I was reading the Tired of Abeka thread, and a few people mentioned the time when their kids get beyond what they as the parent are capable of. What are you supposed to do when you can't teach your child because they are into a level you can't handle?
I'm hoping that by that point, Sami will be good at indepentant Study and maybe take some classes at HS co-ops or Community college.
Well, I am torn in two directions with this question. First of all I am thinking that this is merely elementary/middle/high school work. I would think that most of us have atleast a high school education. So, I would say most of the work we have done before or somewhat like it. If you didn't do well in a particular subject then that is another story. I feel kind of stupid when I didn't remember things that I am teaching my 9yo. We all forget and usually can "get it" if we just read the material or teacher manual. If I came to a point where I didn't understand something enough to teach it then I would call on others for help.....DH, tutors, homeschool classes, online courses, family members, etc. Now that I have said all of that I still have to say that I question whether we will even homeschool through middle/high school. I'll just wait and see what life brings us. For now my plan is to do what I stated above if there are any problems though.
Becky, Stop stressing over high school....you've got a few years. :wink: I also think that learning is something you do over time and while you might not understand, say algrebra - by the time you need to teach it you've got all the ground work that your child does. :wink: You can do anything you set your mind to!!!! Happy Schooling!
Sigh.... I'm afraid I'll be getting there fast, LOL! Becky, I know exactly what you mean. And I agree that by the time Jeannie gets to that place, things might open up. (Heck, I know you consider Jeannie a wonderfully bright, gifted child, but it WILL be at least two or three years before she gets ahead of you, LOL!) OK. Next year, Rachael will be in the Algebra book. I'm hoping that she can be mostly self-directed with both that and her science. If not, I can try to push Carl into teaching the math. Also, I am blessed in that there are classes for middle/high school in my area she can take. I'm hoping to enroll her in a writing class next year! And there are always ways to take classes on-line. As of right now, I don't personally like that option, but it IS there, and who knows? It may come to that at some point! I've not had any math beyond basic Algebra I and Geometry, and in science I took General Science in 9th grade, and Biology in 11th. I flunked General Science in college, and squeeked by with a "D" the second time around! Any physics has me in tears!
I think about this subject, too. I don't consider myself a "smart" person. That I am homeschooling at all is amazing to me! But, i know God has called me to do this...so I just trust Him to take care of my kids. My ds is very smart and does really well with all subjects (thankfully!) But my dd takes a littlle longer to grasp things. Her fear hinders her more than anything. It is easier for her to say she can't do something at all than to try and make a mistake! We have just planned on taking it a year at a time...and like someone else said, hopefully they will become pretty sufficient self-learners by that time. Anyway, I guess I have no "advice" to offer...just to let you know I have the same thoughts!
This subject is why I'm looking at sending her to school next year. There's plenty I struggled with in school, so I will be of no help to her quickly. I refuse to make her look like an idiot because I couldn't teach something to her properly, and there's no one to turn to for help here. To me, I know the day is coming when I'd be sending her to school, so better to do it now , while she can still easily fit in. Cliques aren't formed in first grade, thankfully.
Becky... It sounds (and has sounded) like you have made up your mind. Don't worry about it anymore. You are doing what you feel is best for your child. There is nothing wrong with that. She'll be fine and you will, too. We just have to make the best decisions for our families and do the best with what we have chosen. Jeannie is a lucky child to have such a wonderful, caring mom like yourself!!!!
Sigh... I wish my mind was made up. Were you here last year as school was beginning? Girl, I was down to the very last days I could take, to make up my mind. I think I turned in my papers a week before school began here. I just don't want her to pick up any of my weaknesses. Plus, I want her to fit in. I think it would be cruel to homeschool her so far then decide I can't help her anymore. For me, that would probably be early highschool.
Becky, if you feel Jeannie would be better off in school, I sure am not going to try and tell you otherwise. I would agree with Missy! BUT!!! You are a very capable woman. You've been through so much, and have still come out on top. We've all had enough conversations with you here to know your intelligence and your desire for what is best for your daughter. Please don't quit simply because you don't have the confidence in yourself! You are one who can do ANYTHING you put your mind to! Give yourself the credit you deserve!
Becky, I read what you wrote and everyone else and I have to agree. You are a very smart women and have come along way. You know what is best for your dd and you only. We can't change your mind if we wanted too. Jeannie is a smart girl as you have told us and I know you can do it. But, you have to do what you are comfortable with. I feel your mind is made up and Jeannie will go to ps but that has to be up to you. We will be there to support you in any way we can. But, what I plan on doing for my dd's is co-op classes which we have done already and it has worked out wonderful. My dh has step in when needed. There is alot of online help. I know for a fact Abeka has teachers there when you need them any time. So, if you go through Abeka or any of them and you are having trouble a teacher will help. But, once again it has to be up to you, remember we love you girl and we will support you in anyway we can. Hang in there. You are doing a wonderful job for that little girl. Be Proud.
Jackie and Kris, I agree. Becky, you do need to give yourself more credit. By early highschool maybe Jeannie will want to go to school anyway. I KNOW, without a doubt, that you will NOT let her slide by! There are thousands of resources available to help you when you need it. And btw, yes cliques are too formed in 1st grade! At least the schools where I taught and subbed! Peer pressure starts young, and from what I know about you, I know you don't want her falling under that category! I guess I'm not as nice as Jackie and Kris. I honestly think you'd make a GREAT homeschool mom for as long as it worked out for you! I'd hate to see the values you've been working hard to instill in your little girl, and the standards you want for her be undone by peers and ps, where she won't get the individual attention and love that you give her! If you homeschool her, you can have the assurance she is learning well! Just from things you've said, I know you won't want anyone messing with your little girl! And a lot of the time they won't do things the way you feel is best for her! I don't know if what I'm saying makes any sense to you, but I feel strongly that you'd make such a great homeschool mom! Just think about it more! Have confidence in yourself, Becky, we all do!!!
We have a great school near my home that is for homeschoolers. I might look into that when my kids get a little older. The kids go there for three days a week, do work, get assignments and then the other two days are spent at home doing their work. It is sort of extended homeschool classes IMHO. I don't care for that idea now but I can see the benefits as the child gets older. I think that type of setting would be easier to adjust to than regular public or private school. I also consider the use of DVD or internet programs. I know many of these offer help from certified teachers as well. I say, Becky, that you have made your mind from reading all your posts. If you were sold on homeschooling you would have been arguing for that side. I see that you have very thoughtful responses to sending Jeannie to ps therefore I think you have thought this through over and over. I may be wrong but I see you leaning toward the ps choice. There is nothing wrong with that. I taught ps for 6 years. While I knew then that it wasn't what I would choose for my kids, I also realized that it was great for some. I had some kids that sang for joy (literally) every day that they could come to school. I had parents tell me that their child cried when it was the weekend because there was no school. I see the benefits for some children for sure. I wish you the best in your decision making!
BIG HUG, Becky!!!! There is nothing wrong with homeschooling or public schoool. I went too publicc schoool and looc how wele I turrnd out. :wink: Seriously, I believe more than anything that our heart will speak volumes to us. No matter what anyone else says...bottom line -- what is our heart saying to us? If the voice is saying she should be in public school then...do it. If the voice says...come on you can do this - it might be a little harder for me than someone who is a physic major (I can't stand physics and it made me cry, too) BUT...this is what is meant to be - then do it. When I find myself sitting on the fence I hang out in the middle and write down the pro/cons of each side of the fence. I'm a visual person and this just helps me to see what I already knew. :wink: Big Hug and know that we are here for you no matter what!
I homeschooled throughout high school and I just learned along with them. I had a greater appreciation of History because of it. I actually learned algebra for the first time (I don't know it now, though!) It was fun, I was the teacher and the student. Algebra: My story. My father was transferred to another state. I was finishing the first semester of Algebra 1 and making good grades. Next stop, new much larger school that only offered Algebra 1 every other year and Algebra 2 the next year. They were in the Algebra 2 year. My mother, being the obsessive person that she is, "told" the school that I was going to get a full year's credit for math, no matter what, and they put me in 2nd semester Algebra 2. I missed a whole year in between! The teacher (mean, very mean) told one of the students to give me his book because they didn't have anymore. Ray said, "But, Miss Hightower, what am I going to use?" She told him that he was flunking anyway and didn't need the book! Boy, I felt like a heel. That was my first day. My semester average in that class was 37. She gave me a D. I asked her why I passed and she told me. "because you were the only one in the class that didn't cheat!" I taught both of my boys and 2 others highschool algebra with that background. You can do it. Liz
Becky, I feel for you. All you want is what's best for you dd. I just took my 6th grader out of PS in November. I agonize daily about giving her a quality education. I am very weak in math, as is she, so I chose a curriculum (Math U See) that has a DVD as well as a teacher's manual. I teach myself the new concept the night before I present it to her. Probably 1/3 of the time I am learning the concept for the first time myself. And we are only at the 6th grade!! I have a list of friends and relatives and my daughter's former PS teachers that I can call for help. That alone has enabled me to keep up with her and offer her that quality I strive for. The others who have said that we learn along with them are totally right. Can't tell you how many times my daughter has asked me a question that I didn't have the answer to. We searched for the answer together. On the other hand, I have a 3rd grade dd in PS. She is one of those kids that loves school and gets the most out of it. She learns and has great friends. Sometimes HS is the place to be and other times its PS. The beauty of it is that it's your choice. And there is nothing to say that if she goes to PS and that isn't working that you cant bring her back home at any time. I will tell you from my own experience that the PS problems get bigger as the child gets older. Peer pressure starts early. As much as my 3rd grader loves PS I will be bringing her home next year due to problems within the school itself. Teachers with questionable backgrounds, drug and alcohol situations not dealt with by the administration. Under those circumstances I know I can do a better job at home. (We don't even have a high school so that decision is made for me.) Whatever you decide is the right decision. And again this decision isn't written in stone, you can change your mind. Hugging you, Maureen
Oh, I did the pro/con list last year and the pro side was twice as long as the con side. Kathe has also been trying to talk sense into me about this. For every reason I give to send Jeanne, she has a longer argument for why I shouldn't. So, I'll be praying over it. I just sometimes don't see the forest for the trees, and that's what worries me.
You know I know you want to make a choice and stick with it, but there won't be much harm in letting her check out PS. If she tells you she loves it you know she is in the right place, if she tells you she hates it, maybe it will be easier to HS her. I really don't think you neet to worry about the things that you are weak at, you can get tips from us or other places on how to help her. In a PS, most the time something is taught just one way, thats it, if she doesn't get it, oh well get on with it, but at least at home you can figure out what she is having trouble with and try different ways of teaching. I just don't know what to say in this matter because I don't want you to think either decision is wrong. I'll be praying for you guys.
Well, my thinking is if she doesn't get something at school I can help her here. Same worry though, in those upper levels- I probably won't be able to help her at all.
Becky, when she is a grown up I hope you remind her the agony you had deciding what was best for her......... I bet she will think you are the greatest mom in the world.
