Paige Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 I've been considering sending my DD (8) to PS and afterschooling a couple subjects. Has anyone transitioned from homeschool mid-year like this? She's only in 3rd grade so I thought it may not be too bad. I'm considering it because she's unhappy at home. We moved last summer and she really wants more friends. I thought if she started school now she'd have a few months to get to know people before summer and we'd avoid another miserable summer of her not knowing anyone. I've tried hard to connect with other homeschooling families in the area but we haven't made any friends. I think everyone is spread out and busy and already has a group. DD's enrolled in many activities- sports, dance, music, book clubs, church, etc but she hasn't really connected much and she's hugely social. I think the classes are so busy that kids don't have much down time to connect. Her one friend lives next door and is sort of a mean girl and DD puts up with it because it's better than nothing. She says things like, "S is not a very nice friend, but she's the only friend I have here..." It makes me sad for her and she's definitely feeling sorry for herself. If you started mid-year, how did it go with the school? Was placement hard? I figure they get new students year round with people moving but DD may be different because we don't have the type of report cards/records they are used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AggieMama Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 (edited) I would try to find another way for your her to make friends. I currently teach 3rd grade in a public school and everyone is in the midst of standarized test prep. It's a very stressful time of year in public schools for students and teachers. If you daughter is in any way slightly behind she will probably be asked to stay before or after school for tutorials. If your daughter is ahead she will probably be very bored because of the constant test prep. Third grade is already a transitional year for public school kids as they are moving from primary to upper elementary and the expectations are taken to a whole new level. If your daughter doesn't pass the state test for whatever reason, there will be intense remidation and retaking of the test. Good luck with your decision. Edited February 25, 2016 by AggieMama 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 I would try to find another way for your her to make friends. I currently teach 3rd grade in a public school and everyone is in the midst of standarized test prep. It's a very stressful time of year in public schools for students and teachers. That's what I was concerned about. I don't want her to take the tests since it's not fair to her, the teachers, or the school. If she comes in after tests can she skip it? We live in a very transient area, so I know kids are coming and going year round. She's not behind and is probably well ahead in a couple subjects, but she's the kind who is happy to do easy work and then color or daydream. I wish she'd found friends with the other things, and it's not like she's disliked. I'm starting to think none of the kids in the groups have friends unless they've known them since baby playgroups. It's all hi...do the activity, and goodbye. I dunno...maybe school's like that too; grass is greener and all that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AggieMama Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 She might be able to skip the tests if she comes in after, but if you are somewhere like Texas that would only leave the last month of school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kentuckymom Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 No personal experience, but my son has a friend in school who came in after spring break of third grade, after being homeschool for most of the school year. The family's situation was different from yours. The kids attended private school at first, then the Mom decided she wanted to homeschool and the first year was a disaster, so they decided they'd try public school before forking out money for private school again. For those particular kids, the transition wasn't a problem at all. I do want to caution you that public school doesn't mean automatic friends, however. My son's closest friends are our neighbors, who happen to be homeschooled. That said, if your neighborhood has a lot of families and most of those kids attend the local elementary school, the chances of your daughter making at least a few friends are pretty high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 She might be able to skip the tests if she comes in after, but if you are somewhere like Texas that would only leave the last month of school. Yes. Our kids are taking 3rd grade tests the first week of May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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