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Education Excitement

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*THIS IS NOT FINANCE RELATED, so if that doesn’t interest you, skip it.

I’m not sure how much I’ve shared on here about the twins education, and I won’t go too far, but we have reached a HUGE milestone and I am so proud of them and their hard work.

A little background…

When the twins were placed with me, 2 weeks before their 13th birthday, it was quickly discovered that while they were avid readers and their reading comprehension was way above level.  Their writing skills and math skills were horrid — and that is not an exaggeration.  Within the first year, I had them evaluated via the schools and their levels were early elementary school or below…this was in 7th grade.

Of course, as a homeschooler I wanted to pull them out and get to work, but that was not allowed, nor would have been wise since the goal for those first two years they were here was for them to be able to return home.  So we started doing remedial work at home along with their public school work.  And we made a little headway, but as a mom, it was like pulling teeth.  I know it was extra work for them and they were really not used to school being so important.

Ok, so fast forward, 9th grade, the year they were adopted I was able to pull them out and we got busy.  A wonderful woman at our homeschool co op really worked with me and tutored them, I continued doing weekly math with them. Etc.   I think you get the picture…lots of hardwork and headaches and failures and triumphs and tears and slamming doors.

So the news…

The twins completed their end of the year testing…using the TerraNova test for those of you who are interested.  (Also, an FYI, we order standardized tests from Seton Testing, so these are the same tests that are given in public schools for those not as familiar with homeschooling.) We did the complete battery and across the board both twins are on or above grade level with the exception of math.  EVERY SINGLE SUBJECT, we are caught up!  And for math, they are both now solidly on a high school level.

These boys have literally caught up on 12 years of math in just 2 years of hard work.  Super proud mama here!  And History Buff worked so hard last year, that there is a solid chance that he could graduate early.

We will be tackling Geometry this year, so wish us luck.  We are getting started this week with hopes of completing the school year by the end of April again.

I hope you will celebrate with me, these boys have worked SO HARD and OVERCOME so much and I couldn’t be more proud.


11 Comments

  • Reply Walnut |

    Hard work pays off in the end! Your children are beyond blessed to have you in their life and the kids obviously bring you all of the joy life has to offer. I think an extra long hug for each of them is in order tonight.

  • Reply Sunflowers |

    I have been following BAD since Becky was blogging. I have never posted before, but I wanted to praise you for all your efforts. Your hard work and dedication with the twins is really paying off and you are to be commended! You have such a lovely family!

    • Reply Hope |

      Thank you, Sunflowers. I am truly, truly blessed to have all my kids in my life, but I thank God daily for the twins. They have really taught me alot as a parent and human. Many lessons I would never have learned otherwise.

    • Reply Hope |

      Thank you, Tammy, I am super proud of them. It takes a tough cookie to tackle and overcome and succeed at all they’ve been through.

  • Reply kili |

    Great news! What are the twins currently planning on doing after graduating?

    • Reply Hope |

      kili,
      The world is definitely their oyster…and I’m not sure of where they will end up. I continue to think that the military would be a great fit for Sea Cadet. His birth father was military and that makes it important to him, and I think the structure suits his personality. But he’s started making noises about college recently so we will see.
      History Buff changes his mind weekly about what he will do, sometimes coming up with the most outrageous things…like Marine Biologist…until this summer, he didn’t know how to swim! But he’s got a mind as sharp as a tack and a super kind heart. I could definitely see him as a teacher. But really, truly, they are just being opened up to what the world has to offer and understanding that they have so many choices…so we shall certainly see.
      I just try to give them as many experiences to try things as they can…

      • Reply Jean |

        Sea Cadet could do both – go to college AND join the military. Most colleges have an ROTC program, and after graduation he would be commissioned as an officer, rather than going in as an enlisted ‘soldier’ and having to consider OCS (officer candidate school) later.

        I have a friend who did foster to adopt and now homeschools post-adoption. I’ve seen her struggles so kudos to you for sticking with it even when there was ‘gnashing of teeth’ (and slammed doors!). Great job to you, and to them as well.

  • Reply Jen from Boston |

    That’s excellent!! I’m so happy for them!! Writing skills make a big difference throughout your life, both professionally and personally. I’m really glad they were able to get back on track so quickly!

    • Reply Hope |

      Definitely agree, Jenn! Even just feeling out job applications was a really challenging thing for them. I’m really glad we started doing practice early on.

  • Reply Kathy |

    I remember once a teacher telling me, a student who had struggled in algebra and trig and such but blossomed when workingn in geometry, that there seems to be a sort of divide of doing better in one type of math or the other. Maybe this years geometry wont be so bad! So hard to teach hard work and effort. Good job!!

So, what do you think ?