The School of Hard Knocks .... Part II

You know they say the sequel is never better than the origional... I'll see about that.
we have had a lot of ups and downs  and round and rounds this year...
After france we moved to N. Africa. Once we moved here, we decided that it was too late to get our kids into the school year so we finished the year in homeschool, but it was light.
We decided on national school for the girls. I mean, it was supposed to be half french and half arabic and they had already learned french so this should be easier than when we moved to France right?
We found out it was only 1 hr a day of french... 90% arabic. and the arabic they would be learning would be one type, but the teachers don't speak that, they speak an all together different type of arabic... and none of those are the language of the people who live there. Confused yet? me too.

we started asking questions about what the girls would do during the day and what alternative do they have to islamic studies... nothing... well not nothing. they would throw all 3 of them into the library during that time... with no supervision. ok...

Then we asked what kind of tutoring they could get. None. oh and the school gets its funding from the government, we don't want you messing up our arabic test scores with your kids who know no arabic... so your 7/8th grader... she'll be starting in 3rd. Your 3 and 4th grader: Kindergarten. But Nyla... she's good to go at 4 years old.

Then we got the girls tested to find out how they were doing academically... just to find out that Ada most likely has a learning disorder that we haven't diagnosed yet.

So, here we are again. Just like old times... but different. not a 4th and kindergartener, but an 8th, 4th and 2nd grader... yes we had to change grade levels around.. but C'est la vie (nope didn't lose my french in the process).

So here's Ella:She enjoys language , but not listening to her mom. She IS a tween. She'll be starting out in 8th grade (skipping a grade) to see if she can handle it. On the side she'll be working with her mother at the english school and taking the tribal language of the region. one cool kid.

This is Zoe: sporty, spicy , fun. She is preparing herself for 4th grade. Don't let her fool you, she is a hard worker and can't wait to be the top of her class (although, she's the only one IN her class).

 Then there's Ada. What a looker. When she's not rolling around in the sand with the locals, she's getting ready for 2nd grade. Mostly to catch up in subjects she struggled in. She wants to be a "cooker" when she gets older and can't wait to perform for anyone who wants to enjoy.Go Ada.

Then there's Nyla. What a firecracker. She may be 4 but she's got 3 sisters worth of spunk. She'll be starting at the local National school. She'll learn how to spell, read and write this year. they start em earlier and earlier. Love that kid.

And let's not forget mom and dad. We are both starting language school #2 this week. Thankfully they are not in the same class so that they feel the overwhelming urge to compete with each other. School for ALL!!!!

Well, that's us. Can't wait for this year to begin... tomorrow.