Teachers in U.S. schools affected by Mexican immigration need to understand immigrants' prior school experiences when planning lessons and delivering instruction. Mexico requires education through grade 9 and has nearly reached its goal of providing facilities for all school-age children. There are vast differences between rural and urban educational experiences, and grade repetition and dropout rates are high. Rural communities, especially those of Indigenous people where Spanish is a second language, have high rates of poverty, and children often drop out to work. The grading scale in Mexico is commonly 1-10, and examinations are given 5 times a year, with a national examination at the end of the school year. Tests must cover the national curriculum. Practical notes for teachers in the United States cover Mexican schools' lack of ability grouping, greater focus on art, shorter school days, and more informal classroom life. Three resources are given for connecting Mexican and American educators and creating innovative professional development experiences. (Contains 12 references.) (TD)