Anybody have any experience with e.nopi ?

[Craig]

Just looking for some feedback, positive, negative, indifferent, etc. Was thinking of enrolling my youngest daughter into early e.nopi (for academic supplementation) and have her go to a non-Asian (i.e. less academic) preschool. Obviously the academics are better at the Asian preschools, but I don't want to stick her in that social environment (let's only hang around with our own kind, etc.).

[kimpossible]

Through university ties we went a traditional preschool program. Now, *we* were happy with it because of our standin relationship with the faculty there as another faculty family because we were really informed on the program, teachers, peer base of other international graduate student family kids or faculty kids.

A solid program that you and your wife would be happy with at the preschool level, in my opinion been there done that now in elementary school, socialization and adherence to structure is important as is who is both administering the program and who is teaching.

Starting elementary school is a WHOLE different matter. It is deplorable in most cases unless you fob it by moving into the district of the best possible elementary school to receive that district slot. We and the other fobby familes we know are supplementing like mad in STEM, language, art, sport, etc.

What happens is the pace is off. If I remember correctly you have at least one daughter so she may like the process of learning at the NCLB peer pace even if she's materially ahead. My boys don't function well in slower lock-step so we do a mixture of private school that can match his pace in reading and sciences, then we do more STEM supplementation at home and at various locations like research centers, universities and the great outdoors itself. We also started them with tai chi really early. They're not great but it's the practice that matters.

I don't think you would go wrong with the e.nopi school though we go mainly through direct science opportunities like robotics, electronics, deep sea biology and astronomy, but the early preschool programs have strength for structure and socialization that can lay a solid foundation for lifelong learning.

As far as worrying about being too insular, I am so over that. Yes, it's not perfect but I can also tell you from experience that you might also feel the sting of being stereotyped as Tiger parents by whites and if you're Chinese, there's more than a hint of fear from uber liberals that we're going to outperform their children. So insular ethnic enclave or boogeyman of mainstream public education: take your pick.

One recommendation is Singapore's MOE website with education syllabus. Many are using "Singapore math" but beware the trademarked terms used by American companies. I've been working with a few Harvard and MIT folks on STEM programs for K-12. Lots of insider insights on that movement if you're interested. Also resources I could share that are typically free because they are funded through NASA or MIT/Harvard initiatives. Down the road, way down the road there are virtual programs available through Johns Hopkins and Stanford for qualifying students.