Help to motivate...tired mom

[raganfamily]

My number 4 is starting high school next year and truly dislikes any school.  Or what he thinks is school. He has never been diagnosed, but I would consider him ADD.  I do not want to put him on medicine. I have graduated 3 and they weren't necessarily easy, but did whatever was asked of them for school.  

 

I am honestly very tired and have strongly considered putting him in school.  (He is on 2 wait lists right now) The schools where I live are not that great.   After speaking with my husband, we decided homeschooling would be the best option for him.

 

So I feel like I have to recreate and be a bit creative with his schooling.  I am thinking project based type schooling might be good or only tackling 4 subjects a semester.. I just do not have experience with this and feel very frustrated.  Has anyone dealt with this or have suggestions?  He loves photography and could tell you anything about it.  He loves being outside and is very active.

 

This year I tried outsourcing and he goes to classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  He seems to do ok with these, and has really enjoyed the social aspect.  Yet, his math, grammar, reading, and writing abilities have suffered.

 

I can be over the top with my children's education and feel I have to lower my standards.  This is really frustrating to me and seems to be to him as well.  I do not want to be a nag and want to enjoy this time and the benefits of homeschooling.

 

I have sort of rambled and I do apologize. 

 

 

[OneStepAtATime]

:grouphug:

 

O.k. so outsourcing has helped.  I would keep up that aspect.  Has he always struggled a bit with reading/writing/grammar?  Is it possible he is a stealth dyslexic?  That might partly explain why he resists school as well.  He may find all aspects challenging because of unremediated underlying issues.

 

Even if that is not the case, he may need a different approach to these subjects but you and he may also need some redefining of roles, at least for a bit.  Perhaps he would do better with an outside tutor for math and you act simply as facilitator of the work that needs to be done when he is not working with the tutor.  Maybe an on-line live math class might work if a local tutor is not an option.

 

As for reading, do you mean he doesn't read well or he doesn't read what you want him to read or he doesn't choose to read in his down time or...?  My answer here depends on what you mean by problems with reading.

 

If writing and grammar are falling behind then maybe he needs a more systematic approach?  Something that can be done daily but doesn't take much of his time.  Perhaps something quick and simple, like Fix-It Grammar would help.  :15 minutes a day.  That's it.  Couple that with IEW's writing program.  Let him watch the DVDs and again you are the facilitator, not the teacher.  Set up a schedule that is manageable with his outsourced classes but have him work with you to create that schedule.  Don't drag him through.  Work as a team, as much as you can.

 

Sometimes it works best to still be involved but not as the primary instructor.  Sometimes kids and parents need at least a season where they are not in each other's faces for everything.

 

You might also look at classes that approaches these topics with a more outside the box approach.  For instance, if he hates reading but you want him to learn how to analyze literature and improve his writing you might consider the Movies as Literature program to get him more involved.  You can get the TM and the Student book on Amazon.  Open Tent Academy also offers this class on-line and the teacher offers a lot of great instruction, feedback and support for the analysis and the writing.  DD has learned a LOT in this class.  She did much better having the discussion and feedback from an outside teacher.

 

Oh, and Open Tent Academy has a class for kids with ADD.  It is called ADHD toolbox I believe.  Here is the link.  Scroll down until you find that class.  It is offered in Fall and Spring.  http://www.opententacademy.com/courses/?cat=electives

[raganfamily]

I have not thought of him to have dyslexia.  His older sister has a mild case and has found ways to adjust for college.

 

He does not want to read and has to read something more than once to understand what it is about.  However, on subject matter that he is interested in he will read, take notes and even use sticky note tabs.  (He has done this with any photography books he has read)  I have come to the decision that he will not be reading long novels like his older siblings. 

 

I have switched him to the new WTM Grammar book and that is working wonderfully.  So, yes he is behind, but I feel this will be good to continue through high school.

 

I have also switched him to the WWS Level 2.  Though we are in week 2 and he is acting like it is too difficult.

 

Thank you for adding that it might need to be more of a team aspect.  I personally have taken on more than I should this school year.  I started a one day school, thinking it would be the fix.  However, it takes a majority of my time during the week.  Though I am helping other kids, my own seems to be falling behind.  I have decided to minimize for the next school year.  Yet, I have many obligations through May.

 

Thank you for adding the Movies as Literature and the Open Tent Academy. 

 

I am also trying to figure out how to restructure.  Have you tried 4 subjects a semester approach?