School at Home {aka Homeschooling}

We have one week of school done and so far it has gone well. Since it is summer, I am keeping it quick and casual. One subject a day alternating between math and phonics. I dropped the girls all down a grade for starters, so it should mostly be review -- and it is -- until you add in word problems.

Here lies the problem with word problems. My three Littles have zero thinking skills! Really! They do NOT think. They just do -- or expect to have things done for them. It's not an unusual problem for adopted children -- especially ones who have spent much of their early formative years in an institution. The bigger problem is that they went from the institution of an orphanage to having institutional school.

I am tempted to say it was a big mistake on my part to send them to school instead of homeschooling as was recommended in their medicals.However, for my sanity's sake, it was not a mistake. It was very overwhelming having three extra children in the home who were very needy in a multitude of ways. The reality is, they are still needy in a multitude of ways, but I am at a place where I am better able to handle it. I still don't have the best patience, but I am getting better. Meanwhile, we are working on forcing them to think about their actions. A very common word heard in our home these days is, "why?" We question them about everything. Often they will stare at us with a look that says, "who are you to ask me why!" However, more often now they will respond to the question instead of just staring back at their questioner.

Baby steps!