Things are going okay for us at the moment, we are only in our 4th month of homeschooling through a charter - soon to switch over to cle, BUT my first grader is so sad. She wants to go back to public school, I have asked why and she just really misses her friends and loved her teacher. I have explained to her this is what we are doing now and she cant go back now - so she sits at the table and cries Any hints on getting through this period? For those familiar, is this just a passing phase? It just breaks my heart, she has such a wonderful little spirit, I hate to see it being crushed - thanks
I wasn't sure if I should respond since this is my first post on this board, but I felt like I should since I also have a daughter in 1st grade. I'm sorry that she is sad and feeling this way. She is just too little to understand that you're doing what is best so that makes it even harder. Do you have a homeschool community in your area that she could become more involved with? Maybe a co-op or some art classes. What about dance or gymnastics etc... Something that would be fun for her and help with the transition. Hopefully it will get easier soon. It's hard to see our little ones upset. :cry:
There are pros and cons to both homeschooling and away-schooling; maybe she just needs more time to see the pros of being at home. Or maybe with a charter school arrangement she isn't getting to see all of the benefits? The completely individualized curriculum and the flexibility are what makes homeschooling attractive to my kids. The, "Oh, that's interesting...let's find out more about that" moments get my children excited about learning. Can you add in some perks for her like field trips, mid-day play breaks with you, educational board games, reading in bed snuggled under the covers, M&M for a math manipulative? Maybe she could plan a tea party for some of her friends; this could be a catalyst for school. (Writing: write the invitations, Math: add up the cost for food, Reading: Find recipes and ideas in a tea party book, Social Studies: Read about the tradition of tea in England, etc.) I don't know anything about CLE, but maybe that will allow you to take full advantage of the flexibility of homeschooling, and she will enjoy it more?
The others have great suggestions! I just wanted to say that last year...I think it was around the end of 1st maybe, ds said he wanted to go back to school. He had made up his mind. After talking with him I found that he just wanted to go be around other kids more. So we got more involved. We did a library group at that time and I found a p.e. group. We also did a lot more field trips. It was a very short lived thing after we introduced those things. Hope all goes well, and hang in there.
Don't be to sad, at that age they really can't understand what is best for them. It sounds like she is just missing friends. As others have said, just get her involved in other activities that she can look forward to. Her mindset is on public school yet and it will take some time. Just remember you are the adult and know what is better for your child. Best of luck.
wow - thank you for all the great ideas. There is a park day with a home school group I keep putting off, I will try to make it soon. There is also a pe program I can sign them up for. I would really like to make school 4 days a week with the 5th day set aside for field trips. Maybe that would increase the "fun" factor. Thanks again, we are also adjusting to dad's new job which takes him away during the week so there are other things going on in her little mind I'm sure.
ALL of my children wanted to go in 1st grade. Then they were fed up in 2nd. My personal take is that I just send my children then knowing they are likely going to be sick of it soon. They will get the grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side out of their system. Other people will say to just set down the law and she will adjust. This is true too. And if I really did not like our local schools, I would do this too. Either will work. Good luck!!! (((hugs)))
I hope it works out for you. I would suggest doing as much as you can with other kids for her so she gets that socialization factor that maybe she's needing since she misses her friends? Or ask her friends from ps over for play dates after they get out of school? It's kind of a hard transition sometimes going from ps to hs even using a charter school. We use a charter school and it was a little getting use to since it's a home school charter school, if that makes any sense. Anyway, now that my kids are older and go to more workshops at the charter school, they seem to get the socialization they crave. It'll be interesting to see how my little guy who will start there next August and see how he does since he's never went to ps, not even pre school. Sorry, for the hijack.
I would just iven up the school day, do stuff you cant do at ps, things she can do at home, like have "Wear your PJs to school day.. watch a video during school day, etc etc, play games that she likes and allll that fun stuff!
Maybe do some baking together for "math" and then eat goodies while watching PBS or some fun educational shows. Also, our library has an After School Adventures on Thurs. My kid's LOVE going to this and they do a lot of fun activities and get to socialize with other children.
I would suggest to have fun (like the other suggestions). At this age, don't worry about her falling behind, there are some people who advocated not starting education until 8 or 10 years old and they say that they do just fine. So, I would "do" school but not "do" school. Does that make sense. Read a lot to her and play at the park. I wish I could say I speak from experience, but I didn't start homeschooling until my son was in 7th (I wish I had started much earlier).
I notice nobody has suggested that you demonstrate what school can really be like in first grade. Have her sit in a straight chair all day long. No getting up without permission. Sit up some dolls or stuffed animals as "classmates" so that you have to "divide your attention among all the students." Make her raise her hand for every little thing - sharpen a pencil, get a drink of water, go to the bathroom, talk... Every time she starts with, "Mom, I need ...", remind her to raise her hand and be recognized first, then ignore her for a few minutes until her arm gets tired of being in the air. If she protests, sit her in time out or move her conduct marker. Be the busy classroom teacher, who has to grade papers, meet with the principal, is cordial but definitely "in charge." (Then after school you can become Mom again and send the inanimate "classmates" to their "nomes".) No talking in class. No snack mid-morning, and wait until a specific minute to "go to" lunch. Make her "stand in line" before entering the lunch room. Prepare a semblance of a typical school lunch, with no choices, just eat what's put in front of you or don't eat. No talking in the lunch room. Lunch break is over at a specific time, signaled by a timer. Teachers don't play with kids during lunch break, so no fun interactions. Make a schedule of classes and set a timer for the beginning and ending of each class period. Arrange for a few days such that just when she gets interested in some bit of work or a book, the class period is over, or she must change tasks to some boring worksheet which she won't have time to finish so she must "take it home" for "homework" to do "after school" on her own time. If she does finish on time or early, have another sheet ready to be "homework" anyway. If she finishes all her classwork before the class period ends, make her continue to pursue that subject by reviewing it until the class period is over. Be sure to answer, "No, it's worse!" when she asks if "real" first grade is really like this. Shouldn't take too many days of that to convince her that "home with mom" is SO much more fun than school. Shoot, maybe just read her this description!!! Then go arrange a playdate for her so she won't miss her friends so much.
I admit that I comment whenever we get to do something fun only because we homeschool. When we take a field trip I say "boy I'm glad we homeschool and can do this together today." I have made sure they are aware that all the free days at the zoo and museums that we attend during the typical school day is also only possible because we are at home. It took a little while but now they are very grateful for all the opportunities they have as homeschoolers.
