We're contemplating sending our oldest to PS for next school year for various reasons. I have very mixed feelings about it all and we're praying hard over it. I'm trying to navigate the state and county school district sites for information on curriculum and am having a very difficult time finding anything specific. How am I supposed to compare and contrast when I can't seem to find out what he'll be learning and how his day will be spent? Is there some trick to getting this information, or do you think it varies so much from school to school that it simply isn't available? I don't want to toss him in there blindly, but so far all I know is where they aim to be for math.
Call whatever school it is that he'd be attending. I'm sure the secretary could direct your call to the person who could give you that information.
I would suggest the same thing. If they think they're going to "win" another homeschooler, they will likely be helpful.
"win" anothe homeschooler...lol, Actressdancer!! At my kids ps school, the teachers would have an introduction day or something of the sort, and they would go over whatever it was that needed to be taught that year...it wasnt very specific, but you got an overall idea, and I would always write down specific questions to ask later. If you can get to talk to teachers themselves, I think that's very helpful, because they're the ones actually implementing all the directives and quotas the districts impose. Also, most schools allow you to sit in for a period,so maybe you could do that as well, to get an idea of how they operate.
That's a good idea. So far everything has been very cryptic. I'm hoping we get a no answer on sending him, but we'll see.
Here I have found that they test them before they put them back in. If they are a homeschooler generally they have you stay with them. While they tested I asked to see what books they were using. I also believe you go there they would just show you the books as well. The your child will get a looks see, and you can see how you are feeling about it.
If you are mainly concerned about the Math I would call the district and ask who the head of the Math Department is. They can tell you what curriculum they use and what the expectations would be. Before we fully committed to hsing dd I emailed the head of the Math and English departments to see what they were using and their philosophy. It just confirmed to me that we should hs.
Our ministry of Ed has a website with detailed curriculum info, but it would still vary from school to school somewhat. I agree with a call to the school. Even regular PS parents will tour a school before signing their kid up.
