Hey everyone, I was curious if any of you have ever decided that the year didn't go so well and decided to re-do a grade (but maybe with different curriculum)??? Did you register them as the same grade with the school board? Did you have to give an explanation? I am wondering because we're playing around with the practice test workbooks and there is a lot that I don't think they're ready for. I especially do not know how math will go. I am going to finish up the practice stuff to see what we need to focus on the most and try to do that. I was just curious if anyone has ever experienced this?
NO!!! DO NOT RE-DO A GRADE ON PAPER SENT INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT!!! If you do, they can decide that your child hasn't done what he should have done, it's all YOUR fault because if the child was in a REAL school, he's be up to where he BELONGS! THey can put you on probation or whatever and have people monitor you and all kinds of things (depending on what state you're in). I don't worry about "grades". My children work at THEIR LEVEL. When they're ready to move on, they do. Doesn't matter if it's in six months, one year, or two years. In that respect, there's no "repeating". There are ways to "re-do" something without saying that your kid has "flunked" it in your eyes and needs to do it again. Instead, he's moving on with lots of review or something like that.
We redid first grade math with my daughter, but we don't have to report to anyone. I'm not sure what I'd have done in that case--- perhaps a homeschool equivalent of summer school?
I agree with Jackie.. DON"T report any thing to anyone and don't call it redoing anything. Just do what you have to do to get there. So, what if it took you 2 years to get there.
No, I would not re-do a grade. I have taken a lot longer on some subjects than what the curriculum called for, especially in the younger years. Many subjects that are normally not taken in high school, could be given in high school if you felt the child has not reached the level they should be at by high school. For example, my son will probably be taking a writing course all through high school (unless he gets a brain transplant before then) along with his literature courses.
I wouldn't do it, Autumn. I'd automatically increase the reported grade by one each year, although we might be continuing our progress at a level that doesn't necessarily match that reported grade level if you look at the numbers on the fronts of the curriculum materials. I might have a fifth grader, let's say, who is reading in a fourth grade book according to the cover of the book in his hand, even though he did a different fourth grade book last year when reported as a fourth grader. Doesn't mean he's re-doing anything. He might also be doing math that on the cover of the book says Grade 3, but it's different than the math book marked Grade 3 that he used last year. Get my drift? Anyway, one company's Grade 4 book is more comprehensive and advanced than some other company's Grade 5 book of the same subject, but less so than a third company's Grade 4 book, which is more so than the public school's estimation of what "grade level" is.... In other words, nothing matches up anyway!
Don't worry about it - the CAT test I believe is 1 grade LOWER than it is for. YES - we've redone stuff (heck I stuck Jake in level 600 of the CLE math books because he keeps forgetting basic stuff such as lining up decimals <SIGH>) I am STILL registering him for 8th grade next year etc etc etc.
That is my biggest problem, the CAT test. If I didn't have to worry about that, then of course I'd just keep going like we're going and work on "catching up" as we go. I think we're going to devote a lot more time to our math and English and keep doing the practice books for now and see if I can make up our lost time by test time. You are right, we are a probation state, so it would probably equal LOTS of hassle next year. I definitely don't want/need that! We'll just do as the ps does and cram, cram, cram. Thanks for the input ladies and for bringing me back to my senses.
We're in PA and I wouldn't do it. However, I just looked at some stuff last night and saw that when my dd was in cyberschool last year they skipped over a lot of stuff. Therefore, next year we're going to go back through all that stuff. I'm not telling anyone that though
I don't have a strict state for homeschooling, but I don't think I would redo and report if I had to. I feel it's better for us to give them the least amount of information about what goes on in our homes as possible. I don't want them coming in and telling me how to school. If you need to work through things again I'd just do that where you feel you need to. Or maybe it is the material presentation that is not sticking and another approach is needed. You've mentioned math, I've had that happen with Math here for us. We're using 2 Plus 2 is not Five with MUS and it's working very well. And we play lots of games (twice a week for math we do math games). Possibly ACE might let you focus on those math areas where your dc might need extra practice. They have an online test that will show you any areas you need to go over again. If I did have a state that I had to report to or test, I'd use those more than likely to cover any "gaps".
I have never told the school district that I am holding one of my girls back, but since my oldest has learning issues we did slow down to the point that we took a year and a half to get through 3rd grade. She is just now getting into the 4th grade curriculum. She needed the extra time to actually learn the skills. We are luck to be in Colorado though. We only test in 3rd, 5th, and 7th. We also have the ability to pay a $25.00 one time fee to a private school in Denver that will hold our test scores so the public schools never get to see them. That has freed me to do whatever my daughter needs without fear of interference. I think you are doing the right thing to slow down and make sure they really understand the material before you move on. Hopefully you can find a way to do it so that the school doesn't give you trouble.
Yes...I would do whatever curriculum your kiddo's need. But I would report them as the next "grade". You know the public school isn't going to consider my ds 5th or 6th grade this year just because we are doing 5th grade math and 7th grade everything else. If I were to put him back in ps he would be in 5th next year...according to age. Curriculums are soooooo different that what is considered "3rd grade" ?? really. even within the ps in our city there are huge differences in what they cover. So, like someone else said...my kids are in whatever grade they would be in age wise, and do whatever material I think is at their level.
no, but I did take a month and go from the begining to the end with ds18, when he was in 6-7th grade we found a few holes that way and plugged them up. If your dd or ds are being found short then try catching just those areas, go online and look up that kind of lesson on youtube, have them look at them and then write up your own question and answer things on them. then go over the lesson with them of how to do, what its about etc, and do this for like a month and see how it goes from there, as they get one hole plugged go on to the othere, call it review month!
plus...I think you should give your kiddo's a huge break idea wise this year...so they didn't make a lot of progress this year program wise, or concept wise. They will catch up as they get used to thier new normal. My dd had a difficult teacher her 2nd grade year...she feels (and mentioned at the time) that she didn't learn a thing that year...but she is fine. consider it a fallow year...and start plowing again, whatever needs plowing next season. (whenever that is) it isn't "re"plowing...even if it is the same field right? It is a new season and we are plowing to plant the new crop. even if the new crop is the same as the old crop.
Autumn, Give the kids the CAT...just leave yourself a bit of time this summer in case you need to re-test. They just have to get a 23% (4th stanine) on the Total Core of Math and LA. Even if a subtest is BELOW that level as long as the total core is 23% you are fine. If you have to do it twice and they still score below, you can go on "probation" for a year but I doubt you need to do that. Or if you know someone with a masters in an academic subject, they can write a letter that the kids are progressing (this was added to the law last year)...you can read about it at www.heav.org
