Anyone have experience or advice with keeping up with English phonics, grammar, and spelling with young ones?  My family is living here in Brazil short term, 3-4 years.  The move here was difficult as my daughter didn't speak a word of Portuguese and at 6 years old was vehemently against it.  After seven months she is speaking almost as a native and has commented that it will be hard to leave her friends and family here when we return to the US.  I'm really happy she has adjusted so well but it has me thinking about the inevitable return and the difficulties involved.  One thing we can do ahead of time to lessen the stress is work with her to prevent the embarrassment of being behind by US standards, particularly in reading and spelling.  By all accounts the school she is in is very good and I don't expect any other areas to be lacking.  Can anyone share their experience of returning to the US after receiving their or their child's education in Brazil?  

@3casas Are you moving back to the states, sending her to boarding school or sending her to live with relatives and attend a day school?

Originally posted by 3casas we're completely undecided at present, all three options are on the table (although i'm not super happy about the boarding school one, as i attended that one myself and it was a not-so-awesome experience although it got me into a great college). The only clear thing is that she wants to study there and probably go to college there. Kind of throws a wrench in our long-term planning, at least for a few years.

you're going back to the US? just curious.. but why? I thought everything was going well.. making loads of money the business and then your translation work?

Maybe I just don't see it, but maybe Brazil is really like a gringo meat grinder...

Originally posted by 3casas we're completely undecided at present, all three options are on the table (although i'm not super happy about the boarding school one, as i attended that one myself and it was a not-so-awesome experience although it got me into a great college). The only clear thing is that she wants to study there and probably go to college there. Kind of throws a wrench in our long-term planning, at least for a few years.

In terms of being an "interesting" applicant to really competitive schools it is probably better for her to stay in Brazil for the first 2 years of HS and do summer programs in the US.  Doing senior year (and maybe junior year as well, depedning on her intersts) in the US would be enough to let her get AP/IB credit.

Most top schools have an unstated limit on the number of international students they can let in per year.  Americans who have lived abroad for a substatial amount of time and have attended non-international schools are seen as a "bonus" in terms of diversity (an exta international kid disguised as an American, who can recieve American financial aid) and get a leg up in the admission´s process.  If college in the US is her ultimate goal, staying in Brazil long enough to get a Brazilian HS on her transcript could be a good strategic move.

Have you visited the Education USA office in Curitiba yet?   They can probably sit down with you and your daughter and go through the whole range of options out there (and there consults are either free or really low cost).

@spongebob-- Things are going well for us, but my daughter's education is a priority. I have a few pots coming to boil, so to speak, right now, and returning would be a real b#tch right now, but I'm not going to send her alone. Then Mr3 doesn't want to get left here either. Can't blame him. That's why everything is on the table. kids do make things a bit more challenging.

Nikki, I'm thinking the same thing. However, i feel like i'm trying to hold back a waterfall in terms of content that she needs to cover. There are only so many hours in the day...
You touch on the financial aid thing and that's another issue. I hadn't looked at it from that perspective though and it makes sense.
I have avoided Education USA so far, trying to stick my head in the sand about the impending nature of the situation. that sound you hear is me plugging my ears and singing lalalalala!

OP- resources: your kid is 7? And you're only concerned about her english?
Go to your state's dept of ed website and find out what the core competencies are. Most states have sites that give sample curricula, and you can email them to ask what they would suggest for people studying abroad.
SAS has free homeschooling stuff you can get but you must have an interview and give them your info. We've been pleased with their content. (sascurriculumpathways.com)

There are all sorts of homeschooling sites and resources out there, i'd search til you find one that you enjoy and that fits with your social/religious orientation.
There are so many "extra" materials at any bookstore for parents wanting to supplement. I enjoyed the summer bridge workbooks that you often see in any B&N. Now we have middle school ones and some test prep ones as well.