I have an 11th grader at home. He just will not keep up with his schoolwork. We are to the point where something has to happen. I do not want to send him to school, but it is an option, I guess. Can you repeat a grade in homeschool? I'm just at my wit's end. There aren't enough days left in the year for him to get it all done.
Do you have to put a grade on the form when you send it in? In Ohio, you only have to have a "portfolio" evaluated by a certified teacher. Have that person look through and OK it, then if you're not satisified with what he did, make him "repeat" 11th grade. You can repeat the classes he did poorly in or finish the classes he didn't finish. You could even consider him a Senior midway through if you wanted, I would think.
I just feel like I am lying if I make it seem like he finished his days when he didn't. Our evaluator asks us what day we are on, and we have to have our days in by June 30. I just don't know. Oh, and no, I don't think we have to say what grade he is in, but see above.
Oh, I see. We don't have to keep track of days. So how many days are you on, compared to where you should be? If it's a discipline problem, how is his dad dealing with it? Is it a state requirement that you be finished by June 30th? If not, are you allowed to continue over the summer?
The official school year ends on June 30, which applies to public as well as homeschool. Yes, it is a discipline problem and we are continually trying to work on it. We are running out of ideas. Our son already has lost all priveleges for a long period of time but it doesn't seem to help. I'm not sure how many days we're behind, but I know a few weeks ago I figured it up and in order to get it done, he would have to do each day's work plus some more to get finished and he doesn't even get the days' work in each day. He has a job which I guess is part of the problem, but it's less than 20 hours a week and really shouldn't be an issue.
Kids in ps fail classes all the time and have to do summer school or whatever to graduate. Usually it takes X number of credits to graduate but many graduate with more if they don't have a study hall, etc. Maybe count up how many he has and see if he can at least get X number done in order to finish up the minimum at the end of 12th grade....does that make sense? Another option (not trying to start a debate here, my kids are little), is to get his GED, then you don't have to report anything to the school/state, etc if he's of the appropriate age in your state to sit for it. This option might not work depending on his future employment plans (college, tech school, etc.) I'm sure others have older kids and can offer more assistance. Rhonda C.
I know how you feel about feeling like you aren't being totally honest. I am the same way. I have teenagers who are graduating this May. My rule has always been that they have a career while they are in school, their school career. I have always made it very clear that they are to do their work and when they get it done they can play or do whatever. Have you presented it like: When you finish the required work you can go and have fun, but until then, you have to sit there and finish your work? My kids know they can finish their work in 4 hours or 8 hours, it is up to them and they know I mean business. They tried in the very beginning to push my button but realized in a hurry that mom is quite serious about school work. I would take away driving priviledges, tv, stereo, video games, friends, and anything else that would be fun. And when the school work is done, then he will get back one thing until he can prove he is responsible and willing to do his work. Sounds harsh, but at the age of 17, he knows what is necessary in order to graduate from high school. Edited to say: I don't see an issue with repeating a grade unless your state laws say otherwise. Perhaps repeating what he did not finish. Hope that helps!
If I might ask how are you setting up his day? Is he getting all his assignments for the week at once or do you have certain times each day for each subject? I know with my daughter we have about 2-2 1/2 hrs that we meet together each day to go over her subjects. I then give her the work for the next day. The key for us is breaking it down into the small daily assignments. She also keeps track of how long she is taking on each subject (NY requires a certain number of hours each year). She can tell when she is spending too much time doing one thing and not enough on another subject. Is he not interested in the material? If so can you change the curriculum to better meet his interest? I am not sure what Ohio's rules are but I know in NY I have a good amount of room in how I choose curriculum. Public school is probably not the answer for him since he will probably do the same thing there. The key is to find out why (bored or time management) and then adjust the work to help him. At home you can have better control on whatever the issue is. Oh and you can repeat courses if need be or just continue with the course. There are courses in the public schools that last for 2 years here in NY so go for it. Just let him know what is needed to graduate and if he chooses not to do the work let him know what the consequence will be when he turns 18. If he is planning on just getting a GED then getting a job well hold him to that at 18. Just stick to your guns.
Maybe it's the curriculum your using? You can switch it up a bit and do school work over the summer to get him caught up.
You can repeat a grade as often as you want! You can slow down or ddgo faster, I would make him keep working through his summer break instead of taking time off in order for him to complete it if its just an attitude thing. Tell him this and it just may make him work harder!
Maybe he should start focusing on a trade instead of trying to finish a "typical" highschool program. Typical in quotes because everyone is different, just most people don't see it that way. If it helps at all my daughter has done the same stuff to me. I have a transcript for her and to be honest she did a lot of different stuff, just not your typical highschool stuff. I will give her a diploma - she's a senior- but it certianly wasn't "college prep" coursework.
