s/o Shari's thread on "average" kids . . .

[jld]

I can relate to Shari's frustration with the postings here about kids who are graduating early or doing college work in high school. Certainly some kids are ready for that, but not all. And some moms can end up feeling they are short-changing their kids if they can't teach college physics to their high school level students.

 

Do you think it would help if we would talk about the weak points of our high school plans? For example, I didn't get dd14 started early with literature. She's still working on LL8, and probably won't start high school level lit until 10th grade. Also, history just gets done whenever it can here, rather than getting the priority math and science do. And German, if it ever starts, will probably not get more than a year or two of attention, if that.

 

You know, I'm kind of sorry that things haven't gone as quickly or efficiently as I had hoped, but life is kind of like that. And that's probably a part of education, too.

[Guest]

Hey, my son, who will be 14 in June, is just slowly working his way through Calvert Scholastic 6 using his brother's 4th grade writing lessons and still struggles!

 

We need to stop comparing what we are doing for our kids with everyone else. be happy!!!

[lllll]

....

Edited December 17, 2012 by ksva

[Luanne]

... for advice about what to do with my daughter because every time I ask ... I get "send her to CC" ... "send her to CC". ... with her ADHD and other issues she wouldn't do well there yet at all, but even if I try to point that out I still get the same responses. She is accelerated in some areas, but not at all in most areas.

[Nan in Mass]

Just go read my list of things to do with my son (on the curriculum board recently). Among other things, it has put the cardboard part of the notebook in the back so the pages all go sequentially, and put the holes in a piece of paper to the left and the big part up. Sigh.

[MommyThrice]

I must keep reminding myself of the REASON we homeschool. For us, it is not to be academically superior - it is to train the hearts of our children. I want to build up the bonds of our family and have children that serve the Lord and speak out boldly about what is right. I want children that THINK and LEAD instead of following the masses. It doesn't matter if it is a community college or an ivy league school. If they are just blindly following, then that isn't what I have in mind.

 

It is so easy to get caught up in trying to legitimize our homeschooling with academic achievements (hey, I want them to make me look good!) But when I am old and look back on what we have done, it is more important to have children with character. A good name is more precious than gold.

[unsinkable]

... for advice about what to do with my daughter because every time I ask ... I get "send her to CC" ... "send her to CC". ... with her ADHD and other issues she wouldn't do well there yet at all, but even if I try to point that out I still get the same responses. She is accelerated in some areas, but not at all in most areas.

 

I've had that problem in "real life" with my DD who has epilepsy. She takes a long time to get work done but people don't seem to "hear" that.

 

"Just make her sit there until she gets the work done" was one of my favs. She would have been fused to the chair.

[Rhondabee]

Just go read my list of things to do with my son (on the curriculum board recently). Among other things, it has put the cardboard part of the notebook in the back so the pages all go sequentially, and put the holes in a piece of paper to the left and the big part up. Sigh.

 

I admit I breathed a sigh of relief when I read that particular part - LOL!

[Miss Marple]

put the holes in a piece of paper to the left and the big part up

 

I have one of those, too. And he asks me every day which corner gets the staple.

[Sparrows-Song]

I have one of those, too. And he asks me every day which corner gets the staple.

 

So glad we are not the only ones! Ds (14) still writes on the wrong side of the paper occasionally, and ds (11) is following in his footsteps. :tongue_smilie:

[Jackie in NE]

Thanks to all of you for posting! This thread has done my heart so much good!! I am now ready to go teach my 3 average, and sometimes behind "grade level" children (whatever that means), and accept them where they are. I admit, it's a lot more fun to talk and think about my oldest, who has abilities that are frankly in the stratosphere. But my younger 3 need me more, and need my acceptance more. Thanks for putting me on the right track today!

 

Cheers, Jackie

[Cynful]

So glad we are not the only ones! Ds (14) still writes on the wrong side of the paper occasionally, and ds (11) is following in his footsteps. :tongue_smilie:

 

I wonder if that's just a boy thing? or the age? My DS definitely could join this club. <sigh> I loved the story on the general board about the lady who asked her son to get her some more milk and he forgot what he was doing and put in soda and they topped it off with some milk. I told my son that story and now he goes around and when he makes a silly mistake he says, "That doesn't go on the forums."

[Tiramisu]

I've had that problem in "real life" with my DD who has epilepsy. She takes a long time to get work done but people don't seem to "hear" that.

 

"Just make her sit there until she gets the work done" was one of my favs. She would have been fused to the chair.

 

We've seen different specialists and haven't figured out anything conclusive about what's up with dd. She tests as gifted but she can work from morning to night and still not get her work done. Besides being consistent about our schedule, I don't think there is much more that I can do. I can't rewire her brain. I should be satisfied because she generally does decent work, is phenomenally creative, has wonderful friends, and is developing amazingly well in all the areas that I think are the most important. However, it is hard when I read here about what everyone's kids are doing and I supposedly have a "gifted" one who has a hard time managing a basic high school course load.

[Colleen in NS]

ds (11) is following in his footsteps. :tongue_smilie:

 

ditto here

 

This thread has done my heart so much good!!

 

me too

 

he goes around and when he makes a silly mistake he says, "That doesn't go on the forums."

 

:lol:

[Lolly]

I wonder if that's just a boy thing? or the age? My DS definitely could join this club. <sigh> I loved the story on the general board about the lady who asked her son to get her some more milk and he forgot what he was doing and put in soda and they topped it off with some milk. I told my son that story and now he goes around and when he makes a silly mistake he says, "That doesn't go on the forums."

 

Not just boy. Mine is a girl. Not just age. Mine has done it her entire life. Just personality?

[LBS]

Its so encouraging to read you wisest of moms, as you enjoy the humor in the stuff your kids do (or don't do.) You guys make me feel so "normal", whatever that is (Whoopi says "normal is in the eyes of the beholder.")

 

Gosh, you have the right "heart-set", and it gives me energy to get back to work with my youngest, who challenges me greatly. Okay, I'm exhaling.

 

Thanks! LBS

[Guest Katia]

she can work from morning to night and still not get her work done.

 

I can't rewire her brain.

 

she generally does decent work, is phenomenally creative, has wonderful friends, and is developing amazingly well in all the areas that I think are the most important.

 

one who has a hard time managing a basic high school course load.

 

Yes. This would have been my oldest dd. Slow, slow, sllooooooowwwww. School took all.day.long.every.single.day.

 

She never did finish a high school math book. Ever. Actually, she never got through even half of one. She just didn't get it.

 

We tried Saxon, TT, LOF......she finally did start to grasp Algebra 1 with LOF......during the summer before she left for COLLEGE!

 

So, here she is in college, an academically rigorous college at that, and she is keeping up! Getting assignments finished! Getting to all her classes on time (and fully dressed)! AND getting very good grades!

 

How did that happen? I will never know, but I'm very proud of her. But then, I was proud of her for trying so very, very hard when she didn't get it.

 

They grow up and take responsibility on themselves I guess. Thank goodness.

 

Although, I will tell you that when she finished her one required college math class (Finite Math) she called me dancing and singing excitedly, "I never have to take another math class again IN MY LIFE!!!" Oh, and btw......she got an "A".:)

[rwjx2khsmj]

and put the holes in a piece of paper to the left and the big part up. Sigh.

 

If I had a nickel for every time I've said this...this WEEK!! It's good to know I'm not the only one.

 

Isn't that what these boards are for? Not to compare our children, but to find others who know our pain and joy.

[Jackie in AR]

and put the holes in a piece of paper to the left and the big part up.

 

Yep, I have one who still does this upside down.

 

My 9th grade boys are taking Physical Science this year.

 

And my 7th grade dd is finally learning to spell this year thanks to the time we've spent going through All About Spelling. We started in Level 2 back in the fall, but she is making great strides. (She had vision problems until we figured out what was going on in about 4th grade, then took time to correct those. We've tried a couple of other spelling programs since then, but nothing has worked well until now.) She is very excited to be becoming a good speller!

 

P.S. And my 9th graders are also going to be doing the Dialectic level reading for at least 2 weeks of Unit 3 in our current TOG year.

Edited February 5, 2010 by Jackie in AR

[Ginevra]

One of my IRL friends comes to these boards once in a blue moon. She said, "I only go there to feel inadequate." :tongue_smilie::D:lol: Well, it was pretty funny!

 

OTOH, I soak up what people are doing, especially in reading about high school. Doesn't mean I will or must do what others are doing, but I'd rather see then stumble blindly on.

[Tiramisu]

Yes. This would have been my oldest dd. Slow, slow, sllooooooowwwww. School took all.day.long.every.single.day.

 

She never did finish a high school math book. Ever. Actually, she never got through even half of one. She just didn't get it.

 

We tried Saxon, TT, LOF......she finally did start to grasp Algebra 1 with LOF......during the summer before she left for COLLEGE!

 

So, here she is in college, an academically rigorous college at that, and she is keeping up! Getting assignments finished! Getting to all her classes on time (and fully dressed)! AND getting very good grades!

 

How did that happen? I will never know, but I'm very proud of her. But then, I was proud of her for trying so very, very hard when she didn't get it.

 

They grow up and take responsibility on themselves I guess. Thank goodness.

 

Although, I will tell you that when she finished her one required college math class (Finite Math) she called me dancing and singing excitedly, "I never have to take another math class again IN MY LIFE!!!" Oh, and btw......she got an "A".:)

 

Thank you for giving me hope. :grouphug:

I do think she'll be okay.

[mama25angels]

my 11th grader is just doing Algebra this year, he's struggled most of his school career, but he too tries very hard. He also mentioned that he's finally understanding his lit. readings. He's another one that staples his paper on the wrong side, writes on the wrong side etc....

[Miss Marple]

I have a friend whose daughter is in the same boat (senior still slogging through algebra). What I can't understand, though, is what the colleges say when there are no high school math classes "algebra 1 and above". All the schools we looked at wanted algebra 1 and higher courses. So what does this type of student do to fulfill that math requirement?

[Yolanda in Mass]

I must keep reminding myself of the REASON we homeschool. For us, it is not to be academically superior - it is to train the hearts of our children. I want to build up the bonds of our family and have children that serve the Lord and speak out boldly about what is right. I want children that THINK and LEAD instead of following the masses. It doesn't matter if it is a community college or an ivy league school. If they are just blindly following, then that isn't what I have in mind.

 

It is so easy to get caught up in trying to legitimize our homeschooling with academic achievements (hey, I want them to make me look good!) But when I am old and look back on what we have done, it is more important to have children with character. A good name is more precious than gold.

 

:iagree: Amen to that, sister!

 

Yolanda

[AnitaMcC]

I know for us that we are not doing as much as I had "envisioned" with us homeschooling high school. When I planned out how we were going to homeschool this year (our first year) I thought that we would get so much done. Well I have been so wrong!!!!!! Even my "advanced" student is not doing as much as planned.

 

My Dd who took algebra 1 in public school 8th grade is struggling with algebra 2 in 9th grade at home... so we are reviewing algebra 1 with her instead.

 

Yes Ds is taking a college course as a 9th grader.... but he still is "behind" schedule with his homeschool courses.

 

Currently the only subjects that we are really making any progress in are: English, World History, Health, math (algebra 1 review for Dd, algebra 2 for Ds).

 

Ds is just fiddling around with science (whatever he feels like doing at the time... geology, astronomy, chemistry, physics, aerospace). Dd isn't doing any science.

 

We haven't made progress in reading Great Books at all. Nothing like I had planned for them to do while studying world history. So far they have read two books.

 

To be honest... at this rate... neither of my twins will graduate high school when they are supposed to let alone early. Ds at least will have college credit, and maybe Dd will too...

 

The only thing is that I know both of them are capable of doing so much more. But they are lazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have no idea how to change this pattern they learned. They are so used to having "knowledge" spoon fed to them.

[Kareni]

Yes. This would have been my oldest dd. ...

She never did finish a high school math book. Ever. ...

 

So, here she is in college, an academically rigorous college at that, and she is keeping up! ...

 

Although, I will tell you that when she finished her one required college math class (Finite Math) she called me dancing and singing excitedly, "I never have to take another math class again IN MY LIFE!!!" Oh, and btw......she got an "A".:)

 

Congratulations to your daughter! That's great news.

 

 

I have a friend whose daughter is in the same boat (senior still slogging through algebra). What I can't understand, though, is what the colleges say when there are no high school math classes "algebra 1 and above". All the schools we looked at wanted algebra 1 and higher courses. So what does this type of student do to fulfill that math requirement?

 

Are you asking about what math the student would do at college to fulfill a math requirement? Sometimes a computer class is an acceptable alternative. Or am I misunderstanding your question?

 

Regards,

Kareni

[laughing lioness]

We just discovered that C.S. Lewis never passed the math entrance portion to Oxford! My idiot savant child (the oldest -100% on ACT verbal, knows 3 foreign languages) who really struggled with Alg. will be thrilled.

[tex-mex]

Yes. This would have been my oldest dd. Slow, slow, sllooooooowwwww. School took all.day.long.every.single.day.

 

She never did finish a high school math book. Ever. Actually, she never got through even half of one. She just didn't get it.

 

We tried Saxon, TT, LOF......she finally did start to grasp Algebra 1 with LOF......during the summer before she left for COLLEGE!

 

So, here she is in college, an academically rigorous college at that, and she is keeping up! Getting assignments finished! Getting to all her classes on time (and fully dressed)! AND getting very good grades!

 

How did that happen? I will never know, but I'm very proud of her. But then, I was proud of her for trying so very, very hard when she didn't get it.

 

They grow up and take responsibility on themselves I guess. Thank goodness.

 

Although, I will tell you that when she finished her one required college math class (Finite Math) she called me dancing and singing excitedly, "I never have to take another math class again IN MY LIFE!!!" Oh, and btw......she got an "A".:)

That is wonderful! My son is also s-l-o-w... and a perfectionist to boot. I am thrilled to hear how ds is doing!! Yay!

[TravelingChris]

I didn't push writing much with my oldest, He hated it, had him do it when it was necessary- Boy Scout requirement, essay for summer camp, etc. In high school, he wrote mostly very short commentaries- one page or less- on what he read. He took two online writing tuturiols. So his is he doing- he is a senior in college in philosophy writing four papers this week. That has been his life in college. And he is doing well.

 

Child two is my best student but what does this mean? SHe works incredibly hard, doesn't give up, and is quite smart. But she has learning issues- poor memory, and something else I can't quite figure out. SO while she can write very well, her science work is something else. SHe can't remember vocabulary hardly at all. We are doing conceptual type of biology rather than memorization. No Apologia here because it would be too difficult for her. So she does a harder text, BJU along with DIVE CDs and mostly uses the CDs with some reading of the text as necessary. She is mostly using tapes or CDs for both science and history because that is how she remembers.

 

Then we have child three who is incredibly stubborn and now is 13 and hormonal. Enough said.

[Paisley Hedgehog]

nm

[MyThreeSons]

It is so easy to get caught up in trying to legitimize our homeschooling with academic achievements (hey, I want them to make me look good!) But when I am old and look back on what we have done, it is more important to have children with character. A good name is more precious than gold.

 

Amen!! I really needed to hear this today. And I need to keep preaching it to myself whenever I get discouraged.

[kiana]

So glad we are not the only ones! Ds (14) still writes on the wrong side of the paper occasionally, and ds (11) is following in his footsteps. :tongue_smilie:

 

FWIW -- I still do that. :(

[mama25angels]

:lol: Ooooh, yes! I am so there. Totally. Must be time for an extended board break! :auto:

 

 

I so know this feeling, I only come here on Fridays for the weekly report and the FSOT board.:grouphug:

[Ginevra]

Ooooh, yes! I am so there. Totally. Must be time for an extended board break!

:lol: I remember my astonishment when I discovered there were people who do two (or more!) complete math programs, with ONE child! :svengo: I can honestly say that idea never entered my mind in the six years I homeschooled before I found this board.

 

 

 

 

No offense meant to you super-math people! :D

[FloridaLisa]

You know, I think the beauty of TWTM is that it can be broadly implemented for so many kids. I was thinking the other day about why TWTM is so popular. There are lots of classical books, schools and curriculum providers out there. I think it's because TWTM doesn't at all come across as elitist. It comes across as solid, thorough work, but work manageable and accessible by most students. There is no elitist hint in TWTM that *this is the only methodology* or *this is only for the prep school types.* It is welcoming to families and parents (unlike one of the earlier classical books) to teach their kids at home using a variety of materials, but all to attain the same goal -- to train the minds of our children -- to read deeply, think and reason, and communicate it. My kids have strengths and weaknesses and I definitely do as their teacher. :tongue_smilie: We just get up the next day and keep on working.

 

Lisa

[Alphabetika]

My dd16 just took algebra last year in 10th grade.

 

She has never written an essay.

[Greta Lea]

My 16yo son, who has Asperger syndrome, will probably take close to 1/2 the year (if not more than 1/2) to finish the Key To Fractions, Decimals and Percents books, then he'll begin the Key To Algebra for pre-Alg (he did TT pre-Alg. last year but is still lost as a goose!).

 

He is SOOOO s..l..o..w also with his school work and everything else in life. Drives me nuts!

 

He's a great reader, but there again, reads so slowly that he doesn't make it through a lot of books each year.

 

This thread makes me feel so much better:)

[Greta Lea]

He'll have to take a remedial math course (or two) if he doesn't get all the math requirements in. If he happens to get the Alg. 1 & 2 required for this CC, but his ACT math score is low he will still have to take the remedial math course(s).

 

We've decided that he struggles SO much with math that either way he will probably end up having to take a remedial math class at the CC. I'd rather him move a little slower, cover less math, but *really* understand what he does cover than just piddle through the courses and not *really* understanding.

 

Anyway, that's my ds' plan.

[Teachin'Mine]

I did only a couple of vocabulary workbooks in the elementary years, and then had to have dd do 7th grade and 8th grade this year to catch up. Spanish - we've been doing some - emphasis on some - since Kindergarten, and yet we still didn't do enough to classify it as Spanish I. :tongue_smilie: Science, we didn't have any good curriculum, so neither of us wanted much to do with it and it definitely got short changed. History also was the first to be dropped when we did shorter days, and then we'd cram to finish for the year. All the awesome projects that I read about moms doing with their children - we definitely didn't do those. Our school was mostly workbook based and lacked the depth that doing things the WTM way gives students. Fortunately, despite all my deficiencies, she's survived. :) Oh yeah, she never wrote a paper of any kind until this year.

[mom4him]

We need to stop comparing what we are doing for our kids with everyone else. be happy!!!

:iagree:I think it was last winter that I had this revelation. I am going to take my two at the pace that works for them and me and quit trying to keep up with anyone else.

[Beth in SW WA]

Thank you in advance for indulging my stream-of-consciousness response...

 

I didn't get ds 15 started early enough with the benefits of classical ed. I don't regret it, since I didn't know better at the time. We did what we thought was best during elementary school.

 

We hs'ed classically for his middle school years and it was awesome. So much ground was covered. Reading TWTM in 2006 changed our lives.

 

He is 'average' compared to many here on this forum -- although considered 'advanced' in our local circles (school, church, sports teams, etc). It really is relative.

 

He just finished his freshman year at a Christian high school. Report card came today. Strong GPA, thankfully. He thrived with all the social offerings there. The teacher/student relationship was just what I hoped for. Granted, a school with only 140 students provides a lovely atmosphere for healthy community-building. He was involved in leadership, sports, ministry.

 

Did he read "The Great Books" in his freshman English class? Nope.

 

He's reading & discussing 'Great Expectations' for me this summer. 'America: The Last Best Hope' is his book of choice.

 

As far as choosing high school over home school, I am keenly aware of my shortcomings. Teaching upper level math, science, Spanish, LA & History was not a sword I was willing to die on -- regardless of how appealing TWTM home education can be.

 

We love his school where he is taking wonderful courses and thriving. I owe this to our 2 years of homeschooling classically. All those hours with the Latin tutor was worth it.

 

All this to say, I am doing things completely different with my girls. Classical & rigorous will be our mantra from day one. They deserve nothing less.

 

As far as 'average' goes... I tell people that my husband & I are the King & Queen Of Average -- and we turned out just fine. :001_smile:

[katarzyna]

I was slowly feeling like a complete failure as a mother/teacher with my oldest daughter.Reading all the other's posts on how great their kids were, made me feel depressed.I thought, I was the only one...

I just wanted to thank you ALL for encouraging me to go on.It is nice to know that I don't have to feel ashamed to ask questions, and that there is someone here that can help me when I'm feeling blue.

THANK YOU

[Halftime Hope]

of mine is entirely different from each other. I have one who is a fantastic scholar, one who is hugely gifted with electronics/AV/multi-media, and one who has wonderful people skills. While each of them is multi-faceted and their gifts overlap with each other to one degree or another, each is a different "package".

 

I've just had an academic "glory" year with my senior, where the culmination of all she's done (and I along with her) has come to beutiful fruition. As her teacher and mom, I couldn't be prouder.

 

I am moving my sights with the next one, though. When he blossoms, it will be in an entirely different arena. He will come into his own in a completely different way. While we work the academics, I am actively hunting for ways to help him develop his gifts--in outlets we never explored with either of the first two. To do that, I'm having to reset mentally, since "book learnin'" is my favorite thing. :)

[johnandtinagilbert]

These two threads have been great. It is hard to see the worst part of all our schools, especially this time of year, when we're all excited about our plans. Plans. How often do those change? :glare: and also :)

 

What's most important for our dc is what works best for them and for the family at large. That is certainly relative.

 

We are rigorous with purpose, but certainly have our share of struggles.

 

I majorly screwed up reading instruction. We (ds and I) cried A LOT when we first started schooling. Poor kid...he's that guinea pig, too. I didn't get him truly happy with reading again until an entire year of a speed reading program -- that was this year -- he's nearly 15, so add that up -- ten years of painful reading b4 I got the speed reading.

 

I forced double science for 2 years in a row b/c I screwed up in elementary school and insisted we get at least a sampling with him before high school. He has never had more than a unit study on physics and he's entering 9th grade.

 

We were on Ancient history until he was in 5th grade -- that's right..we never got past Rome! He won't get an entire rotation for high school either, b/c we have to go slow, really slow in TOG in order to function well. Period.

 

I own about 13 laundry baskets: I use them for my piles of "stuff to put away on our next school break." My husband hates this, it is simply a reality for me. Either I pull an all nighter to put stuff away (books, school, projects, material, seasonal stuff, whatever) or it waits for the next break....I haven't pulled an all nighter in nearly 2 years and although I just emptied baskets last week, guess what's started next to my desk :glare: Darn baskets.

 

I killed our garden, via neglect, after dh plowed a nicely sized plot...he was very mad. I was simply too busy with other things.

 

We all make our choices and I'll encourage you and you encourage me and I don't care if it's via LoF or Dolciani...whatever works is great!

[~Jo]

I own about 13 laundry baskets: I use them for my piles of "stuff to put away on our next school break." My husband hates this, it is simply a reality for me. Either I pull an all nighter to put stuff away (books, school, projects, material, seasonal stuff, whatever) or it waits for the next break....I haven't pulled an all nighter in nearly 2 years and although I just emptied baskets last week, guess what's started next to my desk :glare: Darn baskets.

 

I killed our garden, via neglect, after dh plowed a nicely sized plot...he was very mad. I was simply too busy with other things.

 

We all make our choices and I'll encourage you and you encourage me and I don't care if it's via LoF or Dolciani...whatever works is great!

 

Oh THIS IS ME!!!! I have piles and piles of stuff in baskets.

 

Today I forced myself to go through last years school books, write up an inventory list on the computer and pack them up for the attic.

 

While I was up in the attic this morning I found another "basket" of school stuff that had just been shoved up there sometime ago - I figure I'll haul it down when I take these books up there and toss most of it (it's mostly used consumable stuff) and I figure if I haven't missed it yet then it won't hurt to toss it, huh?

 

I don't garden anymore...my dh plays a dirge every time I bring a plant home :lol: My mom has a wonderful green thumb....but me, not so much. And what does manage live around here it would seem that the deer eat. :D I'm tired of feeding them.

[Mommyfaithe]

... for advice about what to do with my daughter because every time I ask ... I get "send her to CC" ... "send her to CC". ... with her ADHD and other issues she wouldn't do well there yet at all, but even if I try to point that out I still get the same responses. She is accelerated in some areas, but not at all in most areas.

 

:iagree:

 

I have no intentions of sending my kids off to cc early...accelerated or not. Maturity plays a HUGE roll in when my kids go off to school....not academics...we can always go further...grade level and age have nothing to do with it.

 

Faithe (whose kids are all over the spectrum level wise and who really tries so hard not to compare and feel like a failure. When i feel like I failed...they feel llike failures as well.)

[Night Elf]

... for advice about what to do with my daughter because every time I ask ... I get "send her to CC" ... "send her to CC". ... with her ADHD and other issues she wouldn't do well there yet at all, but even if I try to point that out I still get the same responses. She is accelerated in some areas, but not at all in most areas.

 

That wouldn't work here either. Where I live, even the tech school needs to see a diploma or a GED, or the whole workup portfolio thingy showing they've completed high school. I don't know of a single cc in my area anyway.

 

My son turns 14 in 2 weeks. We started him with 2 high school classes early because he will be on the 5 year plan. He most certainly isn't like the high achieving end of the spectrum of students here. He's average. I'm not bothered by other high schoolers doing more impressive things or finishing early. I'm bothered by an attitude that anyone can do it. That's a put down plain and simple, dissing both parents and students.

[Deb in NZ]

My dc meet their own goals...

 

dd only made it thru 7 lessons of MUS: Algebra 1. She finished 75% of Physical Science & 50% of Biology. She loves both those books & took them + Marine Biology with her to uni. She began polytech (like community college) at age 16 & by the end of last year had completed 3 courses: Sustain Rural Development, levels 2 & 3; Foundation Studies, level 3. The SRD courses were only two days a week, so she continued HS/ing at home with me the other days. FS was 4 days a week + homework, so what we planned for her to do at home didn't get done. BUT now she's just finished half of the first year of her Marine Biology degree. She loves it & is excelling in every way. Did she have a few learning curves to overcome? Yes, but she's done that with style & success. Could she have done more work while HS/ing highschool? Yes, but she wouldn't have been able to gain the skills/experience that she did at scouts/mariners/band/volunteering/etc. The only thing I would change for her if I could do it over again would be to plan out the year's expectations & hand it over to her. Having the year's plans printed & bound for ds#2 this year has made me stick with what we began with & not be tempted to change our program mid-year.

 

Ds#1 has 5 more lessons in MUS:Zeta to finish. He's completed LoF: Fractions, but has yet to begin LoF: Decimals. He only read/listened to General Science & the first 6 chapters of Physical Science. He's working his way s-l-o-w-l-y thru the TTC: Physics in Your Life lectures & reading Conceptual Physics. We work daily on spelling with Sequential Spelling for Adults. He began polytech 2 months before he turned 16yo. He has excelled in his course & will begin a proper welding & frabrication course mid-July. This course is designed for 2nd year apprentices. He'll also continue with the course he began in February. He began English, Maths, & Science thru the NZ Correspondence School in April when he turned 16yo. I signed him up for the lower difficulty course in each. He's excelled in maths, completing 7+ booklets (& 11 credits) already, but he's only finished 1 booklet in English & he has to do it all over as he failed :glare: Science he just began mid-June, but as it isn't open-book for assessments, I know he'll struggle. Am I worried that he'll most likely never do Algebra or "highschool" level sciences? Not really. I would have liked him to have taken them, but as he is succeeding in his Mechanical Engineering courses at 'tec, I'm not thinking about pushing him to do that now. He's ready to move onto beginning his work & that isn't "highschool" work. We'll continue at home to work on spelling & I'll add in a bit of tech. drawing as he'll need that for his welding course. Fine motor skills isn't his forte, so he needs all the practice he can get. ;) Ds#1 will contiune with his correspondence school courses as he needs 14+ credits in each Maths, Science, & English to give him the most choice when he enlists, but other than that we'll just focus on his 'tec courses. We've already finished one time thru history + geography. This gives him a better foundation in history than 90% of the highschoolers leaving school here with honors. The Latin, literature, etc. that he's done is all things that 95% of teens in NZ never even get exposed to at all.

 

Ds#2 is on the "average" track as well. If we continue at the rate we are now, with no road blocks, he'll get farther in maths & science than dd or ds#1 did. He just began MUS: Zeta & will begin LoF: Decimals when we start back up for term 3 mid-July. He's finished more than half of General Science so far this year. He'll begin lesson 7 of LL2. He may go to PS for highschool in 2011 as he wants to play hockey for them & join the sailing team. If not, he'll work his way thru Pre-Algebra, Physical Science, & finish Lively Latin here at home with me. HS/ing allows us to work with each dc at their own level, at their own speed, & in their own direction to meet THEIR own goals.

 

Blessings,

[Barb_]

... for advice about what to do with my daughter because every time I ask ... I get "send her to CC" ... "send her to CC". ... with her ADHD and other issues she wouldn't do well there yet at all, but even if I try to point that out I still get the same responses. She is accelerated in some areas, but not at all in most areas.

 

Luanne, your daughter is in her 20's so this isn't really fair. I remember suggestions that she apply for financial aid grants at the community college or work to pay for it rather than you struggling to pay for high school curriculum while you were worried about your job. I don't think that's unreasonable given the circumstances.

 

Barb

[PinkInTheBlue]

Oh, so I haven't completely ruined my son for life because we will be doing physical science in 9th grade instead of college grade physics and bio-chem all in one year? I thought we were on a decent, but not advanced, path until I began visiting the high school board! Sometimes I have near panic attacks when I read of students practically ready to graduate college at the end of their 9th grade year. Often lately I feel like it's everyone on this board. I'm happy where we are and think I have a schedule for next year (9th and 7th grade boys) that's a mix of reasonable and challenging.

 

My confession; my boys are awful writers. I don't mean composing, I mean handwriting. It became such a nightmare with cursive many years back that I basically gave up. They print...badly...slowly. So this summer and the first couple months of full-time, back to school I'll actually be doing handwriting with a teen and preteen. Ugh!

 

Also, science has been our subject to suffer. I've never found anything we love, so this rotation of science will be just about their first in-depth exposure to certain science topics. History and math and we are good!