For those who have sent a child from Homeschool to public school

[Mom28kds]

What lead you to that decision? Would you do it again?

[UnsinkableKristen]

We did last year because I was exhausted and overwhelmed after having our 4th baby, and I felt I was giving them a sub-par education.

 

They were in PS from the end of January until the end of the school year in May, and by the middle of April we knew that they wouldn't be going back again the following year. It was good because it gave me a break when I needed it and because it reinforced that our kids do best at home and that our family is meant to homeschool. I would do it again because of those reasons. However, unless our circumstances dramatically change again, we plan to homeschool for the long haul.

[almondbutterandjelly]

We just did it. We lasted four days, then brought her back home. The homework load was unacceptable. She had 1.5 - 3 hours every night (6th grade). There was no time for playing with the neighbors, no time for fun time with Dad, just no time. She didn't get a good night's sleep any night. She's a ten hour sleeper, so if you have to get up at 6:30, you have to sleep by 8:30. With the homework load plus dinner and shower, that early bedtime just didn't happen.

 

Also, while at home, we really strive for joyful learning, at this school, they seemed to not care if anyone enjoyed it. Science, which is one of the subjects I was looking forward to outsourcing to public school due to their more expensive lab equipment, was turned into a complete drudgery. How can you do that to science, out of any subject? That's just not right.

 

Anyway, we are glad that she tried public school again, after being out for 4 years, but we have confirmed that we are NOT missing anything.

[nandmsmom]

I put mine in when they were 1st and 4th. I was overwhelmed and couldn't get over the bad attitude I had. Homeschooling wasn't the only area that was overwhelming, but it was the one I could do something about. My oldest was both bored and overwhelmed. He was way ahead in most subjects, but the volume of busy work was overwhelming for him. We have testing in our state that they spend weeks preparing for. They stopped learning for almost 2 months in order to prep the kids for this stupid test. He did very well, but it was still a waste of time. After 2 years, I was ready to bring them home. My now 6th grader is behind where he would have been, but on track for where he needs to be. My now 3rd grade daughter is behind in math, but otherwise ok.

 

Conclusion? I needed them to be in school, so it was good from that standpoint. However, I learned that anything I am doing at home is at least as good as what they are doing at school.

[DragonFaerie]

My DD just went back to PS in October at her request. I was very, VERY hesitant, but in the end, I decided to let her try it. It has been a resounding success for her. I was concerned that she would be academically bored. The school tested her, and not only skipped her up a grade level, but they also put her into all advanced classes, which made me very happy. She is loving the academics (even with the advanced classes and all, she says homeschooling work was way harder; hehe), is making friends, is doing exceptionally well with band, and just having a good experience overall.

 

I am now struggling with the idea of putting DS back in school. I am recently single and having to manage everything, including part time work and studying for my master's degree, entirely on my own. However, DS is not the student that DD is, and I still believe he learns better at home. My dilemma is how to manage everything and still help him get a decent education. But, that's a whole 'nother thread. I digress. The point is that yes, I have sent a child to PS and it's going great for her. :)

[Wildiris]

Yes, I've sent two from homeschool to public school and will not do it again. With my youngest two, we use online public school and online private school. This choice reduces my burden. I can also modify and suppliment as needed. Now I have time to do something other than just homeschooling.

[Pawz4me]

It was oldest DS's decision to return to public school for high school after four years of homeschooling. He was (is) very mature for his age and had valid reasons, so we saw no reason not to go along with his decision. It has worked out very well for him.

[Mom28kds]

Thank you for the replies. I'm trying to figure out if PS would be better for my DS next year. He will be in 3rd grade. I'm not against PS. I have a DD in public high school. My husband is on the school board. I will still have a 1st and 2nd grader at home. I'm homeschooling because I think it's best for various reasons. My DS that I'm thinking about has focus issues. I'm wondering if a more structured school environment would help him focus more since it's not "home". For instance, some days it takes him forever to get his work done. It took him 2.5 hours to just get his LA done. Not because he couldn't do it just because he dawdles. Another 2 hours for Math. Or would the distractions at school be worse. I truly want what is best for him.

[AngelaNYC]

Oldest dd only homeschooled for 8th grade with every intention of returning to school the following year. She chose a high school for journalism and did very well.

 

Youngest dd homeschooled from 3rd-8th grade. In 7th grade she thought it would be a great idea to try out for some performing arts high schools. Dance is her passion and to get to do more of it was the best thing she could imagine. She auditioned and was accepted to the best (2500 try out for dance, 100 are accepted, 65 attend).

 

I knew they could return to homeschooling at any time, so that made me more ok with it. So, I would probably do the same thing. I'm just not crazy about the inefficiency and unnecessary demands of public school. Oldest dd happens to do well with that. Youngest dd is more of an independent thinker/free spirit and homeschooling (in my opinion) would have been a better fit academically. She's doing well at school, but complains. She stays because she loves dance and knows she's getting the best training there.

 

Ds is getting close to the age where he'll have to make a high school decision (preliminary testing and researching schools has to start in 7th grade). I just don't see any value in public high school for him. He would want to go just to try it, but I know it's not his thing. I'm just now finally getting a good handle on his learning disability (visual processing disorder/dyslexia) and I know what works and how he learns best. He hates reading. He hates writing. He's incredibly smart, creative, and outgoing, but that's not enough for school success. Yet, if he was absolutely adamant about it - I'd let him go.

[Cassy]

DS11 started at our local secondary school in September after 3 years of homeschooling. He is loving every minute, doing well academically in what is an academically rigorous school, adoring all the extra opportunities for participating in sport, and is very popular with the other children in his class. I am now seriously considering sending DS5 and DS8 to school, even though I love homeschooling and they seem very happy. Around here at least, I think kids miss out on wonderful opportunities if they stay at home.

[anabelneri]

Thank you for the replies. I'm trying to figure out if PS would be better for my DS next year. He will be in 3rd grade. I'm not against PS. I have a DD in public high school. My husband is on the school board. I will still have a 1st and 2nd grader at home. I'm homeschooling because I think it's best for various reasons. My DS that I'm thinking about has focus issues. I'm wondering if a more structured school environment would help him focus more since it's not "home". For instance, some days it takes him forever to get his work done. It took him 2.5 hours to just get his LA done. Not because he couldn't do it just because he dawdles. Another 2 hours for Math. Or would the distractions at school be worse. I truly want what is best for him.

 

 

I've had this experience. I've also considered school, but we seem to have hit a stride this year. IME, 4th grade has been better than 3rd grade was for this. Also, I've got a couple more techniques to help dd focus than I did last year. The most helpful things have been (1) exercise first thing in the morning, (2) high protein/low sugar breakfast, (3) using a timer when dd is consistently off-track, and (4) having dd do 30 jumping jacks, or touching toes, or similar whenever she gets off-track or mopey/grumpy.

 

You may have tried all that, but I figured it might be worth mentioning anyway.

Good luck!

[PuddleJumper1]

We've done it twice for different reasons. Well I guess the root reason was the same in each but the planning was different. Our original plan was to hs through high school but life circumstances changed that. Our youngest has significant special needs.

 

DS homeschooled through 8th grade and then started 9th grade at ps. This was planned on from about 7th grade. I knew I didn't have the time or stamina at that time to devote to high school for him and we are blessed with a good school here. He is doing wonderful - graduates this year.

 

We enrolled dd several weeks into 6th grade. She wanted the experience of ps and since I was pretty burnt out we gave it a go. She stayed until the end of the year. She had a wonderful experience and we thought she was in for the duration of her schooling. About a month before school ended she asked to come home. As much as she loved her teachers and studies she could not stand the school atmosphere (the noise, drama etc). She's now in 8th doing online school along with other electives and having the time of her life. She has told us she has no interest in going to the high school so as of now she will be home to the end.

 

We take it one year at a time. In fact next year little bit will be coming home. He's in a wonderful special ed class now (and has been for years) but we've known for some time that the next school he'd go to is not a good placement for him. With the other two being older I can now take on his schooling. I'm very excited (and a little scared) about it :)

[Laura Corin]

Mine went into private school. Calvin was reaching the stage where he needed more intellectual input from teachers and peers - he already knew what I would say on so many issues. There were not co-op/dual enrollment options locally. Hobbes would not have been happy to be alone with me - he's a social guy and it would not have been good for our relationship.

 

It's gone really well. Both boys are thriving academically and socially. It's been just over two years now.

 

I am still glad that they were at home when they were smaller. We have a really close relationship and they had so many extra hours to develop their own interests, read for hours on sunny windowsills, and just dream.

 

Laura

[Mom28kds]

 

 

I've had this experience. I've also considered school, but we seem to have hit a stride this year. IME, 4th grade has been better than 3rd grade was for this. Also, I've got a couple more techniques to help dd focus than I did last year. The most helpful things have been (1) exercise first thing in the morning, (2) high protein/low sugar breakfast, (3) using a timer when dd is consistently off-track, and (4) having dd do 30 jumping jacks, or touching toes, or similar whenever she gets off-track or mopey/grumpy.

 

You may have tried all that, but I figured it might be worth mentioning anyway.

Good luck!

 

 

Thank you for the ideas :) I need to find more focus exercises. I have tried giving him ways take quick mental breaks. I don't really want to throw in the towel yet but I want what is best for him. Thanks :)

[justamouse]

Yes, because I could not in any way teach her what she wanted to learn. BUT I did her academics at home for the first two years of HS, and then she went back full time in 11th.

 

If there were any way to get around it, I would have. I am wholly unimpressed with her PS HS education, apart from her focus in cosmetology. To me, it was a wasted two years, and I would argue that they were the most important, the culmination of all the previous years. Those were the years that all of the big ideas came together. Instead of taking off like a flame, they fizzled out in a sputter.

[Mom28kds]

Thank you for all the responses :))

[laura291]

I'm wondering if a more structured school environment would help him focus more since it's not "home". For instance, some days it takes him forever to get his work done. It took him 2.5 hours to just get his LA done. Not because he couldn't do it just because he dawdles. Another 2 hours for Math. Or would the distractions at school be worse. I truly want what is best for him.

 

 

I also have a son who has focus issues. He went to public school from K - 4th and homeschool from 5th to 6th (currently). He still has focus issues at home, probably a little worse than at public school, or so it seems.

 

I think that if you put your son into public school, it will appear that the focus issues improve. They are not going to allow him to take 2.5 hours to finish his language arts, so he'll either not finish it in the time allotted, or will carelessly finish it. His teacher may report that he stays in his desk and thus, focuses, but if he's not actually focusing and thus not actually learning, you haven't solved the problem.

 

I could be wrong, but this is the case with my son. He doesn't focus well at home either, but if it takes him longer to complete his work, so be it. At least I know he's completing it correctly and learning it.

 

Good luck with your decision!

[Mom28kds]

 

 

I also have a son who has focus issues. He went to public school from K - 4th and homeschool from 5th to 6th (currently). He still has focus issues at home, probably a little worse than at public school, or so it seems.

 

I think that if you put your son into public school, it will appear that the focus issues improve. They are not going to allow him to take 2.5 hours to finish his language arts, so he'll either not finish it in the time allotted, or will carelessly finish it. His teacher may report that he stays in his desk and thus, focuses, but if he's not actually focusing and thus not actually learning, you haven't solved the problem.

 

I could be wrong, but this is the case with my son. He doesn't focus well at home either, but if it takes him longer to complete his work, so be it. At least I know he's completing it correctly and learning it.

 

Good luck with your decision!

 

Thanks :) Good thoughts.