Second favorite was in 6th grade where we were handed a bunch of color coded workbooks and told to go at it. I finished the entire grade's assignments by the end of the first 9 weeks, and I hated math. I was just competitive. In hindsight, it's probably why I was placed in the advanced clas when we were promoted to the next grade level. Because I finished all of that content before the end of 6th grade, too. I understood pre-algebra concepts because I had started writing programs on my dad's Ti 99/4a.
From a young age she has always been alert and curious. We also noticed she would listen intently to instruction, understand it and then apply it so we thought a Montessori might be a better structured environment for her that she would thrive in.
She did a tester day at the Montessori that was local to us at the time and she enjoyed it. The toys and games etc promoted thinking, the activities were always thoughtful and considered (printing, painting, crafts, gardening etc). She was there for two years before starting regular school. Most of the other children were well behaved (most likely because the parents had a similar point of view to learning etc).
To date she has done well in anything she tries, which I think is partly her approach to learning which perhaps was supported by Montessori, as well as our support for her as parents.
8 years later and she still has one close friend from Montessori. That child is also very competent at anything she tries, although her personality is a bit more active, and her parents are also very supportive of their child.
It’s probably worth noting that both children don’t have siblings, so that likely has had a part to play also.
The latter is more focused on self-expression and seems kinda "artsy".
