Day 2 in Paris!

We had an early morning traveling to Jean Moulin Preschool, which provides care for children ages 3–5 years old. During our visit, we learned about how the school operates and the different resources and services they provide for students. One interesting fact we learned was that the principal is required to teach classes in addition to handling administrative responsibilities, which is very different from schools in the United States. The school has around 188 students, and class sizes can range anywhere from 12–30 children with only two teachers in each classroom. We also learned about some of the challenges the school faces. Unfortunately, the school does not have onsite speech-language pathologists or access to other therapy services for children with special needs. It was surprising to hear that children with dyslexia and autism do not receive the support they need, which is very different from what we are used to seeing in the U.S.

The school day runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but they also provide before- and after-school care from 7:00–9:00 a.m. and 4:30–6:00 p.m. One thing that really stood out to me was the teaching style. There were no screens or technology in sight, which was honestly refreshing to see. At only 4 and 5 years old, the children are already learning how to spell, write in cursive, and solve addition problems. It was such an interesting and eye-opening experience.

After leaving the school, we headed to Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. After climbing what felt like a mountain of a hill, we finally made it to the top and were rewarded with one of the most beautiful views of Paris. It truly felt like a dream. We spent time exploring all of the little pop-up shops and trying different desserts, all of which were amazing. I officially love macarons now! Overall, it was such a beautiful and fulfilling day, and I cannot wait for our next adventure at the School for the Deaf!