| Author |
Parenting & Farm Kids:  Looking into homeschooling my 13 y.o. son  |
|
|
krissy
True Blue Farmgirl
278 Posts
Kristen
Snohomish
WA
USA
278 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 21 2010 : 2:56:57 PM
|
My son has had a rough go of it lately. He's in 8th grade which is the highest grade of middle school here. He had problems in 7th grade (both behavioral and with study habits/grades) and those are starting to rear their ugly heads as well as really bad peer problems and he's been caught HUGELY sneaking around and lying. It's just getting worse and he just doesn't care about school. He claims to hate school and his teachers yet he says he loves Math and Science in general. He has ADD, if that makes a difference, which I think it does.
I have looked at Alpha Omega (a friend from church uses that for her teens), specifically the Lifepacs. Not sure if that is the way to go, but I downloaded the diagnostic tests and other information and will print those out. Hubby and I need to look at ALL information and we haven't talked to our son about any of this yet.
Our 8 y.o. son thrives in public school and I wouldn't even think about homeschooling him. He is very outgoing and energetic and loves to learn.
Anyway, I guess I'm looking for advice/opinions/tips/etc. from other moms. Also, my hubby and I are both products of the public school system, so this homeschool thing is completely new to us.
**************************************
~Farmgirl Sister #986~
http://achickenwithherheadcutoff.blogspot.com/
http://lateinlifemommy.blogspot.com/
http://www.youravon.com/kristenparkinson |
|
|
karla
True Blue Farmgirl
1308 Posts
karla
Pella
Iowa
USA
1308 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2010 : 3:18:19 PM
|
My son has ADHD & I did the same thing you are doing. I brought him home & homeschooled him. I used the Alpha Omega computer school & it was great! It was right up his alley-quick paced. I am not saying that it was easy but he did improve. He was able to go back to school in the 9th grade & finished there. I think by having him home we got him over the hump! I found the teachers were not always eager to spend the extra time it took to help him & that was frustrating for him & I both!
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
http://rua2j-grammysheirlooms.blogspot.com/ |
 |
|
|
krissy
True Blue Farmgirl
278 Posts
Kristen
Snohomish
WA
USA
278 Posts |
|
|
karla
True Blue Farmgirl
1308 Posts
karla
Pella
Iowa
USA
1308 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2010 : 4:11:38 PM
|
I used Alpha Omega. They have a computer program -Switched On Schoolhouse. You can either be hooked up to them or do it independently. With his struggles we chose to do it independently-it took the pressure off of time for him. My daughter chose to be connected to Alpha Omega- She graduated with straight A's.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
http://rua2j-grammysheirlooms.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
rschaaf
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Renee
Wooster
Ohio
USA
174 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2010 : 8:18:25 PM
|
In the what it's worth department, 7th and 8th grade were Jr. High in the district I was in. One of my teachers told us before we went into Jr. high, that if you asked anyone what grade they would call a favorite, no one would pick Jr. high. I completely agree. It is the worst time I think in any child's school career. It was for me. If you have the opportunity to home-school, go for it. Especially if maybe the "conventional" method of public school doesn't mesh with your son's learning style. My nephew is the same way. I wish my brother would home-school him, but it just won't work for them now. You may be surprised at the outcome. My nephew is a completely different kid when he's in school. More nervous, gets in trouble more, hyper--he's even tried to get sick just so he could miss school. But, over summer break, he's mellow and calm. Good luck, keep us posted.
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
countrified_city_gurl
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
najia
heidelberg
Germany
27 Posts |
Posted - Oct 27 2010 : 3:35:42 PM
|
I am a teacher and a big proponent of home schooling and have periodically home schooled my own children as necessary. Frankly, our school systems are broken and about 1/3 of the kids I see would do better in either homeschool or a smaller learning community. It doesn't help that middle school is the armpit of civilization. (I teach middle school so I can say that..lol.) It is an ugly, painful time for many kids. If most adults were honest, I think they would say they remember the school bullies and social drama from MS v. any academics they may have been exposed to.
Don't feel bad about yanking one and helping him thrive in a different environment. Every kid is different. (((hugs))))
Najia, the countrified city girl! #2221
Maybe a person's time would be as well spent raising food as raising money to buy food. ~Frank A. Clark
|
|
|
|
4forMe
True Blue Farmgirl
166 Posts
Dawn
Easton
MD
166 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2010 : 10:52:27 AM
|
I pulled my son out of public middle school last year, mid year 7th grade. I used the Calvert Curriculum. I LOVED it!!! It is a secular curriculum though, so may not be what you are looking for. He and his sister are now in the 8th grade and 6th grade at a private Catholic school and VERY happy.
Sewing, knitting, gardening mom of 5. |
|
|
|
child in harmony
True Blue Farmgirl
55 Posts
Marcia
Middleboro
MA
USA
55 Posts |
Posted - Oct 31 2010 : 2:34:19 PM
|
My two youngest have been unschooled their whole lives. My daughter is 12+. My son(14) wanted to *try* high school this year, mainly to be with his closet friends and to join theatre. The first year he mentioned he might want to go, I cried. The second year I realized that it is ok if he goes, he has been a freethinker his whole life and has had choice and freedom, and to him, school is just another *tool* to use on his life's journey.
you can read about his schooljourney on my unschooling blog...if you are interested.
http://livefreeinharmony.xanga.com/
There are about 11 posts starting on Sept 9, 2010..you'll need to scroll down to get to the first one.
~marcia
www.harmonywoodsfarm.com
www.childinharmony.com
"Enriching,nurturing and inspiring Life with nature,animals
and the arts .. for the child and the child within" |
|
|
|
homsteddinmom
True Blue Farmgirl
441 Posts
Brandee
bullard
tx
USA
441 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 05:22:08 AM
|
we are using www.connectionsacademy.com to homeschool this year. My dd is 13 but in 7th grade due to late bday. They provide the computer for free plus all the books and things needed. Now they are still run thru a public school and they have to report 20 hrs of work per week but i find that this will be a good way for them to be reintroduced into the public school if it needs to be.
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
|
|
| |
Parenting & Farm Kids: Looking into homeschooling my 13 y.o. son |
|
Looking into homeschooling my 13 y.o. son
