Wednesday, January 5, 2011

ELL Frustrations

It seems like we take 3 steps forward and 2 steps back some weeks when it comes to the boys learning to read. Eli has come so far from a year ago. He started out with no English and no reading or writing, no school experience for the most part. Lucas had schooling, had to learn English also and to read and write in English. So I need to tell myself that even when we have a tough night with reading books and homework they have achieved more in a year than some kids (and grown ups) do in a much longer time frame.

I also need to kick myself in the butt when I'm frustrated with constantly explaining and reexplaining that "no they aren't where their AMERICAN peers are with the school work. No, we've been told, by people who are very knowledgeable, that it will take SIX years, not six months before we should expect that. There are no miraculous infusions of knowledge." It is in the gutter, sweat, tears and a few unpleasant thoughts directed at random individuals, warfare!

And then......the sun shines. Eli sitting at the table with one of his two nightly reading books, telling us how to pronounce "ing" at the end of his words. How to find the start and the end of a book.....yes that has to be learned also. It's Lucas reading something (not necessarily a school book) and coming to us to tell us what he knows about it. Guess what? His knowledge wasn't contained within the reading material and he was correct. It's Rachel sitting at the table and working with Lucas to help him make it through those school reading books that are kicking his butt.

So at the end of this rant I've learned I need to notice the sun more and let the cloudy parts go knowing that the sun is on the other side and we are truly having more sunny weather all the time.

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