 and in the 3rd grade. So I take it that he will go in the 3rd grade there, too.

There are 2 english children staying at my house - they got put in the same class as they would of been at home.

Hi Jane - I was worried about Jane (my daughter who turns 8 this coming November) when she started public school. She finished 1st grade in the US last year and we didn't want to have to do that again. But there has been no mention of staying back a grade by any of the teachers or administration here. I even asked if she should have special tutoring and they didn't think so. She has been doing great in seccond grade! She's only had 5 days so far, so they have not started any intensive academic stuff yet, but she has several friends already, she's playing a catch game with the boys at recess, and her Italian is improving exponentially! She just drops little italian words into out english conversations all the time now. I give her another month or two and she is going to be speaking full sentances! I don't think there's any doubt she can handle Italian second grade. I bet though, as with most things in Italy, the attitude towards this may change from location to location - or administration to administration.

Jane, I have no idea why you were told that a child is held back. Diva doesn't have children though so maybe she just thought it or overheard when someones child got sent back. It has nothing to do with the fact that they are foreigners, just if the class is too advanced for them.

A child was resent to kindergarten last year from my daughter's first grade class. They tried for 3 months with this child but he had a lot of emotional problems and was not able to stay seated. INstead he would make a siren sound most of the day and just run around. This disrupted the entire school and so after 3 months they decided to send him back to kindy so he could learn how to behave in school. There are two children who just arrived at my daughter's school and they, although last week spoke no Italian, are getting along just fine now. They have a couple of hours a day of tutors for the language and who help them with what is going on in the class. They take the bus with all of the other village children and because of this have made friends already. No problem.

Cristina, et. all, Thanks for clearing this up! And, Cristina--along with Cortona, I really like what you say about where you are and where your kids go to school. Any rental around there?

Ellen, that is really exciting about Jane's language response. I can't wait to get Casey there so he can teach us. I just found out that the friend of the girl next door speaks fluent Italian (7th grader). I am going to call her to see if she will spend time with Casey and speak exclusively Italian. That would be cool!