I want my dcs to keep up with their English - but how?

[trulymadlydeeply]

We moved to France with our dcs over 3 years ago when they were 6, 3 and 1. It was - and is - really important to me that they keep up with their English, so we only buy English books, we try to insist that they speak English to each other, wherever they are and whoever they are with, and we only use English at home.

We were both secondary school teachers in the UK, so it feels REALLY important that we don't just swap one language for another - that they retain their mother tongue and can read, write and spell well in English.

I try to read to them every night, and I try to make them do some formal English once a week with home-made worksheets and stuff, but it's a bit sporadic at times and feels a bit piece-meal. I don't even know what words DS1 should know how to spell at the age of 9.

Does anyone have any ideas or links to decent websites or anything that I might be able to use - to at least know roughly where they should be to try and have some kind of parity with their peers in the UK (difficult as compulsory education doesn't start here until they are 6-7)?

I'd appreciate any help anyone can offer ...

I started looking into this recently too and found this website useful It also links to the National curriculum online site.

We are in a similar situation, living in Germany and bringing up our DCs bilingual. My DH is German so that is the stronger language. DD will not start school till next year and I think she is needing some stimulation at the moment, I am teaching her to read in English.

Thanks, KS; I'm teaching my dd to read as well using phonics (Ruth Miskin). I'm really impressed with how easy it is to pick up and how motivated dd is to do her English. I'll check the website you mention - thanks for the link.

The Parents in Touch website is very useful (might be the one already given by kindersurprise).

I use that with educational books I buy in the UK, aimed at their age group (I always try to buy the more fun and colourful ones). I also used to buy the BBC magazines when they were little, as extra workbooks. They never knew they were learning things like reading with these magazines, and they loved the free gifts!

I also only speak English at home, and it seems to work - so far at least! Good luck!

Depending on how long the French school day is, you could consider paying for a correspondance education to do at home in the afternoons. That way you get material relevant to their age/stage in the UK curriculum.

I know a few French mothers who that here in Germany but their dc attend half-day schools and finished by lunchtime so they do have time for it.

I supplement dd's English work with workbooks from scholastic but I'm not sure what a 9 year old would need. I used these for 1-3rd grade:
teacher.scholastic.com/products/classmags/100words.htm
teacher.scholastic.com/products/classmags/100words.htm

I am (unhappily) becoming resigned to the fact that I may not be able to keep dd up with the UK curriculum.

oops sorry about all the tipos! Ouch. I CAN spell, really I can!

Stars!!

Many thanks. It's hard trying to do it in isolation - really helps to know what other people are trying.