charlotteb Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Last Tuesday, my husband and I were given permanent guardanship (with adoption to follow soon) of our foster child. Her name is Tyra and she is 8 years old. She is currently in the 2nd grade at the local public school. I plan to start homeschooling her next school year. But I am pretty nervous about adding a new person to our homeschooling. This isn't going to be like when I added DD, because she started in preschool. Tyra has big gaps in her education. She has no concepts of phonics, her spelling is horrible, and she has never had any history in school. Does anyone have any past experience with adding an adopted child in late in the game? I'm worried that I will have to spend so much time helping her that my other children may suffer. Plus Tyra has been diagnosed with ADD so that will be a challenge. I 100% believe in homeschooling, but this is new ground for me and I'm so nervous. I would love some advice please! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 The first year I would focus on reading, spelling/writing and math. Once she gets the basics, she can easily pick up the history/science/social studies, etc. For reading, I LOVE the I See Sam books http://www.3rsplus.com or http://www.iseesam.com as they teach all the phonics and you could go through them as quickly or slowly as needed for her. For spelling, Apples and Pears is great adn could be "taught" by one of your older ones as it is all scripted and they just have to read it to her. For math, my favorite is Christian Light Education but others like other math better. She might have to go back a grade level or more but better to get a good foundation to build on first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Would it be possible for you to home school her over the summer to bring her up to speed a bit? She may not like doing school while the others are playing, but you may be able to add some incentive to make it worth while. You can use some workbook style programs to fill in the gaps. Using something like Wordly Wise for vocab, but starting at the beginning. Allowing he to skip as needed, will build confidence and let you see where holes are. Spelling...Building Spelling Skills, Spelling Workout, and Spelling Power are all workbook style...I know there are others but these come to mind. Math...I think There are a few math work books. MCP is one but I am sure there are others. Reading...Explode the Code. For just about any topic..there is some form of workbook/skim coat style learning. The thing I like about workbooks is that they are self contained (no teacher book) and portable. It is easy to do a few pages sitting at a drs office or driving in the car (unless your kiddo gets sick). I think the key to me, would be allowing her to skip what she has already mastered. Build her confidence, but still allow her to grow. For my own kids, we did 'school-lite" in summer. We used our regular curricula, and just worked ahead. Then in the winter, we would have a large cushion to take days off as we decided to. We were never behind, and still usually finished our full-time school year ahead of the other homeschoolers. Sometimes the kids would decide to just move on to the next book, and keep moving ahead. That is how ds17 will finish College Calculus 3 by the end of his Senior year. He has always worked ahead in math. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara R Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 I would start now. Check out the afterschooling board for support. Work with her before and/or after school. Decide what the most important skills are and start teaching her those now. That would be phonics. 15 minutes a day on phonics would yield terrific results. Check out Elizabeth B's phonics page. History can be picked up later through stories or audiobooks. What is her math program like at school? Is she keeping up with that? Besides phonics, math is one of the most important skills she'll need in her future. What is her school homework like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misidawnrn Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Well, I think with homeschooling her, you can back up her education and bring it down to her level, even a little bit before her level to build her confidence. Then you can tailor her education to fit her better. If she stays in school, she is going to remain behind in reading and phonics. IMO, the public school isn't going to "fix" her lagging education, only make it worse. You have to know the basics before moving on, but you already know that. At 8, she is still very teachable as far as phonics goes. My DD is almost 8 and we are still doing phonics and her spelling is typical 2nd grade. You can do her schooling in short bursts to get her used to your style and being home for school. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juelle Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Explode the Code! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest steffers Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Husb and I have recently adopted: 7 ds and 8 (almost 9) dd (our only children) DD is very behind. We started with explode the code book 1. She sailed through it in about a month and a half, and now we're working on book 2 and doing well. Started Math U See and enjoying it. I couldnt wait to get them out of ps so she could catch up, she was so far behind and not learning anything even though she was on an individualized ed. program. They just didnt push her at all... So here we are, its been a trip, but worth it!! Dont know much about add, my dd may have it, but with lots of attention (discipline as well as tons of encouragement) she is learning to control herself. You've got tons more experience than i do! You can do it!! :c) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I think I would start over with basic phonics, a little history and math. Then let her choose something "elective" she is excited about. Congratulations and blessings to you and your dh for adopting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clementine Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I have no words of wisdom or experience with this, but I wanted to say Congratulations!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimmy Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Do you think she would tolerate afterschooling some phonics now? If you can spend 15-20 minutes a night on a good phonics program that would give you a huge headstart on next year since phonics is so parent intensive. Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anneofalamo Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I have one recommendation, if you can go for an hour perhaps 2-3 times a week to her classroom? Talk with the teachers, explain you will be homeschooling and their concerns for her educationally. They can be a great resource, and can help with any learning styles also. See how she learns in the group, shy, or blares out answers, wrong or right? It is a big eye opener...and I would so let her degoss (get the PS mentality out). She will catch up, but let her play and laugh with you all! and woot woo on the process moving, makes my heart zoom! can't wait to read it's official! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooRho Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 We had a foster child who I was able to hs. The child was the oldest in the family. it worked. Probably the best thing for child too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 :iagree: with the others--focus on the basics first and get those up to speed and then add in the other studies...afterschooling sounds like a great idea if you can hs her now......good luck...and congrats.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Aside from aferschooling your new dd (congratulations!!!), I'd also focus this year on working towards as much independance with the older ones as you're comfortable with. Don't worry that she's behind, focus on the basics and gently work give her that strong foundation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Congratulations on your newest member of the family! :001_smile: You have gotten some great advice. Take it slowly and enjoy being together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 :grouphug: You can start her out nice and easy with some simple phonics with my concentration game. Teach a few letters and sounds and then play a game with just those cards. The nonsense words help stop the guessing that comes from learning sight words, so it is helpful and fun at the same time. Even 5 to 10 minutes a day will get you a fair amount of progress, hopefully without too much pain. Keep adding a few sounds and cards each time you play. http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Phonics/concentrationgam.html Eventually, you may want to afterschool her in more depth, having her watch my phonics lessons and/or work through the program on my how to tutor page. http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Reading/howtotutor.html That should get you a good start on next year and get her used to working with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate CA Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 I just want to say that 8yo is really not "late in the game" at all for beginning homeschooling! You can do a great job and can teach her where she is, rather than where the school has her or where you thinks he should be. She has had a not-so-normal life up until now, I would gather, and that alone will add to her educational struggles. When you start homeschooling, she may excel in areas you wouldn't have thought she could. Each child is worth the individualized time you give them and it will not be to the detriment of your other children. They will see that you value your new child and that you want her to be a part of your family homeschool experience. I have been homeschooling for a long time now and my oldest is 17 (she has always been homeschooled) and I have four others. Some years one child needs more help than other years or in one area over the others at different times during the school year, but it always works out and no one gets left behind. It really is just a matter of taking one day at a time and dealing with the needs of that day. If you get too far ahead of yourself you will be worrying about 11th grade and not dealing with her real needs right now. Each day has enough trouble and enough joy of its own. Congratulations on growing your family! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Does anyone have any past experience with adding an adopted child in late in the game? I do. My dd was a pre-teen when we adopted her. I homeschooled her for a year and then put her in school. She was soooooo far behind academically, and her behavior was so challenging, that it simply did not work for us. Plus, she hated being homeschooled and wanted to be in school. I figured she'd been through enough changes and, if school was something familiar to her, it was better for her to be there. Sorry if I sound like a downer. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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