S/O extroverted middle schooler

[bethben]

I’m trying to think about homeschooling my dd again who

Is in public school now fourth grade. She is super extroverted and going to school has helped our relationship immensely. It’s also helped me not to feel stressed constantly. She’s getting her extroverted bucket filled and I can have peace.

 

She is going to a charter school that all the parents around here rave about. The thing is-she’s been in school three months and the education she is receiving is mediocre at best. For writing, they are still doing things I taught her starting in 2nd grade. She got on the “A†honor roll partially because everything she’s learned so far was learned in 2nd and 3rd grade at home. I can see how people leave the public school for educational reasons only. The school is following state standards so going to a different school won’t help a ton.

 

So things I can’t do—I can’t drive her to extracurricular activities constantly. I’m not totally sure I can even have her in the house full time to homeschool for both of our mental heath. Let’s just say DH asked if we were sure she wasn’t 15 yet. My ds-13 said he planned on moving out in two years because even he could see the fire storm coming.

 

I have found a part time classical school for three mornings a week. It would teach Latin, history, literature, and language arts. I would have to teach math and she could “unschool†science because she’s constantly reading science books anyway. The school could transition to full subjects in sixth grade three days a week. I would also have to catch her up on writing a bit because they expect students to write a three paragraph essay and her class is still doing “interesting†sentences.

 

What should I be looking for in this plan? What should I be considering?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited October 22, 2017 by bethben

[Rosika]

The reason I haven't jumped onto the university model bandwagon yet is because the student I have is a bear about assigned work. It's hard enough getting her to work for me on my lax time schedule; I can't imagine trying to work with her on an outside schedule. Public school has built in pressures that would keep her mostly on track on her own. A UM environment has too many down days to work for us. If this is an issue for your student, consider that. 

 

If this isn't a problem with her, I think a UM school sounds like a great compromise between what you want for her academically and what she needs socially. :) 

[fralala]

It sounds like you're actually at a positive place right now except for your thoughts about what she should be doing academically.

 

One thing that I would consider is that even homeschoolers (well, some of us) have to shelve Academic Rigor for periods of time when it seems to be threatening the well-being of our family. We might be doing less than your daughter is doing at school during those periods! Will you really be able to get more done at home, especially if she is unhappy about leaving school?

 

Right now, you might spend several years promoting the emotional and mental health of yourself, your child, and your household even if the education she is receiving is mostly review or doesn't challenge her. Is there any positives about academics coming easily to her? For me, as a tween, it boosted my self-esteem to not have to worry about academics when there were so very many other things I was worried about. Could it be doing the same for her? Just a thought.

[Mommyof1]

Can the teacher at the charter school give her more challenging work?

 

If that isn't possible maybe hire a tutor to afterschool her.

[Mommyof1]

If you want her out of the charter school and want her in the more challenging classical one. Maybe just hire a math tutor, if possible.

[bethben]

Can the teacher at the charter school give her more challenging work?

 

If that isn't possible maybe hire a tutor to afterschool her.

 

I honestly don't know how she got "A" honor roll.  She averages about a "C" on online reading tests, a "B-" on online math tests, and got a "D" on an online science test.  Do you see a pattern?  Anything online she does lousy, anything on paper, she does great.  Somehow all her lousy test scores didn't figure into her overall score.  I don't know how they tabulate it.  I'm not sure she needs more challenging work - she just needs to have learning that doesn't involve a screen.  I don't think in today's education atmosphere, I will be able to go anywhere that doesn't involve screen learning and testing.  She doesn't test for the gifted program.  Her scores are pretty average overall except for reading which is two grades higher.  

 

She's the kid who while everyone else has one book for free reading on their desk, her teacher got her a bin to store all of her interests.  She has about 10-12 books of all variety next to her desk and I'm pretty sure she picks out what is interesting to her when she has some down time.  

 

She's already in school from 8 am -3:30pm and needs to take a break.  She has ADHD most likely and her ability to run around has allowed her to control her "motor" at school and at home for the most part.   I give her good literature to read at home because she's supposed to read for 20 minutes per day, I am reteaching her math that she should have learned at school, and am thinking of doing IEW with her at home slowly only because I feel like she should be writing beyond "interesting" sentences at this point.  She was writing essays last year.