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Question: My daughter started kindergarten in a Catholic school, but after 8 weeks I had to pull her out and homeschool her for the rest of the year because of daily seizures and her being tired during class because of medications and the school was not able to cope with it. She went to public school for 1st grade, and it was suggested that she repeat, which she just did. I am so disappointed with 2 years in 1st grade, special education teachers and she still is so far behind and is not able to read, not to mention the social aspect that my husband and I are not happy with. I worked as a paraprofessional in the school so I do know first hand what is going on not only in 1st grade but up through 5th. I feel that she will just get passed on to the next grade every year regardless of where she is academically. I feel strongly about homeschooling her because I just believe she will slip through the cracks. She is a wonderful little girl with no behavioral problems and will keep getting passed to the next grade. She has daily seizures and this is causing problems with her being tired after a seizure and then some memory problems. I have another daughter that is at the opposite end of the spectrum and skipped second grade and will be starting 5th grade at a local Catholic school. My question is, if I do homeschool, where do I start? 2nd grade because that is what the school has promoted her to?
Answer:

Dear Mom,

May God bless you and your beautiful daughters. 

If you decide to home school your younger daughter, you have two options. The first option is to forget about grade levels and grading. Check with your state regulations as some states may require grades. Concentrate on teaching your daughter to read. When she learns how to read, then she can confidently take on new subjects. Spend about thirty minutes a day working on reading skills. You can use Nancy Nicholson's Little Stories for Little Folks Phonics reader. I used Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons with a second grader who could only recognize his own name, and that book worked quite well. And read to your daughter daily from a variety of fiction and nonfiction books that are appropriate for her level. You can discuss these as you read. For example, there are stories of saints and other famous historical people that you can read to her and increase her historical knowledge in a gentle way. Some current news articles or stories about science would be helpful. Play educational games with her each day, including map puzzles, math games, spelling games, short science experiments, and so on. There are wonderful games on line that she can play on her own and learn a great deal at her own pace. Continue with this approach until she is able to read confidently. Then if you wish and depending upon her health, you may want to place her in a more structured program.

Your second option is to begin with a second grade program that permits flexibility which the Catholic Heritage Curricula program does. This program is separated into core and non-core subjects. Begin with only the core subjects and go slowly at your daughter's pace. If she is unable to handle the second grade work in a subject, then back up to the latter half of first grade in that topic in that subject only. You can probably fill in with games in a situation like this, or substitute another book. For instance, recognizing rhyming words is a first grade reading standard. If she cannot recognize rhyming words, then read poetry to her and make up rhyming words as a game. A second grade standard is to understand, follow, and give oral directions. She may have no difficulty with this second grade standard and easily complete this topic. When she learns to read, then begin adding the non-core subjects one by one.

Whatever your decision, work slowly and don't worry about trying to keep up with grade levels, especially if you are home schooling. If anyone asks what grade your daughter is in, simply say that she is being home schooled at her own pace in all subjects. That is all that is necessary for anyone. May God grant you peace!

Yours,

Sandra Garant


   
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