With all this talk about how homeschoolers are way above their ps conterparts

[Haiku]

I made the post about my kids loving Homer that seems to have ruffled some feathers. Of my younger kids, my daughter is extremely bright and seems to breeze through everything, and always has. My son struggles quite a bit with reading, writing, and lots of other things. He has physical and processing issues as well. I also have a 14 year old who has such severe and global learning disabilities that I had to put her in school, as there was no way I could adequately meet her needs.

 

My point was that even kids who aren't geniuses can enjoy high-quality literature.

 

Tara

[rafiki]

.

[Penelope]

My 6 yo is ahead in some things, average in others. I'd say he is bright, and would probably test at gifted level in public school but not profoundly gifted. As others sad, giftedess is more than being a couple of grade levels ahead. I have thougt my son was gifted since he was tiny, but not because he knew his abc's at 15 months but mre the way he used words and the questions he asked at 1 and 2 years old, and just the way his mind works; however he is also 6 and has trouble listening and paying attention and with impulsivity, which makes getting school done, a challenge many days.

 

I haven't known enough homeschoolers well yet to say if as a group they are ahead or not. I think there are so many people now that are relaxed, that it is hard to say. And the kids at the two ends of the curve ( both ahead and behind) may be more likely to be homeschooled in the first place, because those are the kids who will be less likely to get their needs met in a

typical school.

[CalicoKat]

DD9 is somewhere between grade level in all subjects. Today I discovered that the plethora of mistakes in her Pathway Reader Workbook are due to her discovering that she doesn't need to read the chapter to answer most of the questions right. :confused:

 

DD8 is one grade level behind. ADHD is primarily our biggest daily hurddle here. It's coming. She can finally read. She can do math. But she frequently writes her numbers backwards. She means to write 12, but it's 21. Even if she can speak it, tell you how to write it, she can't get it written correctly. . . . but she's getting it!!!!

 

DS5 is my star. He's working one grade level ahead. :D

 

DS3 -- can't even match "sames", or find "different." He's very little. We just test the waters once in a while to see where his interest and abilites are at.

 

DD 19 months (yesterday!) is starting to no need daily morning naps. :001_huh:

 

Currently my kids are academically behind their same-age PS cousins. But who's comparing?! :auto:

 

Trying to do my kids a favor by guaging their progress on their efforts alone. Last year . . . . this year. . . They really like to look back and see what they've learned. I do too.

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

Honey you are NOT alone.

My dd is a little dyslexic.

You can only imagine where we are!

And where we aren't!

 

Don't worry - they all eventually catch up with care and nurture.

And as an aside - most of these "brilliant" children that I have seen in real life - have ABSOLUTELY *NO* common sense whatsoever.

 

Fret not my dear.......

 

And yet sometimes we try, rather desperately, to instill some common sense in them. Sometimes there's nothing we can do. It sometimes doesn't take. And we can't help when we have smart and often socially awkward kids (son #1) any more than we can help having dyslexic and socially capable kids (daughter #2).

 

It's nothing we teach. It's nothing we do or don't do. (Or at least, we tell ourselves that in our most optimistic moments.) It just is.

[LG Gone Wild]

I think it's me since I struggle to get them to cooperate. My kids are bright but willful (something about an apple not falling far from the tree) and so academic achievement might be a pipe dream. My goal is to not ruin them. Honestly, I don't know Trivium Academy does it.

[Kris]

I think above-average attitude, effort and self-motivation are just as lovely as above-average test scores. :)

 

:iagree: I admit I dropped the ball in paying attention to what my son was doing in PS when I found that he was reading way above grade level. "Well! That takes care of that!" Um, no -- hating to read, being lazy with no work ethic and being completely unmotivated definitely trumped that plus. He still reads above grade level, but some days it's only because he sees my boot aiming for his butt.

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

If nothing else, they'll make your kids look So Very Much Better. :)

 

You no doubt mean this to be lighthearted, right?

[Doran]

We love them both equally. We work to meet the social and educational needs of both. One prompts questions about whether we should advance her a grade while the other prompts questions wondering whether she will ever learn to capitalize the letters at the beginning of a sentence (or add punctuation at the end, for that matter). The one with the A+ average who can spew facts and figures like she just read them moments ago has her head in the clouds (or in a book, or on the computer) much of the time and is a classic case of a kid who might forget her own head if it wasn't attached to her body. The one with the B average needs an arsenal of pneumonic devices and repetition to master the most basic of facts (in just about any subject) yet knows where every single thing in the house is at any given time and can follow a list of verbal instructions as if they are written into her skin.

 

They are both wonderful and complex, bright in certain ways and crazy-making in others.

 

Oh, and by the way, my oldest brother is very much like my oldest daughter, and I find that I'm more akin to my younger. We both lead successful adult lives.

 

Don't fret. Your children are a gift to you, and you to them. You're doing just fine.

 

:001_smile:

[C_l_e_0..Q_c]

As the parent of one superchild and one average child, you can't make a superchild. Both of my children have developed at their own rate. The beauty of homeschooling is that I can honor that. My dd is on target on some targets, and "behind" in some. But she's just where she needs to be and she's growing. My superchild btw does not always want to do school. And he certainly has the same character issues to learn as any child!

 

 

Oh my, for a sec I thought I wrote this!

My 'superchild' is also my first born, so when the second one came along, man, I thought she was so behind!

 

Now my superchild has work issues, and my average child does not. I suspect the work will win in the long term, and not the raw capabilities.

[Elaine]

You won't get any tomatoes from me -- unless you want to make a salad, and then I'd be happy to share.

 

Frankly, I don't think homeschoolers, as a total group, *are* "way above" their PS counterparts. Just as there are kids who excel in PS, there are kids who excel at home. And just as there are kids who fail in PS, there are kids who fail at home -- for whatever reason. And then there are the average kids -- in both groups -- that never make the headlines.

 

My son will never set the world on fire academically. It doesn't interest him in the slightest. He's plugging away because he feels that's the right thing to do, but that's it. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. He'll find something that works for him. And if he came to me tomorrow and told me he wanted to "drop out" it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. Actually, I'm pretty surprised he hasn't done it already.

 

I love to see parents bragging about their academically successful kids! I also love to see them bragging about their kids who are successful in other areas. There's always *something* that academically average or below average kids can excel at and I think that is the key -- find *that* and encourage and, yes, brag about it!

 

I admit that, being a "bookish" type myself, I would love my kid to be more like that, if for no other reason than because I'd at least have a glimmer of hope that I might actually *understand* him some day! But he's just so awesome in other areas, and I'm enjoying that. He is wickedly funny, for instance, and I have fun watching when he makes other people laugh! I know I'm sitting there with a stupid proud grin on my face -- but I don't care one bit.

 

Would things be different if we had pursued homeschooling earlier? I really don't think so. I was trying to read books as soon as I could pick them up -- he was using them to make roads for his cars, and some days I don't think we've advanced much beyond that. :lol:

 

Great post! Just great. :001_smile: Well, except for the tomatoes in the salad part. ;)

[Elaine]

Both of my boys are right where they should be in some things and above where they should be in others. My four year old is not reading yet and I refuse to feel badly about this no matter how much my P.S. teacher neighbor insists that he should be. I feel like telling her to pound salt.

[6packofun]

I've never heard the term "superchild" before. Hm. Is that used in the gifted community or is it just an affectionate label? :confused:

[Cricket]

We are average and underachievers here, as much as I hate to admit it. Our oldest hit a brick wall once we started level 4 of Singapore math. He's making his way through slowly but surely. He never remembers anything from our history lessons and his narrations are terrible. His spelling is awful. He does well during spelling lessons but then misspells those same words in other writing. We worry about him and are doing what we can. But on a positive note, he loves working with his hands. He is very creative and draws well. He enjoys working outdoors and is a very hard worker. He can visit with anyone. The other day he sat outside with a 20-something Mexican immigrant who barely speaks English. He ate lunch with him and made conversation with him. Most adults (let alone kids) wouldn't have bothered. He is great at tae kwon do and loves to help out lower belts. I could see him teaching tae kwon do some day.

 

Our 7 yo is better at his school work but he hates any kind of physical work. He tells everyone he can't read even though he can. I practically have to sit on him to make him be still and read. He has a very orderly brain. He likes things to make sense and hates change. He's a good speller (thank you SWR!!!) because I only have to tell him a spelling rule once and he's got it.

 

Both boys *really* dislike reading. They don't enjoy school. I love reading and I loved school. I had visions of the children and I learning together and having wonderful, quiet days filled with reading and the excitement of learning. Boy was I wrong!

[LG Gone Wild]

Um, no -- hating to read, being lazy with no work ethic and being completely unmotivated definitely trumped that plus. He still reads above grade level, but some days it's only because he sees my boot aiming for his butt.

 

Too right!!

[Mommy22alyns]

Well, now I want to talk to parents whose kids are just a little ahead. Seriously... my girls aren't prodigies, so I sometimes feel out of place on the accelerated board, but I don't feel like I can talk to other parents in a lot of places because then I'm "bragging" or I get the insinuation that I've "pushed" them or some nonsense like that. I'm stuck in the middle. :glare:

 

So if nothing else, this thread should have us all seeing that everyone feels a bit left out sometimes... Parents of kids on all areas of the achievement spectrum are sometimes left a little :001_huh:. But at least as homeschoolers, we have the freedom and flexibility to meet them where they are.

 

Now. Kumbayah, anyone? :D

[Serendipity]

This would be us. I cannot tell y'all how often I've said we're homeschooling and that my children are AVERAGE. One is a bit behind because of a struggle to learn to read.

 

High Five! :)

[C_l_e_0..Q_c]

My son will never set the world on fire academically. It doesn't interest him in the slightest.

 

Oops, I read too fast and got "my son will never set the world on fire accidentally" and my first thought was "I'm pretty sure mine could" cause he's that accident-prone!

Handling algebra at 10 does not mean he can navigate this world easily. Pouring a glass of milk is still a challenge at 11. A spill is sure to happen.

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

I've never heard the term "superchild" before. Hm. Is that used in the gifted community or is it just an affectionate label? :confused:

 

Affectionate label. And sorta tongue-in-cheek.

[Jami]

I don't know what my kids are. ;)

 

I suppose my 2ndborn looks like the most naturally gifted/academic one. She taught herself to read, reads anything she can get her hands on, writes well and prolifically, etc. But my 1stborn is an engineer (all those LEGOs) and is so musically talented in comparison. The little one has her own skillz. I'm not sure where she'll fall yet.

 

I posted a link to a recent study on Silicon Valley computer gurus and genius. And the findings seemed to indicate that more important than giftedness or raw talent was the sheer amount of TIME that those who became amazing in their fields put into their subject. To be a true master of something, requires more consistent time, practice, and yes, some pushing probably, even more than raw aptitude. I'll try and find it....

 

Here it is: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/nov/15/malcolm-gladwell-outliers-extract

Edited December 3, 2008 by Jami

[Kris]

Oops, I read too fast and got "my son will never set the world on fire accidentally" and my first thought was "I'm pretty sure mine could" cause he's that accident-prone!

 

:lol: Actually, I think *that* is something he *could* accomplish. :lol:

 

Handling algebra at 10 does not mean he can navigate this world easily. Pouring a glass of milk is still a challenge at 11. A spill is sure to happen.

 

Just so's ya know, that doesn't get any better. :D

[Niffercoo]

My son is quite far behind grade level. You would never expect it just by talking to him, just like many people don't realize he has Aspergers unless they know what they are looking for, or unless they really get to know him. He has so many processing problems, and now the recently diagnosed seizures, that learning, remembering, and recalling is SO difficult for him.

 

It makes me really sad when people comment on homeschoolers who are behind, and assume it's because their parents don't teach them or don't care. I work SO hard with this child. He gives his work all he can - it's just so hard for him.

 

My little one is almost 7 (3 months from today) and she isn't reading yet. But she's only been talking for three years, so I tend to forget that she's the age she is. Plus she's the baby of the family! It's been hard to realize that she's behind academically already.

 

My middle child is very bright, but not gifted. She is pretty well on target academically. She might have been able to be advanced because she was reading well at age 4, but I was just too busy with her siblings.

[Mama Lynx]

I think my kids are "bright," but not exceptional. They're at grade level in most areas, although 3/4 of them read well above grade level. They're almost certainly all behind in writing. One of mine is probably dyslexic, is 8 and is just *beginning* to attempt spontaneous reading or writing of *any* kind.

 

DH and I were both labeled mild/medium gifted when we were in school, so we did expect to have bright kids, on the whole. My 2nd child might actually fit the criteria for mildly gifted - but here we *are* talking about the kind of giftedness that evens out later, not profoundly gifted or genius level.

[Jane in NC]

...

 

The one with the B average needs an arsenal of pneumonic devices

:001_smile:

 

Doran,

 

I know you meant mnemonics, but I must confess that I originally read "pneumatic devices" when I saw your post, giggling at the picture of a child in a classroom surrounded by noisy air compressors. When I took a second look, I envisioned the poor dear hooked up to medical equipment.

 

My post has no relevance to the thread, but I thank you for the unintentional laugh.

 

Jane

[*********]

I heard a quote on the radio one day that has really helped me see the big picture. He said, "When I get to heaven God isn't going to say me 'Well done my well educated servant, or rich servant or beautiful servant.' He's going to say 'Well done my good and faithful servant'."

 

My goal since then is to make sure first and formost my children know and love God. I want them to have a great education but it is secondary to their love for their Creator and Savior.

 

Kelly

 

Kelly, thanks for this. I couldn't agree more.

[Guest sarathan]

I'm with you! My boys are still pretty little so it's hard for me to say where they are academically, but my 3-year old certainly does NOT enjoy Homer and my ds (5) isn't even close to reading. I'd say they're both very "average" which is just fine by me. :) No geniuses in this house, lol.

[Peela]

I started homeschooling my younger because he was struggling in school. He is dyslexic and years of homeschooling have helped him not to completely get lost in the system and fall through the cracks, have helped him to feel better about himself and not have to develop a personality dependent on just surviving a hostile school environment, helped him learn the basics when he may not have. But he is by no means an Einstein and if thrust back into the school system would most likely still struggle because of his learning differences. He might be ahead in some areas, like grammar, but it wouldn't take long before it all evened out.

 

One of the benefits of homeschooling I notice for my highly strung child is that it is simply more relaxed here, and less distracting. And he is not getting emotionally hurt all the time,(by other kids or a teacher who isn't hyper sensitive to his particular sensitivities!) since it is a safer environment. So it is a better learning environment for this child, so he can learn more optimally- but it's still a challenge. He can also express his frustrations and intense emotions more freely- he used to get in the car after school and explode.

 

For my other one who is academically bright, she would probably thrive in school and in a healthy school environment- but too much the other way- woudl get distracted by all the socialising.

[Janna]

I don't mean to be a cynic here. There are lots of people on this board who give great information that I have found useful in my life.

 

However, I just want to remind you (the OP), as an encouragement, that this is the Internet. You are reading posts on a message board from people you don't know. It is very easy to post about highly advanced children in an effort to make themselves feel better, when in fact their children are "average" or even "below average". Or gee, they may not even have children, nor do they even home school - we sure had enough trolls like that on the old board, remember?:eek:

 

I say this because there have been many times where I have come to this board in a great mood and leave it feeling depressed. I turn inward and "woe is me" and "I'm so stupid compared to everyone else". There have even been a few times where I have seriously questioned whether or not I should even be homeschooling because there is no way I do it as well "as everyone else".

 

It has taken me some time to realize that I can NOT base my beliefs, my convictions, my security, my self-esteem (where homeschooling is concerned) on the Internet! And when did "everyone else" become a handful of people that I don't even know IRL? It was such a slow process, my feeling this way, that I didn't even realize it was happening until it was obvious. Kind of like the frog being boiled to death without ever knowing it was happening.

 

So please, don't base your feelings or your thoughts on whether or not you're a good homeschooler on this board. Don't get me wrong though. Should you consider some of the posts? Absolutely. Could you use this board as an accountability factor for yourself? Of course! But only YOU and the Good Lord know whether you're towing the line properly or whether there is too much give.

 

Go easy on yourself. My bet is that you're doing fine. If for no other reason than that you're concerned about it.

 

:grouphug:

[jamnkats]

You no doubt mean this to be lighthearted, right?

 

Oh yes, very much so! :)

[Doran]

Doran,

 

I know you meant mnemonics, but I must confess that I originally read "pneumatic devices" when I saw your post, giggling at the picture of a child in a classroom surrounded by noisy air compressors. When I took a second look, I envisioned the poor dear hooked up to medical equipment.

 

My post has no relevance to the thread, but I thank you for the unintentional laugh.

 

Jane

 

 

What a hoot! Poor kid. No wonder she has so much trouble in school, what with all that equipment to haul around with her!! :lol:

 

I think I've typed pneumonia so many times in reference to my father over the past year, that the 'pn' just falls off my fingertips too easily. Thanks for giving me a laugh of my own this morning. I've been up (against my wishes) since 4 am, and I fear it's going to be a long day!

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

What a hoot! Poor kid. No wonder she has so much trouble in school, what with all that equipment to haul around with her!! :lol:

 

I think I've typed pneumonia so many times in reference to my father over the past year, that the 'pn' just falls off my fingertips too easily. Thanks for giving me a laugh of my own this morning. I've been up (against my wishes) since 4 am, and I fear it's going to be a long day!

 

Happily, you have all those pneumonic devices to help lift you if you get too tired. :001_smile:

[Jenny in Florida]

And as an aside - most of these "brilliant" children that I have seen in real life - have ABSOLUTELY *NO* common sense whatsoever.

 

Argh. I do understand that this poster is trying to make the OP feel better, but I've never understood the need to run other people down in order to do so. It always sounds to me like those girls in high school who assumed anyone prettier than them had to be either stupid or mean.

 

I happen to have one of those brilliant (no quote here) children. She started a residential college program when she was 12 and has been thribing there for almost a year and a half now. She manages her own schedule, does her laundry, shops for groceries, watches the balance on her debit card and -- oh yeah -- does her homework and goes to class. On time. Reliably.

 

She serves on a variety of committees: orientation, peer advisor, community council (responsible for helping to enforce rules in the dorm). And she's been asked to be a student liason assisting the admissions committee for next year.

 

So, if anyone can point to a lack of common sense in this kid, I'd love to see it.

 

Kids are different. They are individuals. Each is wonderful and challenging and capable of lots of different things. My kid isn't brilliant because of something I "did." It's largely genetic, and all I can take credit for is not messing her up too badly along the way. (I may be able to take some credit for the commom sense and coping skills, but if I do then I'd have to take blame for some other things.)

 

As I said before, parenting isn't a competitive sport. I think we should all be able to enjoy and celebrate our kids' individual successes and share our individual challenges and frustrations in a supportive community.

[Jenny in Florida]

I think above-average attitude, effort and self-motivation are just as lovely as above-average test scores. :)

 

 

I agree with this whole-heartedly. In fact, I always say that we consider that sort of education at least as important as the actual academic stuff. My kids have been told more times than they'd probably like to remember that I will always be more proud of the B they have to work hard to earn than the A they get by coasting on their inherent smarts.

[Jenny in Florida]

I would like to hear from some of the people who aren't raising Einsteins and whose dc are at or below grade level! I really should just stay away from threads that talk about children who are 7 years old and reading at a tenth grade reading level or that their 3 year old loves to listen to a telling of Homer instead of watching Dora. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean any disrepect to those whose dc are doing very well academically it would just be nice to know that I am not alone! My dd9 probably reads at a 3rd grade reading level, she hates to read and doing anything school related is like pulling teeth. My ds7(soon to be 8) can hardly read and really doesn't like doing school too well either.

 

 

*Dodging tomatos!* LOL

 

It occurs to me that I probably should have stayed out of this thread. You came here for support and encouragement, and I let my own feelings get in the way. I apologize.

 

For what it's worth, I truly do believe that all kids are individuals. They develop and learn on their own scheudles and, with love and support and care, become the people they are supposed to be. Academic achievement is not the be-all and end-all of life, let alone childhood. And, most of the time, it's not something that comes about because some other parent is "better" at homeschooling; it's there because these kids are born with those abilities, the same way that yours are born with their own special traits.

 

You know, even in my own family, I can't compare kids. My daughter is 13 (almost 14) and thriving as a sophomore in a residential college program. She was reading at a more or less adult level by age six. She started high school at age nine and finished in three years, fully under her own steam. She's incredibly self-directed and motivated and just oozes leadership ability. She also has an unusually good singing voice and various other sparkling talents. I'm so proud of here I could bust.

 

My son is a different animal. He didn't really "get" reading until he was seven and spent much longer reading "little kid" books than did my daughter. He's now 10 and definitely ahead of the curve academically, but not years ahead across the board like she was. He has some behavioral challenges that drive me to tears some days. He sings, too, but not like her (although he's been paid for his efforts), and he dances well but not like some of the other boys we know. He's quite gentlemanly in ways I don't think I taught. And I'm so proud of him I could bust.

 

I believe that, as parents, the best we can do is meet each child where he or she is and do our best to keep that child moving forward at the rate that is appropriate for him or her. I'm sure you're doing exactly that for your children. And they are lucky to have you.

[Pamela H in Texas]

.

Edited December 4, 2008 by 2J5M9K

[MIch elle]

People brag how they're dc are in college instead of high school, and many of those community/state colleges are easier than high level high school classes.

 

You can't compare many times unless you know the details. So I don't try. We just do what's best for our family.

[Apiphobic]

One of the benefits of homeschooling I notice for my highly strung child is that it is simply more relaxed here, and less distracting. And he is not getting emotionally hurt all the time,(by other kids or a teacher who isn't hyper sensitive to his particular sensitivities!) since it is a safer environment. So it is a better learning environment for this child, so he can learn more optimally- but it's still a challenge. He can also express his frustrations and intense emotions more freely- he used to get in the car after school and explode.

 

For my other one who is academically bright, she would probably thrive in school and in a healthy school environment- but too much the other way- woudl get distracted by all the socialising.

 

Thank you for writing this. I can relate.

 

I don't mean to be a cynic here. There are lots of people on this board who give great information that I have found useful in my life.

 

However, I just want to remind you (the OP), as an encouragement, that this is the Internet. You are reading posts on a message board from people you don't know. It is very easy to post about highly advanced children in an effort to make themselves feel better, when in fact their children are "average" or even "below average". Or gee, they may not even have children, nor do they even home school - we sure had enough trolls like that on the old board, remember?:eek:

 

I say this because there have been many times where I have come to this board in a great mood and leave it feeling depressed. I turn inward and "woe is me" and "I'm so stupid compared to everyone else". There have even been a few times where I have seriously questioned whether or not I should even be homeschooling because there is no way I do it as well "as everyone else".

 

It has taken me some time to realize that I can NOT base my beliefs, my convictions, my security, my self-esteem (where homeschooling is concerned) on the Internet! And when did "everyone else" become a handful of people that I don't even know IRL? It was such a slow process, my feeling this way, that I didn't even realize it was happening until it was obvious. Kind of like the frog being boiled to death without ever knowing it was happening.

 

So please, don't base your feelings or your thoughts on whether or not you're a good homeschooler on this board. Don't get me wrong though. Should you consider some of the posts? Absolutely. Could you use this board as an accountability factor for yourself? Of course! But only YOU and the Good Lord know whether you're towing the line properly or whether there is too much give.

 

Go easy on yourself. My bet is that you're doing fine. If for no other reason than that you're concerned about it.

 

:grouphug:

 

And thank you for writing this. Too true!

[Paisley Hedgehog]

nm

[Peri]

Although my kids are not below level (thank god), I can totally relate to you when it comes to kids just not wanting to do school. When i tell DD its time to read her book, or anything else school related, I have to go through the 20 questions kids style. It starts with "But mom ..." or "Mom ...". I'm ashamed to admit that there are days when I just am not in the mood to hear it and I turn into this wicked monster and start barking at my kids. It doesn't matter what my response is. She will go on and on with her distractions and questions. If anyone has figured out how to motivate your kids and get them to wake up and realize how important this is for them, I'd love to hear it.

[Julie in Austin]

I haven't read all the comments, but . . .

 

. . . the irony of this thread is that we are talking about "Einsteins." If I recall correctly, he was a terrible student who failed entrance exams, was dyslexic, etc.

 

And yet he still managed to make something of himself . . .

[Renee in NC]

I haven't read all the comments, but . . .

 

. . . the irony of this thread is that we are talking about "Einsteins." If I recall correctly, he was a terrible student who failed entrance exams, was dyslexic, etc.

 

And yet he still managed to make something of himself . . .

 

That was actually my first thought!:lol::lol:

 

I am pretty sure one of mine is a lot like Einstein - not a genius, but definately a late blooming kid who can figure out anything! (I won't say which one....)

[AnnetteB]

The joy of home education for our family is that each of the children can learn at their own pace in a Christian home environment. We think of the homeschool as a sanctuary for growing and learning. I have boys that wiggle and sass, doodling in the margins and complaining that their hands are too tired to write any more...grrr Our eldest has a photographic memory which didn't prepare me for how difficult some of them would be.

 

I've graduated a couple of them early and continued another year with a couple just because there was so much more we wanted to cover. The children are allowed to explore areas of interest. For some it is computer programming and web design. For some it has been writing, history, literature, foreign languages, science, knitting, and music. The little ones learn their numbers and phonics through happy play and bookwork. We knuckle down and work through texts, but still at a pace sensitive to their ability. Some of the kids can work through a text in less than a month and others might take six months.

 

We school year round because learning should never take a break IMO. But, that said, Summer School is outdoor learning, woodwork, household repair ...real life with a sprinkling of literature, spelling, math, and Bible. They have to keep busy with a variety of subjects and pursuits. Our goal is to raise the children up to be well-rounded, capable, caring people able to continue their learning throughout life. I know that the kids test well and could move into any classroom and do fine(okay, I lied, they would be bored to tears), but I don't compare them to each other or the ps. We have our own educational goals for each individual.

[Nan in Mass]

Can I borrow your pneumatic drill? Maybe that would work for my seive-brained children. And me.

[A home for their hearts]

Wow, I can't believe the responses I have gotten on this thread! We are just a mixed bunch which is wonderful. I hope I didn't offend anyone, I was just letting off a little steam from my own frustration. It's nice to hear that there are a lot of kids out there that are right on their grade level or somewhere around it. Sometimes my insecurities rear their ugly heads and then I read a post about some 7 year old kid reading way above grade level and I think to myself, what in the world am I doing wrong!

[Guest kacifl]

My daughter spoke in complete sentences by 12 months. Reading Wizzard of Oz at 4 1/2. My son.... welll different story. He didn't start speaking until almost 3. Couldn't read until almost 9. Today,at 11, he does just fine. Can fix any computer problem, hook up WII with just looking at directions. Even though he has never seen one before. Folks like to use him to fix electronics. He hates school work. But I've impressed upon him the need for a diploma and going to college. He 'gets' math without explaining it.

 

My daughter, on the other hand, has lost all interest in school. She's 14, in 10th grade. We haven't followed a classical plan, so it isn't burnout. Just hormones, I guess. :001_huh:

[PiCO]

And as an aside - most of these "brilliant" children that I have seen in real life - have ABSOLUTELY *NO* common sense whatsoever.

 

Argh. I do understand that this poster is trying to make the OP feel better, but I've never understood the need to run other people down in order to do so. It always sounds to me like those girls in high school who assumed anyone prettier than them had to be either stupid or mean.

 

 

 

Thank you, Jenny. Great post.

[Lolly]

I have a mixed bag. Dd16 is pretty average. She was one of those Einsteins when she was little. She does extremely well when she is interested in the subject. Unfortunately, she isn't interested in reading, math, science, or history. Japanese, manga (can we consider this reading?), and art she knows much and does well.

 

Dd14a is well behind average academically. She has finally started reading fairly well. Her math is now about 3 yrs behind, but catching up. Mentally, she is probably above average. Her academic problems come from learning disabilities. She really works hard at her studies.

 

Dd14b is above average. This kid works her butt off with passion.

 

Ds is average. He hates schoolwork. He doesn't read without an external motivating factor involved. In fact, I wasn't even sure he could read. I thought he was way behind. Then, I give an IOWA test and he scores 98th percentile. So, he can do it; he just doesn't. Math is probably the same for him. He really just hates doing it, but he knows how. I'm guessing he may be an Einstein, but his personality gets in his way. :tongue_smilie: