Italian Middle School Exams The Italian education system is big on exams. Ross did pass her middle school exam, with a grade of Buono (on a scale of Ottimo, Distinto, Buono, Sufficiente, Insufficiente – outstanding, distinguished, good, sufficient, insufficient). This was better than I’d expected, since most of her grades this year have been merely… Continue reading Another Rite of Passage Completed
Category: Italian education
Rites of Passage: Italian School Exams
The Italian education system is big on big exams. At the end of elementary, middle, and high school, everyone has to take an exam, with both written and oral components. When it came time for Ross’ 5th grade exam, I was terrified on her behalf; the teachers had made such a big deal of it,… Continue reading Rites of Passage: Italian School Exams
Elementary School: An Italian Experience
Rossella’s five years of elementary school took place at Parco Trotter, where she had also done scuola materna (preschool). We had been spoiled by a great scuola materna experience; elementary was… not so great. I’m reaching the conclusion that the quality of education hinges almost entirely on the quality of teachers. And there’s the rub.… Continue reading Elementary School: An Italian Experience
School Trips: An Italian Tradition
^ downtime in Siena during a class trip to Tuscany It’s traditional in the Italian school system, at least from middle school on, for each class to take a school trip (gita scolastica) most years. Rossella started at age five, during her last year of scuola materna. Though most of them had never been away from home… Continue reading School Trips: An Italian Tradition
Scuola Materna: Public Preschool in Italy
Scuola materna (kindergarten) is a wonderful thing. In Italy, every parent has the right – though not the obligation – to put their child in preschool, free of charge, for three years, until they begin first grade in their sixth year. Traditionally, this seems to have been regarded as a way to socialize kids to… Continue reading Scuola Materna: Public Preschool in Italy