RubyPenn
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Posts posted by RubyPenn
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I would like to do that, but he really doesn't like online classes, so a full schedule of them isn't a good option. Plus, the temptation to switch screens and get off task is too strong, even though I've blocked all the websites he likes to visit. I catch him emailing friends when he should be working. The battles are never ending.
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On 2/26/2020 at 5:08 PM, klmama said:
We did not enroll our dc, but several friends have for reasons like yours. The results have been mixed and seem to depend almost entirely on the student's motivation to learn and to earn good grades. Some have found that their dc worked harder for other instructors, but that's not always the case. Friends who enrolled their ds this year are almost as involved as they were before enrolling him, because the boy won't do the work unless the parents are constantly on him.
Right, this is a bit of a concern, but he does like to do well for others. He takes an online writing course and makes sure he submits papers on time, and he is always checking for new grades. I think he's just too comfortable at home.
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On 2/26/2020 at 3:14 PM, Sneezyone said:
We sent DD at the end of 8th/beginning of 9th b/c she's a super social kid who was chaffing at the bit at home. At that point, she'd be part of the regular course selection process and not not left with crappy HS classes. She's seriously thriving. She is actively reaching out to teachers when she sees a problem with her grades, studying (unprompted), taking advantage of the many opportunities her school offers, and earning great grades. She has friends, gets invited to (chaperoned) parties, etc. This is my bright but scattered child with reading difficulties. It was the right call for her. She was 100% ready and I knew it.
For both of them, the accountability has helped. They have become competitive (in a friendly way). DS is the more academic of the two and they are studying similar things. He quizzes her and vice versa. They are also accountable and responsible to others which is wonderful and sad at the same time. I'm relegated to 'counselor' only. They are also more independent. They tell me their schedules and I add them to my 'family' calendar.
My child is also "bright, but scattered", and I don't know what is left but for us to send him outside the home so he will learn to be responsible and accountable without my constant reminders. He has a bulletin board and planner and refuses to use either to help himself. I also write reminders on the board and he still doesn't pay attention. However, for the past three years he has taken one online class, and he is able to remember when those assignments are due and constantly checks his grades!
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On 2/26/2020 at 2:44 PM, Amateur Actress said:
We sent our current 9th grader back to school this year at his request (to a small Christian school). There was a learning curve but now he is really thriving. Still homeschooling the 11th grade daughter and graduated one from homeschool last year. Each child is different. I would have a conversation with your son to see what he thinks. Maybe having a say will help with motivation.
I talked to him about it and he doesn't want to go to school (also a small Christian school where he knows a few students), but we are still going to visit in a couple weeks, anyway. I told him the reasons we are considering sending him, but he isn't on board. He is very social and I actually think he would truly benefit from being in school in order to have more structure and accountability.
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For those who have sent their kids to public or private school, what made you decide to do so? We are thinking about sending our current 9th grade son to private school next year so he can be accountable to someone else. He just isn't motivated at home and me being a constant task master is really beginning to wear me out.
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I'm very encouraged by everyone here and so glad I posted the question. I enjoy reading about the various experiences. Keep them coming!
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5 minutes ago, Corraleno said:
Sounds like they're more focused on their own "self-esteem" and keeping up with the Joneses. 🤨
Sad, but true.
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2 minutes ago, Frances said:
Yes, definitely. Specific things were mentioned in acceptance and scholarship letters and also brought up during interviews. Probably the only subject we generally did in a fairly traditional way was math.
Do you mind telling me what some of your courses were?
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3 hours ago, Corraleno said:
I think the "arms race" in public schools is really crazy, and often damaging and dysfunctional.
I see this with my nieces. My sister pushed to have one of them who has serious dyslexia into algebra early because all her friends were taking it and she didn't want her daughter to feel badly about herself. So then my brother-in-law spends umpteen hours of time helping her with homework every night. It's insane. They also push, push, push for her to make honor roll for her "self-esteem".
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I see this with my nieces. My sister pushed to have one of them who has serious dyslexia into algebra early because all her friends were taking it and she didn't want her daughter to feel badly about herself. So then my brother-in-law spends umpteen hours of time helping her with homework every night. It's insane. They also push, push, push for her to make honor roll for her "self-esteem".
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49 minutes ago, teachermom2834 said:
You need to have the homeschool you desire for your family. You can’t AP yourself into a top school. I will say good test scores are important but my kids got good-very good scores without all the pushing.
Thank you. I think my kid could handle AP courses, but I can definitely see him not wanting to do the work. He's not motivated as it is.
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1 hour ago, Evanthe said:
And she's not burned out. She's VERY excited to go to school every day.
Maybe that will make you feel better? 😂
Editing to add: If my daughter could've competed for the Laziest Teenager on Earth Award, she would've won 1st place.
Yes, all these posts are making me feel better, especially hearing your daughter is really lazy. My son is pretty lazy, but is motivated to learn any instrument he can get his hands on.
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20 minutes ago, Corraleno said:
Allow your student to create a transcript that really lets them shine and show who they are, and they will naturally stand out from a sea of look-alike PS kids.
I'm finding that in my circle of homeschoolers, the majority of high school kids are taking the typical courses as well, especially for science, so I begin to think I should be doing the same. Did you find that colleges were impressed or intrigued by your childrens' atypical transcripts?
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My oldest is in 9th grade and is probably college-bound. My mom, who does support our homeschooling, keeps mentioning to me that my kids need to be able to compete with their public schooled-peers, which makes me second guess what I'm doing. She sees how hard my nieces are pushed at ps and worries my kids will be behind somehow. For instance, my 8th grade niece has to do chemistry computations I don't remember doing until high school. I personally think they are pushed way too hard too young and they have hours of homework to do almost every evening. But, I guess I would still just like my mind to be set at ease. Any thoughts?
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Has anyone used this?
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Can those who have used this tell me about their experiences?
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1 hour ago, threewishes said:
Would he enjoy biology experiments/demonstrations better? Could you use the Rainbow Biology material he has already done and add labs to make a full credit of high school biology?
He actually did do the majority of labs in Rainbow Biology last year. Is it possible to count that towards high school biology?
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53 minutes ago, RootAnn said:
Do you not have a subject you dislike teaching? Bio is mine. [I'm an engineer by schooling & profession. Chem & physics are fun. Bio isn't ... for me.]
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2 minutes ago, RootAnn said:
Eldest took, physics, chem & uh, more chem (DE class). DD#2 took physics, chem, earth science (this yr) & will either take DE Meteorology & Climatology this summer or a DE Physical Science for non-science majors next school year. Either one will count toward her physical science gen eds.
I will likely never teach high school biology if I can help it. Dd#3 will likely take it asynchronously online if we go in that direction.
My son has asked for chemistry instead of bio. He's in algebra 1 this year, so I don't know if he'll be ready for it. My dad is a retired chemistry, ecology, and physics teacher and oh how I wish he lived nearby.
Why don't you want to teach biology?
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4 hours ago, RootAnn said:
Gotta laugh at this a bit, @Lanny. My DD#1 had zero biology and zero biological sciences on her transcript & had no trouble getting accepted to college with large merit awards. (Note: she did not apply to lottery schools or anything in the extremely selective category as we chase merit $.)
None of the schools my DD looked at required biology specificly, but I know some do.
My #2 kid will also not have Bio on her transcript but will have 4 yrs of science & will have to take Anatomy, Physiology, & a couple other biological sciences in college for her proposed major.
What are the sciences you have your kids take and why didn't your first two take biology?
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3 minutes ago, Lanny said:
It will depend upon the university, but I believe most of them are going to want, if not require, 4 years of Science in High School. Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, etc. Of those, I believe they probably assume that an applicant has had Biology in High School. This link is about the University of Virginia in Charlottesville:
https://www.collegedata.com/college/University-of-Virginia?pdf=1&collegeProfileTab=admission
Notice that for "Science" 2 Units are "Required" but 4 Units are "Recommended". I suspect few people are admitted with only 2 Units of Science. Also, note that 5 Units of Mathematics are "Recommended". Also 5 Units of Foreign Language. They are looking for "Rigor".
Thank you, Lanny. Very helpful.
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1 minute ago, Farrar said:
So maybe he'd enjoy reading a bunch of great books about biology. Things like The Soul of an Octopus, The Sixth Extinction, In the Shadow of Man, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Gulp... I could go on. Couple that with a super basic, as basic as you can get online thing about basic biology and call it something like Biology: A Reading Course or Issues in Biology or something like that.
Great ideas! Thanks, I'll look into those.
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Just now, Farrar said:
If he's more of a humanities kid, then you could totally do a course that was mostly reading and videos. I guess I don't think it has to be onerous. It can be so many things.
Yes, definitely more of a humanities kid. Science is more of a struggle.
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3 minutes ago, Reefgazer said:
Another idea: Do a very brief biology class (a quarter of a year, for example), and then make your biology class topics that your DS would find interesting. For example, after he completes his intro to biology sessions for a quarter of the year, if he is interested in genetics, then have him study inheritance/genetic technology/etc. Once he's done with that, he may want to explore how meteorology and inorganic chemistry affects living things in the ocean. You get the idea....
This might just work.
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Sending kids to school
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
Lori, thanks so much for your helpful response. I definitely think my son has lost his brain somewhere. He'll turn 15 this spring and I wonder if his mind will return then? I see benefits from both school and home, so really don't know what to do! It kind of saddens me that if we send him to school, we won't be able to pick courses for him to suit his needs and interests, but at the same time, he doesn't appreciate it and complains that everything is so boring and he hates school. He's my firstborn, so maybe this is normal?