heartofdakota.com

Hi, I’m doing some homeschool research for my sister who just adopted two children from Russia (she’s understandably a bit busy right now . The older brother is seven and will be eight when they start school next fall. His little sister will be five in April. They don’t speak any English, except what they’ve picked up in the last month since their arrival. He’s had a little bit of preschool in the orphanage, but otherwise no formal education. My sister plans on spending the next six months or so just having fun and helping them with their English and will need to start a real curriculum come September.

My question is, what program do you think would be best for the little boy. He’ll be eight years old and only knows a few letters and numbers (though he’ll probably know a bit more by next fall). His sister will probably be doing Little Hands. Anyway, would love some advice and opinions. Thanks so much, can’t wait until mine are old enough to get started with HOD!

Congratulations on your new niece and nephew! We adopted from that side of the world as well. I would really wait to decide until just before she is ready to start. I think she is going to find they will blossom in the next few months and pick up on so much. Then I would re-evaluate looking at the placement chart. http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php I know my little ones picked up so much in the first few months they were completely different kids by the time six months had passed. So I might look at the placement chart now and see where they are at but re-evaluate. Something she might want to do is pick up The Reading Lesson and just work with them a little here and there with no pressure. Right now while they are picking up the language is actually an excellent time to introduce reading as well. The Reading Lesson is just a really quick and fun program. My kids begged to do it. I also used the cd as a reward for doing the lesson for the day. They loved it! Either way The placement chart is really accurate. But in this case she probably does not yet know where they are really at since they probably can't express it all yet.

Congratulations on your new family members! Adoption is a blessing!

Welcome to the HOD Board, and congrats to sis on adopting! How nice you are helping her out with homeschooling placement in this busy time! I really liked water2wine's advice in the pp. Dc are amazing what they can absorb in 6 months! Looking at the placement chart now, and then again in 6 months will help with placement. In general, when the English language is being learned too, that is a priority, so in general, when looking at the placement chart, I would in this case place less importance on "age", and more on reading, writing, math. I would also consider beginning half-speed and easing into things so there is ample time for all of the rest of life learning and love building that will be taking place! HOORAY for your sister, and be sure to share more here when dc arrive and you find out more details about placement!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks so much for the advice--this is such a great community! . We'll wait and see where they are this summer. It's amazing how fast they are picking up the language. I was even able to talk with my little niece on the phone today and she understood what I said! It'll be fun to have real conversations, when the time comes. In the mean time, I'm having fun researching homeschooling for her. My ds is 3 1/2 and is enjoying playing all day...so this is a great outlet for me (who can't wait to start school, lol).