4KookieKids Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 We're looking at a job situation that will have us in Germany for a 3-4 years at a time (mandatory PS), and then home (in Nebraska) for 1 year, and then back to Germany, etc. Our intention is to PS + afterschool (just a little, like English reading/writing, etc.) while there, and homeschool while here, but I'm just trying to work through the details of what that'd look like. How do you stay (or would you suggest staying) on track during the years you're homeschooling so that it's easy to re-integrate into the school the following year? How well do children switch back and forth like that? Also, on a totally different note: how would you adjust your expectation for the "family language"? Currently, I am my children's only main German input, and so I am constantly pushing them to speak German with me, even though we speak English when my husband is home so that we don't exclude him from the conversation. When we go to Germany, would it be better to continue that expectation (except Hubby will actually be learning German there - yea!) or switch to all English at home since they won't be getting much English anymore at that point? And then, do I switch back when we're here at home again every few years? So many questions! :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) I have only switched twice, but maybe our experience is a little bit helpful. My kids attended ps in the US, and when they were in 4th and 6th grade, we moved to Germany for a semester. We prepared for the move by pulling DD out of school to get her up to speed in math - at the beginning of 6th grade, her US ps was one year behind her German school - and foreign language (they had started French as 2nd foreign language a semester earlier in Germany, so we had to get caught up). That was easily remedied through two months of homeschooling. We found detailed outlines of the state mandated curricula for all subjects in the German schools online. You can easily look at those make sure you cover in your homeschool back in the US what they would cover, to prepare for re-entry a year later. The only subjects where it really matters are math and foreign languages, because gaps will make further progress very difficult (OTOH, you can easily jump into history of a later period even if you have missed the entire previous era). We found it very easy and transparent to figure out the expectations. Since the school day in Germany is very short, it will leave you plenty of time for afterschooling. As far as family language goes: I suggest you play it by ear and see what the kids need. It would certainly be helpful to continue speaking English while in Germany, and to continue speaking German while in the US, but the kids may or may not cooperate with your plans. Ask me how I know. I found that the language they speak in school quickly transcends home life and maintaining the other respective language will take work. Good luck. Would you be returning to the same Bundesland? The differences between the curricula in the different Laender are significant; some are much more rigorous than others. Where would you be? Edited December 23, 2015 by regentrude 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4KookieKids Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) That's very helpful indeed! Thank you! We would be in Waren, and we'd be returning there each time (with a move possible down the road, but this would be the current plan at least). Edited December 23, 2015 by deanna1ynne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 We would be in Waren, and we'd be returning there each time (with a move possible down the road, but this would be the current plan at least). Waren at the Mueritz lake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4KookieKids Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 Waren at the Mueritz lake? Yep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Yep! Nice area - I have been there on vacation. May I ask what your DH will be doing there? (you can pm me if you feel comfortable sharing - if not, I understand) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4KookieKids Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 Nice area - I have been there on vacation. May I ask what your DH will be doing there? (you can pm me if you feel comfortable sharing - if not, I understand) I'll PM you. Thanks for all your thoughts and experience! This is all new territory for us and - while I'm excited about it - it definitely upsets my existing/previous long term educational plans! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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