Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Destroyer]

I have recently started teaching my 4 year old son and his 6 year old cousin English at home. He is as fluent as a 4 year old can get, but he doesn't have the coordination to write yet. His cousin is a few years older, she is from a monolingual Korean household but she has been in English classes before. Her writing is nice, her reading is a little more developed than my son, but her speaking and listening skills are far lower than my son.

I don't have much experience teaching kids this young and I am looking for text book advice. Are there any books you have found particularly effective for this age level? I am open to teach reading, writing, speaking and listening. They both really like drawing and coloring (duh).

So far I have been reading standard story books (cat in the hat, eric carle, etc.) and then making worksheets and coloring exercises. I would like to get a little more structure in the class. Have some long term progression going on! I need advice.

[jonpurdy]

[viciousdinosaur]

It's almost impossible to teach two kids with two totally different skill sets. As was mentioned above, use their strengths to teach each other. Have them engaged in organized play.

[Destroyer]

Thanks for the advice guys. I do enjoy the free form lessons and the kids are definitely interested in the story books, but I'm worried about actually "Teaching" them something. Worried that the progression is logical, and not jumping around too much. What are the names of some of these leveled books? My son's kindergarten only does story books and the niece was using a writing book for a while, 100 Words to Know by 1st Grade... kinda aimless, not anything "leveled."

I definitely agree with the advice that the girl is going to develop more from genuine play and use of language. she has actually made great progress. What about my boy's writing? Any tips there? Both he and I are left handed, and I remember having a hell of a time getting taught my letters by an uptight right handed only teacher. She would just wrench my hand around so it would simulate a right handed position, now my hand is above the line that I am writing on. Should I just try to let him develop naturally? Is it dangerous for him to see me writing all wonky?

Before anyone tells me I'm over thinking it, I know I am.

[scorpiocandy]

I hope you don't mind a question but I am curious about something.

I have seen a few times people on here who are married to Koreans writing a post about "teaching" their children English. When you are at home, do you and the Korean parent speak only Korean? Or do you speak both languages? If you only speak Korean, why not English too (equally). If you speak both, does the child still have a stronger ability in Korean so that he/she needs extra structured lessons?

I'm South African. English is my first language but I'm equally fluent in a second language (spoken in my house) and can speak a few others (not spoken in my house)
I was never "taught" my second language. My parents speak it to each other and it's just around the house. We had language lessons in school of course but we pick the second (or third language even) up at home and are pretty well-versed in it by the time we get to school.

So in my mind, this method ensures that the child just learns (absorbs?)all languages spoken by the family in the house, as naturally as it learns the first language. Granted in South Africa, the whole country is at least bilingual, which makes the second language easier to pick up but in our first few years when we're learning to speak, how much of the outside world do we come into contact with?

I always encourage Korean people, who can speak English, to speak it to their kids at home as often as they can. I believe that this facilitates the learning of the language in a more natural way. but it appears that even native English speakers children are having to be "taught" English.
Are your chidren also taught Korean in the way they are taught English? Or is English the weaker language, even though one parent is English-speaking?

I hope this doesn't sound at all critical or confrontational. I really am just wondering how it works.

[madowlspeaks]

Ambleside online is awesome.
This is grade 1. http://www.amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml


It is literature based, and will give you ideas about what your child should know for history, literature, geography, et..

You will additional programs like phonics try Headprout (online) or Phonics Cue (book), math (singapore math or free online MEP math ) and a science program (try Blue Planet or Brain Bank.)
At that age though, phonics is a MUST
BOOK STORES
http://ltr.co.kr/shop/together/index.php?page=5
yes24.com
whatthebook

Should give you a nice start

One book will not do it all.

If you are looking for bare bones go with a good phonics program like Headsprout combined with a book like Phonics Cue and use the leveled Brain Bank sets for science and social studies. (K-5)

Cheers!


Look at homeschoolreviews
http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/

[madowlspeaks]

[madowlspeaks]