x-post: Feeling nervous about teaching Things One and Two!

[Twinmom]

I'm getting REALLY nervous about adding my twins into our home school class this year. With all the love in my heart, I call them "Thing One and Thing Two" for a reason! They were born to a meth addict, and they can be challenging as a result. They tend to be all-encompassing kiddos. In my nicer moments, I call them "busy." In my more frustrated moments, well...I won't share! ;) They are very hard to keep still, they talk constantly, they are strong willed and they make it difficult for DD8 and DS7 to focus on their work. DD already is dealing with a visual processing disorder and DS7 (also a highly distracted child!) is gifted and hard to keep up with.

 

The twins are smart, they want to do kinder with me, they love to learn and love to go, go, go! I can see some real advantages to teaching them at home. I think they are also gifted, like their bio brother DS7 (who was born when birth mom was not using drugs). However, I'm worried about the older two falling behind because of the twins, and I'm frankly very worried about my own stress level. At the end of last year, I tried to sign them up for kinder at their church preschool. My thinking was, one more year of maturity and I can handle them! However, the school decided not to offer it, but rather to offer a strong transitional kinder program with the same teacher they had last year. She is amazing, and the boys did really well with her. However, I know they are intellectually ready for kinder and may find the work repetitive and boring (kiss of death for these two!).

 

So, here I am wondering still what to do with them. I'm hedging my bets...I have all the kinder curriculum ready, and still have them signed up for transitional kinder. I am considering having them home two days a week and in school three days (8am-12pm), but something about that feels like a cop-out. Still, I have essentially four kiddos with special needs, and I'm not superwoman! Oh, and for those who will rightly ask...the twins have been in ECI since they were 9 months old, and are still in speech therapy. So far, speech is the only long term issue noted. The "activity level" could end up being ADHD, but for now no one knows if it is just 5 yr old boy x 2 or an issue. They ARE significantly better when separated, and are making significant strides in their preschool class with attention/behavior/academics.

 

Any advice? A Valium or two to share? ;) Seriously, talk me down here...I'm literally having nightmares about either screwing up my kids' education or ending up in the psych ward! :o

[Twinmom]

Bump.

[Twinmom]

OK, last bump, then I give. Anybody have some advice? Anybody?

[Unicorn.]

You CAN do this. Don't try to be superwoman, you aren't, and it will only frustrate you more if you think you have to be. I think your gut feeling about a transitional class is probably right on the money. Having done something similar w/ my twins- it was a disaster. Bring them home-full time (jmho).

 

Plan to separate them during schoolwork- opposite sides of the room or different rooms if possible when they are working on their own. Do you live somewhere where you can send them outside to play w/out constant supervision? Add lots of movement time to their day- even if you have to dance around the living room for 20 minutes mid-morning.

 

To keep them busy while you are working w/ the older two:

 

Are they reading yet? If so, lots of books. Also, an educational computer game (such as jump start K ) can keep them busy/ reinforce concepts, etc. Board games such as Hi-ho cheeri-o, or some other educational game can be added into their day as part of school. They could listen to books on tape while playing w/ blocks.

 

It will take a little bit of time for them to get used to your school routine, but keep gently reminding them they have to be respectful of their sibling's time.

 

Good luck, you can do this! :001_smile:

[Vida Winter]

http://miraclebelt.com/

 

It is a weighted belt that helps kids stay calm. They have a 30 day money back guarantee. My thinking is that if they put it on for classwork they could stay focused; putting it on and taking it off throughout the day when they needed to sit down for work. I don't know anyone who has tried it but from the testimonials it sounds like the kids who use it really like it.

[Twinmom]

Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement, ladies! Both pieces of advice are great!

 

Keep 'em coming!

[klmama]

If so, I'd still consider sending them! I've known a number of people who chose that for their active little ones, and it's worked well for them. They brought them home for 1st grade, and were able to blend them right into the mix without having to disrupt the education of the older ones in any way. I haven't done it myself, and won't because of lack of decent options here, but if you think the kindergarten is a good one, it's worth considering.

[muffinmom]

If so, I'd still consider sending them! I've known a number of people who chose that for their active little ones, and it's worked well for them. They brought them home for 1st grade, and were able to blend them right into the mix without having to disrupt the education of the older ones in any way. I haven't done it myself, and won't because of lack of decent options here, but if you think the kindergarten is a good one, it's worth considering.

 

:iagree: It doesn't seem like a bad idea, given the circumstances. They could get some of their energy out without wearing you out, and by first grade, they hopefully will be more mature and more manageable. If you hate them being away, you can always bring them back home.

[Twinmom]

You guys are making me feel SO much less guilty about sending them to transitional kinder! Thanks for letting me off the hook! I know that it will be nearly impossible to accomplish what I want to with the older two if the younger two are at home, simply because of the way they are. Not to say I wouldn't try it with another younger set, but these two...whew! They can really wear you out. They just had a babysitter in the house, and I think she's completely exhausted...and she's a 36 yr old special needs teacher! :D

 

The fact is, I need to consider everyone and I know that DD has a catchup year coming due to falling slightly behind due to her visual processing disorder. One more year and she'll probably be right where she needs to be. DS7 is one of those kids who will do well whereever you stick him, and he can probably do mainly independent work this year save some supervision to stay on task. DD is in need of much more handholding.

 

Other than unreasonable Mommy-guilt, I think my biggest concern about the twins is that this is NOT full kinder. They will be taught pre-reading, but not reading itself. They will not do full kinder math. That is why I was thinking that I'd maybe do two days a week to add some of that in. Frankly, I'd planned on giving it a go this summer, but DD's 3x a week VT in a city an hour and a half from home has done me in.

 

Would you all let them go to preschool with the two day a week plan? Would you suggest letting them go 5x a week as scheduled and "catch up" the following year? Technically, they'd be in 1st by age at that point.

 

Thanks, esp. for the online :chillpill:! Helps a lot!

[Twinmom]

:iagree: It doesn't seem like a bad idea, given the circumstances. They could get some of their energy out without wearing you out, and by first grade, they hopefully will be more mature and more manageable. If you hate them being away, you can always bring them back home.

 

You know, that gives me another idea. Maybe I can try the trans. kinder class in the fall and see how the older ones are doing, then phase in the younger ones. Two days a week to start, full time after Christmas if they surprise me and do well. They'll be six in Feb...maybe they'll be ready by then.

 

Hmmm.

[Unicorn.]

You know, that gives me another idea. Maybe I can try the trans. kinder class in the fall and see how the older ones are doing, then phase in the younger ones. Two days a week to start, full time after Christmas if they surprise me and do well. They'll be six in Feb...maybe they'll be ready by then.

 

Hmmm.

 

That's a good plan, and if you aren't ready in Dec. then they can finish out the year in transition. Just wanted to add that maybe you could do some math and reading w/ them when they get home from "school". I'm glad you're feeling less stressed about your decisions! :001_smile:

[Twinmom]

Yep, that's what I'll do. No reason to let that curriculum just sit on a shelf now, is there?! ;) I'll just do the best I can with what I've got!