I hard that Palmer School is a reputable private K-8 school in Walnut Creek. Does anyone have experience about Palmer 's Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs? When I visited Palmer School recently, I noticed that the teacher was ''teaching'' the 4, 5 year old about body parts and math on the blackboard. Is it too ''academic''? I will appreciate any opinions. ''headache'' Mom

Kindergarten is a lot different - it is much more academic. I like that they divide the kids into 4 different math and reading groups depending on ability. My son is starting to read, add and subtract but he is one of the oldest kids in his class and in the top group in both math & reading. Other kids are still working on letters and counting to 100. Just depends on what they are ready for. My son has about 15 minutes of homework a night (M-Th)for reading and about once a month he has a math packet that he can do over time. My impression is that some of the other reading/math groups have less homework. We had always planned on sending my son to public school in first grade, but are rethinking it now because he loves going to school and doing the homework. Happy Parent