Lessons in Language

So we've almost traveled 2 years on the road with our Max, and the journey is presently bringing us to Kindergarten. I can't believe it's that time already, but no matter how much we wish it to be otherwise our babies grow up!

Last month Max was tested for at our little private, half way, homeschool, school.  Our kids attend 2 days a week and then we homeschool, with assignments and objectives from the teacher, the other 3.  It sounds a little sketchy to the outside world, and I have to admit when I first heard about it I could not imagine what a homeschool school could possibly be...do the parents go to school with the kids?..do moms take turns teaching?...what could it be?  Well, it's none of those.  It's a normal school two days a week.  Our kids go to class, eat lunch, have labs, activities like band and the yearbook, they have a school newspaper and even student council.  The teachers are all degreed and the school is accredited.  It's the perfect place for our family.

Well, as I said Max was tested and he wowed the tester with a 52/100...that's right he failed! He failed big time, it wasn't even close.  I'm not sure what I was expecting.  He is super smart as proven by his quick wit and coping skills, but he is still only 20 months into a new language, he spoke Thai, very well, the first 4 years of his life.  I've read it takes 5 years to truly master language and I believe it, but Max seemed so far ahead of the game.  As a momma would wish I hoped he would do really well so everyone would see what I see.

I asked the tester what questions he missed, he did poorly on body parts, numbers and the alphabet...pretty much everything.  She said, very sweetly mind you "Oh I'm sorry we don't tell the parents what questions we ask.".  REALLY???  Our little half way homeschool school won't tell us what our child is going to be tested over?  I'm not asking for the codes to the nuclear warheads, just the body parts my son can't name.  Which I have found out through the underground momma network they are expected to know such body parts as forearm, chest and calf...okay he should have failed...he couldn't in a million years point to or say any of those is asked. He would say tummy, arm and leg...by the way is it fair he be asked to name the forearm when he's kind of missing one?  That's another post...

As I went on to talk to her about Max I shared with her Max's language issues. He seems to understand, he's very good at convincing us he understands, we believe he understands, until he does something really strange...then we get it....he doesn't always understand.  He can ask over and over where we are going and when we get on the car he will ask again. I've come to realize that he keeps asking because he doesn't understand what we are saying.  "Taking Allison to get a passport." for example, means nothing so he nods his head and asks again.  If I change the answer to "Taking Allison to get a piece of paper." he stops asking.  "Passport" means nothing to him so he's confused, paper he gets.  He doesn't appear confused, but he is.  As I explained this to her she smiled sweetly, again, and assured me Max responded like every other 5 year old who has lived in this country all his life. HMMMMM so most other 5 year olds get a 52/100?  If so then Max is a genius and should just skip right over Kindergarten.  

The fact that Max still has language issues is neither here nor there.  The fact that he did poorly on his placement test doesn't matter.  Even the fact that the tester can't acknowledge he continues to have language issues and will for several years, doesn't matter.  I just have to remember who Max is and where he came from.  Honestly, to get half the test right after less than 2 years seems pretty good to me.  I would love to ask her how an English speaking child would do if he moved to Thailand at 4 and was expected to test into Kindergarten at the normal level 20 months later, but I did not and will not.  It's enough for me that I know.  Language comes slowly and kids are wonderful adapters.  Max adapts to every situation.  He watches what everyone else is doing and follows suite.  He shakes his head and nods and convinces those around him he gets it, but often times he doesn't.

Max will go to our little Kindergarten.  He'll be fine.  He might struggle for a while, he might even repeat, but that's to be expected.  As we continue on this road we just keep peeling off layers and dealing with what's underneath!