Because Maya and Isaac weren't schooled prior to joining our family, there are some concepts that are really difficult for them to grasp. This is one of many things adoptive families don't talk about. It's a little embarrassing and quite frustrating when your 9 year old is on a first grade level in some areas. You want so badly for them to catch up quickly. You don't want other kids to notice what they aren't able to do yet. But teaching everything they've missed all those years takes time. And patience.Isaac isn't reading yet, and Maya is just getting beyond Dick & Jane books. I have to remind myself how long it took my bio kids to learn to read and they were exposed to it all their lives. Isaac hasn't learned all the sounds that letters make. He really struggles to say "th" correctly, because dat sound isn't said over dare in Liberia. Teaching them patiently requires that I depend on the Lord. He is faithful to equip me for the task. I'm so thankful for that.
By the way, Maya learned how to add two and three digit numbers today and Isaac read seven sentences! I'm so proud of them.
10 comments:
Oh Ginger, I hear you and I don't even have older kids from Liberia! At first it really concerned me that Isaiah couldn't get a simple concept (a color, shape) after a week of going over it, reading books about it etc. Then I decided I was making myself and him crazy, he's only 5 after all. Now he is learning on his own and I feel so much better about it. I know it's not the same as your situtaion since your kids are older but I still get the "wanting them to be 'normal'" thing in the educational area. I also think, 'they would never have had this opportunity if they were still in Liberia and it makes all the pressure go away. Praying for your patience!
I hear you too! So glad you posted this. Mine have been here for 6 years and there are still things that are harder for them to grasp.
Have you heard before that having kids do puzzles each day helps develop skills that help with math? It is supposed to create pathways for problem solving in the brain. My Lillie has been struggling with math and it has helped her tremendously.
Blessings to you in all that you do. I love reading about it here.
Angie
That's a great idea, Angie, and very interesting! I enjoy math myself, but I HATE puzzles. My dad and sister do puzzles together every year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas. (It's a tradition.) Kyle always joins in, and I'll do it for about 20 minutes before leaving them to it and retiring to the kitchen. LOL! I'd rather wash dishes than do a puzzle. I'll pull them out of the closet and have Kyle do the puzzles with them. Ha!
What math do you use? It looks like it's in a spiral bound.
When our kids are on different levels or write neat or messy--this is a privilege of home schooling that we can focus on different things for different children:)
Thank God for our hubbyies as our teacher aide!!!
Ginger, I find this to be SO true with my Liberians. I am trying to teach Jerome to read and it is very slow-going. Thankfully, he is patient with it. I think it is hard for him (at age 7 or 8 we don't know) to see his younger brother--our bio. son age 5, reading. In Liberia, they teach the children to read through memorization, not phonics, so we are starting back at the beginning--with letter sounds. Jerome also can't say "th". Our 5 year-old Liberian daughter is struggling with colors. I haven't even attempted anything else. I still haven't figured out how to get them interested in listening to me read them a book!!
Laura
So glad you mentioned the memorization, Laura! It totally confused me how Maya could spell almost anything, but not be able to read at all! Very strange method.
Daniel does get colors and has pretty good language, but can't answer questions to save his life. Questions totally confuse him. I now try to state everything as a statement so he'll understand. He almost always says "I don't know" or just looks at me blankly.
Sigh.
Karen,
We use and love Math U See.
Yes, I am very grateful they're not away all day at school. I'm so thankful that I can teach them where they are. I just gotta develop more patience.
:D
ahhh - patience is a virtue that escapes me. i often think to myself that i'd better get a little before the Lord sees fit to work it in me - YIKES!
science and math are hard for me to teach. thank the Lord for daddies who help out :D
Ginger,
I so enjoy reading your blog! My husband and I are looking to start the adoption process in the next two years, probably in Liberia. We currently have four children ages 5, 3, 1, and 10 weeks.
I was wondering if you would consider writing a whole post on some of the things you have learned since adopting, things people never told you about, but would have been helpful. We would really like to go into adoption with our eyes wide open, so I would really appreciate any advice you could give.
Ashley
That's a great idea, Ashley! I'll get to work on that. :)
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