Advice on homeschooling multi - level kiddos........

[teachermom_7]

Good Morning!

My family has been praying about it for awhile, and have peace that this is what the Lord wants us to do, but now I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I could use some advice from you veterans at schooling multi-age / level kiddos...... ....

My brother and sister in law are moving here from Arizona on the 1st. They have a 5 y/o who has NEVER been in any type of school setting (daycare, preschool, homeschool, etc). He's very bright, but he's a very immature 5 y/o. He doesn't know any of the basics (letters, numbers, colors, etc). They were concerned about putting him into the public school system. They know he wouldn't do well on the K-TAP testing and were concerned they'd put him in a remedial / special ed class just for his lack of knowledge.

We mentioned to them about homeschooling him for this year to help him "catch up" with the Kindergarten level work before putting him in school, and they emailed me last night and said they'd like to give it a try.

My concern is we also have a 5 y/o, but mine has done K3 and K4 kindergarten work. We moved him up to a more difficult program this year to help motivate him rather than him just stay stagnant for a year with the "typical" Kindergarten work.

Then, we also have an 8 y/o going into 3rd grade.

Any suggestions on how to "work" my nephew into our program?? Would you just do the same program as what we're doing for my son, just giving my nephew more personal attention and practice til he gets caught up?? Would you go to a more "typical" Kindergarten program that starts at the basics?? Would you even go so far as to go back to a K4 program for the beginning of the year til he learns his basic letters, numbers, etc.??

We've gotten into a pretty good "groove" and we don't want this to interfere with our children's progress. I know the first few weeks are going to be an adjustment and we're preparing our kiddos for that now. Just need some guidance on how to go about making the initial change??

Thanks so much!!

Tammie

[love2read]

You're a generous soul for helping out like this :grouphug: Is he going to be joining your homeschool because she works? If she's working and he'll be at your home all day, I would let her borrow material, probably K4 if that's his level, and show her how to use it on Saturdays and an hour every evening. During school days he can sit in on read alouds and you can review the work she has done with him the night before. She needs to claim some responsibility for his education or there will continue to be problems for him academically.

[Sophia]

Barring any developmental delays, I really don't think it will take him long to pick up the basics at his age.
He probably just needs to be exposed to them regularly, and engaged.

I don't know what else you have planned for K, but you'll probably be able to implement it pretty quickly.

[teachermom_7]

Yes, she is going to have to work for awhile. My brother has been very ill for about the last year, hence the reason they're moving (to be closer to family so we can help out more). She's hoping it will only be for a few months.

She has offered to work with him at home, too, just needing some guidance on where to start! I don't want to start him so low he's bored, but not so high he's stressed, either. I haven't seen him in over a year, so I guess once I spend a few days with him, I'll get a better idea of which direction to go.

Thanks for the tips!

Tammie

[Suzannah]

What have you been using with your own K for K3 & K4? Like the other poster said, barring any sort of learning delays, your nephew should catch up pretty quickly. I'd say just do the same things with him as with your older, but perhaps if you are able to start your own ds on a worksheet or listening to a story read by the older or some other activity, you can then give focused attention to phonics or counting with your nephew for 20 minutes or so. Then send them out to play! Sometimes they need to let all that new information stew for a while before they are ready to apply it.

Blessings to you and your entire family in the upcoming year!

[JeannineW]

How about just starting with ETC Book A? If it is easy, he'll breeze thru but still probably enjoy it. Plus a little math. I start with MUS Primer.

Those things plus joining in with you on other things you are doing would probably be enough to get him started.

[my4boysmom]

I'm a mom of 4 special needs kids and only one of my boys had SE prior to K. They don't usually do anything until after that. I HS my younger two boys and wish I would have done it at the beginning. I agree start with the beginning because some boys are just not ready at five and it has nothing to do with any learning issues. He may be mature due to being the only child also common. Hugs and prayers to you for doing this.

[8FillTheHeart]

None of my children have ever had pre-school. They start K w/o being able to identify any numbers or letters. It has never hampered them in any way. When kids are ready to learn, they can learn in a few days what takes weeks (or perhaps even longer with no success) when they aren't.

The question that really needs to be determined is whether or not he is ready. Many 5 yos aren't. Letter recognition, basic sounds, and numbers should be skills that the majority of 5 yos can accomplish. Reading readiness is another set of skills. Until you have actually worked with him, I don't think you'll be able to make any realistic decisions.