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What are your homeschool to private school concerns?


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We've homeschooled my oldest since first grade. He's now in 7th. I haven't pushed him that much considering his ability, so he is not as far along as he could be. This year he will finish AoPS Pre-Algebra (Dec) and start Into to Algebra. He's doing a mix of Life Science and Science history this year and VP Omnibus 1 primary and secondary, MCT Town level, and just starting Latin. I'm sure he's behind grade level on writing. He is an awesome narrator, just can't seem to get it on the paper! He also has ADHD and likes to move a lot. I was planning on jumping up to HS/intro college science next year and continuing to focus on essay writing. (We just jumped up quite a bit in history/lit this year, so didn't want to overwhelm him.)

 

Dh works at a local private school which is way out of our budget. They approached him the other day about a steep discount for enrolling our kids. I'm having mixed feelings! On one hand, it's a good school. They offer lots of electives, extracurriculars and AP classes. I checked their website and they do Life Science and prealgebra in 7th, so he seems to be on track. (I was told their typical load is a year or two ahead, but this looks normal to me.) And, this would help with our highschool graduation plan, which I stress about almost daily! They had over 100 colleges represented on career day.

 

BUT: we'd lose our flexibility. I'm not sure how he'd take to a class setting. He likes to chase rabbits. They do block scheduling, so he'd go from 20 minutes of math per day to over an hour on those days. Dh works at this school so I don't want to cause problems! I'm not sure what kind of discount they have in mind, so my other kids probably would not be enrolled at this point.

 

Sorry for rambling! I can't discuss this with anyone who knows me in person. Any thoughts to private school vs homeschool I should consider?

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Following this topic as I am in a similar quandary.

 

I have two that will be in the 7th grade next year. By then, one will have completed AoPS Calculus, the other AoPS Algebra B. They do not know how to write in cursive, nor have they memorized all the states in the US but know all the countries in the world by heart. They will have finished Lukeion Latin 1a and 1b and WWS I and II. So, I am concerned about where they will be placed as well as the loss of flexibility.

 

Thank you for asking what has been weighing on my mind and in my heart.

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Starting in 9th or next fall in 8th?  IMO, concern #1 for going from homeschool to private for a bright student at this juncture:  whatever math level he is aiming to place out of at the time of the switch, make *absolutely certain* that he reviews for the math placement test(s).  Find out what math the school uses and have him take end-of-course tests for practice that are in accordance with the program (you can hunt such things online, more ways than one to do this).  Placement test prep doesn't have to take a lot of time at all really, but a weekend of work will be well worth ensuring no surprises.

 

For example, there are random topics covered in common core 8 that are more typical for algebra or later, simple stuff like "what is a function" that is located in the second half of AoPS Intro to Alg.

 

Also, have him do a shadow day.

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I have no concerns for my 7th grader, DS11 anytime he wants to switch back to B&M school. He was in public school and he is decently street smart. He can navigate public transport and international airports on his own. We are aiming at SAT math 2 subject test and a science SAT subject test this academic year and maybe AP Calculus exam if he wants to give it a shot.
I have concerns for my 6th grader because he conveniently relies on his brother and so is less socially adept and less street smart.

My dad is family friend with my elementary school principal's husband. Luckily she (the principal) and her husband didn't tattle tale on me :) So I would be more wary because your husband works there than because it is a B&M school.

 

ETA:

DS11 does want to go back to school so we have been scouting out schools.  Many high school open houses are in late Oct to early Dec so I would have to see which ones we want to go to this year to look see. We went to some last year.

Edited by Arcadia
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I have two that will be in the 7th grade next year. By then, one will have completed AoPS Calculus, the other AoPS Algebra B. They do not know how to write in cursive, nor have they memorized all the states in the US but know all the countries in the world by heart. They will have finished Lukeion Latin 1a and 1b and WWS I and II. So, I am concerned about where they will be placed as well as the loss of flexibility.

 

You should talk with the department chairs about placement though some info might be available on the website.  Surely there are placement tests for foreign language (make sure the school offers Latin!) but you'd want to know the particulars - when and how.

 

My 13 y.o.s just attended an open house last weekend for the high school where dd attends - well, she attends the girl part and the boys are separate but most of the policies are the same.  At this school, there is a separate math placement test for each level, alg 1, then geom, then alg 2 and so on.  They are around 1 hour each, in April of 8th grade, so before the 8th grader has fully completed the math level at school, though the tests contain all the math from the level.

 

It is not unheard of for a student to come from a high math level and somehow fail the algebra 1 placement test due to failing to review - I don't know how this is possible, but that is what I was told when I asked some placement questions the other day, as they looked skeptically at my short ds13 who is in alg 2.  I found out through the grapevine that it's possible for a super-advanced student to start 9th in calc albeit very rare.  They do have a calc 3 class in the school.

 

Which brings us to the next question, what does the school you are considering have for a student who already finished AoPS Calc.  As you know, finishing any calc is rare for middle schoolers, let alone AoPS calc.  What courses (DE/online?), do they have a math team for AMCs, etc.  Does the school commonly have a few students getting admitted to top colleges.  With your one student so extremely advanced, might you even consider grade-skipping one or both and starting 9th next fall.

 

FWIW, at my dd's school, AoPS Intro to Alg B is not likely to get a student through the entire alg 2 placement test; among other things, they include some trig, and Alg B isn't equivalent to a full school alg 2 from what I understand.

 

Also, if your student used AoPS Geometry, before a school geometry placement test, be sure to cover 2-column proofs.

Edited by wapiti
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Following this topic as I am in a similar quandary.

 

I have two that will be in the 7th grade next year. By then, one will have completed AoPS Calculus, the other AoPS Algebra B. They do not know how to write in cursive, nor have they memorized all the states in the US but know all the countries in the world by heart. They will have finished Lukeion Latin 1a and 1b and WWS I and II. So, I am concerned about where they will be placed as well as the loss of flexibility.

 

Thank you for asking what has been weighing on my mind and in my heart.

Am I reading this correctly that your 6th grader finished AOPS Calc, WWS2, and Lukeion I? Even the best private schools are unlikely to have the ability to accommodate a 7th grader so accelerated, IMO.

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Am I reading this correctly that your 6th grader finished AOPS Calc, WWS2, and Lukeion I? Even the best private schools are unlikely to have the ability to accommodate a 7th grader so accelerated, IMO.

 

Private schools do allow dual enrollment with universities either online or parents doing the chauffeuring to B&M classes. However you don't get a school tuition fees discount for taking a DE class that you pay out of your own pocket. Here many make use of Stanford OHS because it is convenient since schools have computer labs for students to use so no chauffeuring required. 

https://ohs.stanford.edu/academics/courses

 

ETA:

I remember Quark managed to get the charter school to approve her son taking DE classes as a middle school student, but she decided to go the PSA route instead for DE. So if you want to use charter school funds for DE, maybe PM Quark for her experience.

Edited by Arcadia
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We've homeschooled my oldest since first grade. He's now in 7th. I haven't pushed him that much considering his ability, so he is not as far along as he could be. This year he will finish AoPS Pre-Algebra (Dec) and start Into to Algebra. He's doing a mix of Life Science and Science history this year and VP Omnibus 1 primary and secondary, MCT Town level, and just starting Latin. I'm sure he's behind grade level on writing. He is an awesome narrator, just can't seem to get it on the paper! He also has ADHD and likes to move a lot. I was planning on jumping up to HS/intro college science next year and continuing to focus on essay writing. (We just jumped up quite a bit in history/lit this year, so didn't want to overwhelm him.)

 

Dh works at a local private school which is way out of our budget. They approached him the other day about a steep discount for enrolling our kids. I'm having mixed feelings! On one hand, it's a good school. They offer lots of electives, extracurriculars and AP classes. I checked their website and they do Life Science and prealgebra in 7th, so he seems to be on track. (I was told their typical load is a year or two ahead, but this looks normal to me.) And, this would help with our highschool graduation plan, which I stress about almost daily! They had over 100 colleges represented on career day.

 

BUT: we'd lose our flexibility. I'm not sure how he'd take to a class setting. He likes to chase rabbits. They do block scheduling, so he'd go from 20 minutes of math per day to over an hour on those days. Dh works at this school so I don't want to cause problems! I'm not sure what kind of discount they have in mind, so my other kids probably would not be enrolled at this point.

 

Sorry for rambling! I can't discuss this with anyone who knows me in person. Any thoughts to private school vs homeschool I should consider?

 

Flexibility - yes. We had to put our oldest in school and I was pouting "But what about all the great, good and beautiful!, curriculum we won't get to do!"  :crying:   :laugh:

 

In a few weeks DH and I are going to talk to a Jr. High/High School about placement, but yeah. On the one hand I can say "Oh yeah, he can already do your lower  school math sequence, how can you accommodate?" and on the other hand....ADHD-issues, yeah. Writing, yeah right. Handwriting? Does sorta legible count???

 

But, but! There may not be a lot of Cicero, but there's real live teachers, and science with full labs, and an ICT course where they start working with a local company to do real projects. So it's not horrible. And could be really great for him. Soo...that's what I'm trying to keep in mind.

 

How much can you meet his needs at home vs. how much can this school meet his needs?

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Handwriting? Does sorta legible count???

 

FWIW, most of the public and private schools in my area allow, or rather require, some form of personal electronic device.  Almost all writing of any significant length will be typed and often submitted online to boot.

 

I'm not as in touch with the regular PS though I know they start with devices at the middle school level.  My middle schoolers' charter is STEM oriented, so major computer use there, online calendar, etc.  I can check grades any time.  Even ds's alg 2 homework is scanned in and submitted online.  My dd's private school requires iPad, though their use of Canvas is not quite as universal as my boys' for the calendar aspect.  Textbooks are all online versions.

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FWIW, most of the public and private schools in my area allow, or rather require, some form of personal electronic device.  Almost all writing of any significant length will be typed and often submitted online to boot.

 

How do the kids fare for AP and IB exams when they do have to write legibly? My oldest writes as fast as he types but his hands ache more writing which means that he should try never to take two AP exams on the same day.

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Private schools do allow dual enrollment with universities either online or parents doing the chauffeuring to B&M classes. However you don't get a school tuition fees discount for taking a DE class that you pay out of your own pocket. Here many make use of Stanford OHS because it is convenient since schools have computer labs for students to use so no chauffeuring required.

https://ohs.stanford.edu/academics/courses

 

ETA:

I remember Quark managed to get the charter school to approve her son taking DE classes as a middle school student, but she decided to go the PSA route instead for DE. So if you want to use charter school funds for DE, maybe PM Quark for her experience.

Right. I get that you can DE, but why spend $$$$$ at a private school to DE with a CC or SOHS? What's the advantage? Alumni network? Social opportunities? Sports? For all that money, I would want an academic fit.

 

Re charter schools, ours has a lot of kids who DE with the local CCs. I would consider sticking with our charter for the long haul if we could use funds to pay AoPS, WTMA, PAHS, SOHS, etc. But, we get funds to enroll in a charter, along with all the social stuff. I wouldn't give up homeschooling to pay $$$$ to a private school to effectively continue homeschooling.

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How do the kids fare for AP and IB exams when they do have to write legibly? My oldest writes as fast as he types but his hands ache more writing which means that he should try never to take two AP exams on the same day.

 

For the private school, all I have is this: "Last year, 317 students took 609 AP tests. 86% of those taking an AP test scored 3, 4 or 5 on the exam."  I don't really know how those numbers might compare for students who don't submit most work typed - too many other variables.  ETA, for the regular public high school, which allows/requires electronic devices:  "Of the 1,488 exams taken last year, 77.9% scored a 3 or higher."

 

I would guess that handwriting is only a problem for a small subset of kids.  Naturally, that subset would include my kids and myself - I wonder if law school exams are still given in the big blue books...hurts just thinking about it (3 hours, go!)

 

Interestingly, my kids' elementary school had pretty much given up cursive when my big kids were there, but it has now swung back to cursive - my ds8 started cursive just recently and picked it up very fast.

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Right. I get that you can DE, but why spend $$$$$ at a private school to DE with a CC or SOHS? What's the advantage? Alumni network? Social opportunities? Sports? For all that money, I would want an academic fit.

 

Re charter schools, ours has a lot of kids who DE with the local CCs. I would consider sticking with our charter for the long haul if we could use funds to pay AoPS, WTMA, PAHS, SOHS, etc. But, we get funds to enroll in a charter, along with all the social stuff. I wouldn't give up homeschooling to pay $$$$ to a private school to effectively continue homeschooling.

 

Just the three math and two python  AoPS classes my oldest took last year would have more than used up all the Ocean Grove funds if we have went with them. We spent $2,060 on AoPS classes for DS11. We spent over $10k not including sports and music ($5,200 for lessons) for both kids.  OGCS funding is only $2,200 for TK-8th and $2,700 for high school.

 

Also OCGS website says they do not pay for DE.  You have a nicer charter than here.

"Charter schools cannot pay for community college tuition. For families who qualify financially, students can apply for the Board of GovernorĂ¢â‚¬â„¢s Fee Waiver., available at all California Community Colleges.

 

Instructional funds can be used to purchase college texts"

 

We have private schools ranging from $16k to almost $40k.  I actually went to public schools for the anything else but academics and that is what my DS11 is looking for. Since I do not drive, it might be worth paying to have sports, orchestra, robotics, DECA under one roof. As it is, my kids can only go for classes and events on weekends or if the location is accessible by public transport. Like my kids have Chinese class today at a library's study room at 1pm and it would take almost 2hrs to get there by walking, train and walking.  My husband drop us off on the way to work at 8:30am and will pick us up after work at around 7pm to save us travelling time and cost.

 

For a family who have more than one driving and more than one car, it is easier.

 

ETA:

My kids are only accelerated in math and science so its not so bad to DE two courses at most every year of high school.

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Flexibility - yes. We had to put our oldest in school and I was pouting "But what about all the great, good and beautiful!, curriculum we won't get to do!" :crying: :laugh:

 

In a few weeks DH and I are going to talk to a Jr. High/High School about placement, but yeah. On the one hand I can say "Oh yeah, he can already do your lower school math sequence, how can you accommodate?" and on the other hand....ADHD-issues, yeah. Writing, yeah right. Handwriting? Does sorta legible count???

 

But, but! There may not be a lot of Cicero, but there's real live teachers, and science with full labs, and an ICT course where they start working with a local company to do real projects. So it's not horrible. And could be really great for him. Soo...that's what I'm trying to keep in mind.

 

How much can you meet his needs at home vs. how much can this school meet his needs?

This is so me right now - Still thinking it through. Labs are a big pro, and a robotics program, and band. Working with a local company sounds awesome!

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FWIW, most of the public and private schools in my area allow, or rather require, some form of personal electronic device.  Almost all writing of any significant length will be typed and often submitted online to boot.

 

I'm not as in touch with the regular PS though I know they start with devices at the middle school level.  My middle schoolers' charter is STEM oriented, so major computer use there, online calendar, etc.  I can check grades any time.  Even ds's alg 2 homework is scanned in and submitted online.  My dd's private school requires iPad, though their use of Canvas is not quite as universal as my boys' for the calendar aspect.  Textbooks are all online versions.

 

 

Oh yeah, I forgot, this school also gives every kid an Ipad. I'm really ambivalent about that. I can see how it could be really helpful, since he is so asynchronous. But on the other hand...ADHD+IPad=a brain far, far, far away from where it is supposed to be.  :rolleyes:  I'm not sure how much they expect the students to use it, I guess that's another thing worth asking about.

 

 

 

To the OP: can you look on the school's website to see all the classes they offer, languages, AP, etc.? Can you get a feel for what sort of books they read in English class? Would you be happy with that class selection and those literature selections?

 

And there's nothing that says you can't continue to read and discuss other books as a family. Good and beautiful books are supposed to be a part of our everyday life, and for lifelong contemplation, and so on and so forth.  ;)  

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I would definitely look at what the school offers-and drill down as to whether all classes are offered each year. We've found some which list languages at the AP level when they really mean they had a heritage speaker of the language who self-studied for the exam under the direction of their Saturday school teacher 2 years ago (Newsflash to schools-if you list an AP on your website, but don't offer the language at lower levels, it's pretty obvious the school isn't actually teaching the class!). Some schools have really neat lists of special topics seminars, but just like at the college level, each may have been offered only once and only one such class is offered each semester, to a small number of seniors who have exhausted all topics.

 

If DE is listed, drill down and ask how they handle scheduling and transportation. And find out who pays. One school here looked like a possibly good fit-only to find out that kids still had to be 16 and classified as junior to do any DE. Not a good choice when you're looking for the school to provide non/less academic classes and social because your kid really will need DE from 9th grade almost across the board.

 

Stuff like that.

 

Truthfully, we've found that the answers aren't much better for 20K schools than for "free" public schools in my area. Hence my long thread on moving for your child's needs.

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It also may depend on your kid, but if you have one who talks to everyone, you may come out with more information from a shadow day than the school wants you to have. DD has come home with specifics on the best way to cheat, which instructors are easy graders for specific groups of kids (like big breasted girls), which bathrooms often house drug deals and should be avoided, who gives the most homework, who the nice cafeteria lady is, which locker banks to avoid...

 

You get the idea. Realistically, a lot of that probably exists at every good sized high school-but I'm constantly amazed at what people tell her when she's just there for one day!

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Following. I'm working on a school application right now and some things seem so great while others break my heart. Sigh.

 

ETA: There are also schools that advertise you can take classes at the local university, but whose requirements and scheduling make it practically impossible. (You'd have to miss 2 school classes to take one college class, for instance.) This is the case with one school we are investigating. 

 

Emily

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Concerns we have personally experienced putting 2 kids in at 7th grade:

anxiety

organizational skills depending on the kid

frustration with kids who behave poorly in the classroom

placement should heavily take into account mom's opinion of readiness

 

Positives

Enjoying the social aspect

Enjoying class discussion/participation

Lots of activities/sports/clubs/field trips

Pressure to become organized, etc...

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Am I reading this correctly that your 6th grader finished AOPS Calc, WWS2, and Lukeion I? Even the best private schools are unlikely to have the ability to accommodate a 7th grader so accelerated, IMO.

Yes, he will be done with those courses by the end of 6th grade and that is a concern for both of my twins, although the other will be done with Algebra 2 (Intermediate Algebra) or Geometry.

 

The problem is one of the twins wants to go to school. I am seeking out private and charter schools now. I don't know what I (we) are going to do.

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Which brings us to the next question, what does the school you are considering have for a student who already finished AoPS Calc. As you know, finishing any calc is rare for middle schoolers, let alone AoPS calc. What courses (DE/online?), do they have a math team for AMCs, etc. Does the school commonly have a few students getting admitted to top colleges. With your one student so extremely advanced, might you even consider grade-skipping one or both and starting 9th next fall.

 

FWIW, at my dd's school, AoPS Intro to Alg B is not likely to get a student through the entire alg 2 placement test; among other things, they include some trig, and Alg B isn't equivalent to a full school alg 2 from what I understand.

 

Also, if your student used AoPS Geometry, before a school geometry placement test, be sure to cover 2-column proofs.

Thank you so much for the recommendations. Truthfully, one of the twins is an extreme extrovert and has been wanting to go to school for a while (and secretly, I am SO over homeschooling but will continue if I must). I am currently looking at a couple of private schools and a few STEM charter schools.

 

Thank you, again!

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Can you relocate? I know the Davidson Academy offers through Calc 3 at the DA campus (and anything offered regularly on the DA campus is a class that they often have younger students taking, and unlike most schools here, they truly do walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to DE as well, although they try to keep all the kids on campus their first year while they're adjusting to the program. The downside, though is that unless you're lucky enough to live in Reno already, you have to relocate, which makes it impossible for many families.

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The problem is one of the twins wants to go to school. I am seeking out private and charter schools now. I don't know what I (we) are going to do.

My kids want school too. We have less outside classes this year and the emotional downside is back. My kids were so energized and happy when we went on vacation last week to heavily populated areas. I need to sign them up for whatever winter camps that have vacancies left today just for "social hour".

 

I have found private school principals lots more willing because it is good "advertisement" for them while our charter schools are so oversubscribed they aren't interested in outliers. They spent time discussing and are willing to give a few shadow days, and don't look at you funny for having a middle school kid in calculus.

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What I hit with privates is that they talk the talk, but lack the ability to walk the walk. So yeah, they might let my middle schooler do high school classes, but lack the flexibility to sub in college classes after that point due to their scheduling and distance from the college campus, and that their classes are often 5x/week, so you can't easily combine them with 2 day or 3 day/week college classes. DE tends to be kids who can drive and who have mostly finished high school requirements, not younger kids ticking the box for lab science because they did all the high school classes in middle school, but still have several years before they want to go to college full time. Public schools don't talk the talk or walk the walk, which is at least honest, if frustrating.

 

I can easily see other parts of the US being very different, so it's a YMMV scenario.

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What I hit with privates is that they talk the talk, but lack the ability to walk the walk.

...

I can easily see other parts of the US being very different, so it's a YMMV scenario.

We ask for success cases (graduates) from private high schools. Obviously they are happy to brag. We didn't look at the private middle schools because the academic pressure cooker ones who are happy to take outliers are beyond what we want to pay, especially with two kids. The middle school tuition is only a little lower than their high school tuition.

 

For some high schools, it is more convenient logistically. Palo Alto High (public) is across the street from the Stanford campus for example. It's like walking from DA to the rest of UNR.

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Losing flexibility is the biggest downside for us, when considering putting the kids in school. 

 

Our oldest, right now, attends a tiny public STEM high school that is on the campus of a university.  It is in an "inner city" and admission is by lottery.  50% of the incoming class is resserved for inner city kids and the other 50% is open to kids from the surrounding suburbs.  They are an early college model school and some kids begin taking classes at the university (commonly maths) their freshman year (although most wait until junior/senior year due to the maturity issues often related to complete independence from high school oversight-communication with parents and being treated 100% as a college student while in those college classes). The classes are dual-enrollment and completely free to the high school students. There are also concurrent university classes offered on-site at the high school, itself.  The university offering this option is one of the top 60 national universities and these classes are also free and result in a college transcript, though there is the more typical "high school teacher" style communication with the parent (assignment info on PowerSchool and parent/teacher conferences).  This school has a very popular Robotics Team (sports isn't really their thing at this school) and the social dynamic is great for the "geeky, academic" types.  I am so lucky that this school was here for my ds.  It's a very good fit for him with lots of academic flexibility to meet his needs.

 

Second child is currently homeschooling, which is best for her because of the flexibility it gives her for daily practice time and her varying weekly travel schedule.  HOWEVER, I often think she would be easier to parent if she were in school!

 

Third child -- I am strongly leaning towards a brick-and-mortar high school experience for him. I don't know how I'll find the right school.  It ISN'T brother's school, for various reasons.  His math, science, and Latin ability are more advanced than most schools (public or private) will be able to handle, but I believe he also has dysgraphia (not currently diagnosed, but so incredibly obvious).  He is very socially innocent, so I worry about sending him to school... he has a huge heart and he is very sensitive... but I think school will be the only place for him to learn some independence, focus, and work ethic.  Sigh.  I don't know how I'll find the right solution for him.

 

Fourth child is a puzzle and a firecracker, but she's still young enough that I'm not thinking too far in the future for school plans yet.  We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

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He is very socially innocent, so I worry about sending him to school... he has a huge heart and he is very sensitive... but I think school will be the only place for him to learn some independence, focus, and work ethic. Sigh. I don't know how I'll find the right solution for him.

Weeklong full day summer and winter academic/robotics camps have worked well for my DS10. We have seen significant improvement from when we sent him to camp when he was 8 due to depression from isolation. He learn to work as a team and when not to chatter. Also he learnt to pack his backpack for camp. I get a break and he gets to polish his social skills and he always countdown to camps. He ask to participate in model UN and I am thinking next year.

 

How about youth orchestra or ensemble if he likes music?

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Weeklong full day summer and winter academic/robotics camps have worked well for my DS10. We have seen significant improvement from when we sent him to camp when he was 8 due to depression from isolation. He learn to work as a team and when not to chatter. Also he learnt to pack his backpack for camp. I get a break and he gets to polish his social skills and he always countdown to camps. He ask to participate in model UN and I am thinking next year.

 

How about youth orchestra or ensemble if he likes music?

Thank you, Arcadia!  I have to remember to think outside of the "school" or "homeschool" boxes.  These are great ideas.  I will start looking for them for this summer.  I know he'd love a robotics camp... and maybe a math camp.  I will look into model UN (what are the ages for that?).  Unfortunately he's not into music at all, but I think I've got some ideas now.  Thanks again. :D

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I know he'd love a robotics camp... and maybe a math camp. I will look into model UN (what are the ages for that?)

My kids liked the Lego Mindstorm & Sea Perch (underwater ROV) week long camp they did at the YMCA. The YMCA tested the completed Sea Perch units at a public high school's lap pool.

 

Model UN is for 6th-8th graders. Links below is for California just to give you an idea.

http://calymca.org/programs/model-united-nations

http://www.ymcasv.org/pdfs/PAmodelunitednations.pdf

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ETA:

I remember Quark managed to get the charter school to approve her son taking DE classes as a middle school student, but she decided to go the PSA route instead for DE. So if you want to use charter school funds for DE, maybe PM Quark for her experience.

 

They would only allow him to take 6-7 units though. That was way too few for him. That and a few other reasons led to us pulling out of the charter to file our private school affidavit. That dual enrollment route would have meant not having to pay fees, I don't think. Isn't DE-ing free in CA CCs? Or maybe you pay something like $1? Pulling out and paying out of pocket = $46/unit for us.

 

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OP, this is so biased, I am sorry. It is based on what I see with local friends with kids in private school and I know it is not true across all private schools so please take this with the usual dosage of salt.

 

The biggest concern for me based on what I see playing out for friends is loss of:

1. freedom to mix and match classes -- my son was taking a mix of post-calculus, on-campus university and community college classes in 8th grade while working on more age-related passions at home. This is priceless and irreplaceable for us.

2. time to be a kid

3. sense of self due to peer pressure

4. sleep time

5. ability to think creatively/ critically -- there's too much group think among kids we know, it's almost like they have lost their individuality

6. the parent-child bond

 

My kid is also prone to anxiety if given tons of busywork with nothing that actually engages his need for challenge.

 

One benefit that I see is that the kids we know write more confidently but do not necessarily develop more maturity in writing at a faster pace/ rate. They also develop independence more quickly but that doesn't necessarily translate to better time management due to other distractions such as the pressure to keep up with friends via social media or gaming.

 

For my DS, who was a lot like your child with writing, the actual act of writing took longer to develop (so we unschooled it from 4th grade onwards) but once it developed, he was ahead in maturity (thanks in part to not having to answer senseless prompts).

 

I am obviously biased but I've seen this play out time and again among all our friends and I'm just not willing to let that freedom that we have go. I hope you find a middle ground that works well for you and your family.

Edited by quark
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I am having the same concern, except that it would be public school for a slightly less advanced (more globally gifted) kid.  I was planning on moving her from the Waldorf charter, where she has admittedly learned nothing except mythology and how to take care of chickens, to the best charter school in the state, a small classical model with an average ACT of 29.8.    Now we are moving and there are no charters; the public schools all give every child a Chromebook to carry around all day and take home, and that is an absolute disqualifier for us.

 

So I am confronting the next at least 2 years of homeschool and wondering if I should aim for the local secular private school - a lab school with the university.  If I don't do that, how will I ever find her any friends?  Will I have to drive to 5 different things every week just to meet kids that, to be honest, she can't relate to?  sigh sigh sigh

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I am having the same concern, except that it would be public school for a slightly less advanced (more globally gifted) kid. I was planning on moving her from the Waldorf charter, where she has admittedly learned nothing except mythology and how to take care of chickens, to the best charter school in the state, a small classical model with an average ACT of 29.8. Now we are moving and there are no charters; the public schools all give every child a Chromebook to carry around all day and take home, and that is an absolute disqualifier for us.

 

So I am confronting the next at least 2 years of homeschool and wondering if I should aim for the local secular private school - a lab school with the university. If I don't do that, how will I ever find her any friends? Will I have to drive to 5 different things every week just to meet kids that, to be honest, she can't relate to? sigh sigh sigh

Curiosity - why would the Chromebook be a disqualifier? The school I am looking at gives iPads to K-8 students and MacBook Airs to highschool students to use in school and at home. Is there a downside other than the distraction that I didn't think of?

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If I don't do that, how will I ever find her any friends? Will I have to drive to 5 different things every week just to meet kids that, to be honest, she can't relate to? sigh sigh sigh

Since you are moving, can you do a short term rental to see how the environment is socially for your child?

 

The rental apartment that hubby's employer put us in as part of relocation benefits was socially isolated. We ended up walking a distance to the light rail train to get to other places which have people during daytime hours or hubby would drop us off at a busy downtown before going to work.

 

When we pick where to rent, we stayed near a large community center. It was really easy to walk everyday to activities/classes there. Where we bought was suppose to have a small community center combine with the new library. The library was built but the community center annex was scrapped. The library has many teen activities but so far nothing my kids want to participate in. My cello kid has no interest in the teens ukulele club at the library unfortunately.

 

So far my kids enjoyed activities at the YMCA. If we have known at buying that the new library would have taken such a long time to be build we might have bought within walking distance of a YMCA instead. There are many school age kids in my area but we don't see any around until after 3:30pm at the library (school bus drop off there) or after dinner time in my complex. The free to use tennis courts and basketball courts in my area have no one using most of the time.

 

What does your child like? A neighbor's child gets his social hour from band practice play dates everyday rotating among the homes. Another neighbor's child gets her social hour at gym practice three to four times a week.

 

ETA:

Mine are supposedly introverts by all those online quizzes. DS11 needs to be surrounded by lots of people everyday but does not need to interact. So doing school work at the Starbucks cafe inside Target or Safeway works. Going to the library every afternoon works.

DS10 however needs to yakkety yak everyday. So he is happy when another kid chats with him face to face. Texting, forums, skype video chats don't work to fulfill that need. We always joke he will be happy working in a dealership or as a hotel concierge just because of his love to talk.

Edited by Arcadia
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Curiosity - why would the Chromebook be a disqualifier? The school I am looking at gives iPads to K-8 students and MacBook Airs to highschool students to use in school and at home. Is there a downside other than the distraction that I didn't think of?

Do they actually give it? Here most high schools and many primary/intermediate require the parents to supply a iPad or chromebook and some schools have enough for every kid to use one at school but the only kids I have heard of who were given devices were from very poor schools who got industry funding.

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The districts here I guess loan them to the kids?  They want you to buy insurance for them.

 

For us it is a security concern; we don't use cell phones or other wireless devices so having our kids carry one around all day, bring it home, etc. is just out of the question.

 

I think these are the relevant links: 

 

http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1104/1104.5008.pdf

http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7521095727

https://www.google.com/patents/US6506148

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Since you are moving, can you do a short term rental to see how the environment is socially for your child?

 

The rental apartment that hubby's employer put us in as part of relocation benefits was socially isolated. We ended up walking a distance to the light rail train to get to other places which have people during daytime hours or hubby would drop us off at a busy downtown before going to work.

 

When we pick where to rent, we stayed near a large community center. It was really easy to walk everyday to activities/classes there. Where we bought was suppose to have a small community center combine with the new library. The library was built but the community center annex was scrapped. The library has many teen activities but so far nothing my kids want to participate in. My cello kid has no interest in the teens ukulele club at the library unfortunately.

 

So far my kids enjoyed activities at the YMCA. If we have known at buying that the new library would have taken such a long time to be build we might have bought within walking distance of a YMCA instead. There are many school age kids in my area but we don't see any around until after 3:30pm at the library (school bus drop off there) or after dinner time in my complex. The free to use tennis courts and basketball courts in my area have no one using most of the time.

 

What does your child like? A neighbor's child gets his social hour from band practice play dates everyday rotating among the homes. Another neighbor's child gets her social hour at gym practice three to four times a week.

 

ETA:

Mine are supposedly introverts by all those online quizzes. DS11 needs to be surrounded by lots of people everyday but does not need to interact. So doing school work at the Starbucks cafe inside Target or Safeway works. Going to the library every afternoon works.

DS10 however needs to yakkety yak everyday. So he is happy when another kid chats with him face to face. Texting, forums, skype video chats don't work to fulfill that need. We always joke he will be happy working in a dealership or as a hotel concierge just because of his love to talk.

 

 

This is great advice, Arcadia!  We are not exactly moving to a large metro, but it does have a couple of YMCAs and a Carnegie library that has a lot of tween/teen/kid groups.  DD11 doesn't need a lot of kids around, but she wants a real friend.  DS8 wants lots of people around but doesn't need a best friend.

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Do they actually give it? Here most high schools and many primary/intermediate require the parents to supply a iPad or chromebook and some schools have enough for every kid to use one at school but the only kids I have heard of who were given devices were from very poor schools who got industry funding.

Yes, this particular school supplies an iPad or MacBook for every student for them to use at home or school. They incorporate a lot of technology into assignments. I don't think they require students to insure them.

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