Here's our plan: PreK/K: learn Hebrew alphabet; oral Hebrew "immersion style" K: learn to print letters of alef bet (Hebrew alphabet); start reading at the end of K 1: improve Hebrew reading and oral skills 2: learn Hebrew script 5: add modern language (most likely Spanish) 7: begin study of Aramaic 9: possible addition of second modern language or just focusing on biblical Hebrew, modern Hebrew, Aramaic, and Spanish (or whatever they choose) Too fun!!

I've been a piano teacher for 20 years... :) Definitely go with the one that your son is happiest with. In the earliest years, that nurturing relationship is crucial to developing a love of music. Whether he starts contests now or when he's 10 (or never, if his personality isn't suited to it) will make NO difference in the long run. A teacher that is warm and encouraging will let the music take root and develop deeply in him. I love being a (mostly retired now!) music teacher. I just have a handful of students now after having had 50+ before my oldest was born, but I've had one family for 7 years and another for 10 years. It's a unique relationship because I've been able to watch them develop into wonderful teenagers instead of working with them for just a year and watching them move on to another teacher. There is nothing like it. Except teaching my own kids!!!!! :)

I find that for core subjects, it's actually best for us NOT to be in a co-op. Then for more elective kinds of things - art, music, field trips, nature walks, etc. - it's lots of fun to do it cooperatively. So we keep our mornings (9:00-1:00) for core studies, then the afternoons are free to do whatever with whomever.

We go year-round. With kids aged 5, 3, 2, and 1, it's really nice to not worry about it if a day goes kaplooey. :) We take off all the Jewish festivals and holidays. In August we did a pretty light load. In the summer we do a lot of outdoor learning. I read of a family that schooled 9-12 every day that the father of the family was working. They even did this in high school. I think it's a great system if it works for you. We're at the beginning of this journey, so we'll take it year by year.