That is the question. My 9 year old son, Z, just completed 3rd grade, his second year of online public school. He did pretty well, but there are still some areas that he needs improvement. He has been bugging me to return to regular public school. His younger brother returned to regular school and has done pretty well. Well, his older brother wants to do the things his younger brother J gets to do like field trips, recess, interact with other kids, just to name a few.
I am on the fence right now as to what to do. When Z was in public school for 2nd grade, they wanted to hold him back but didn't offer any help. Now, he would be going back to the same school and I would have to know that they would do everything they could to help him.
Z does pretty well except with writing and some math. When ever he has to do any
writing, even as little as a sentence, he will put up a wall and drags it on and on. There have been a number of writing assignments that were like pulling teeth because the were a paragraph or more to be written. He understands the work but hates to do the writing. I am assuming that in 4th grade, there will be a lot more of it.
As far as math goes (which he is in 4th grade level), I am not too worried. If we put him in regular public school, he will be in 3rd grade math. It will probably be good for him to go through it again. I don't know if they will give him the extra help he needs.
I do not think that I am doing a good enough job with his home schooling because he is still struggling with his math and writing. Maybe he would be better off with a regular teacher.
I do have a number of misgivings about public school but think that Z would do OK with the right help from the teachers and school. I really don't know what to do and time is running out.
To home school, or not to home school. That is the question.
These are the trials and tribulations of a regular guy who bacame his children's Dad.
2 comments:
We are facing this question once again as this year comes to a close. I know that mine could probably use a more regular teacher but to send him back to the school that ignored his educational needs is a choice I can't in good conscience make. They were far more interested in teaching him to stand in line than how to write (he has issues with both still). I will admit though that it would be a world less of stress to hand him over to someone else for a while.
I have taken to adding to the curriculum in the areas he really needs help, in this case, reading and writing. Brain quest offers some good workbooks that are fun too. I have gotten some great support from the teachers at his online school. They have worked with him and given me places to go for help with him. So for now I will tough it out.
I have made him go to "summer school" this year. That is, a small packet of review material, touching on all his subjects, that is curiously heavy in writing. He also has a hand written summer journal and an online blog. The latter is time consuming as I must edit it heavily but he is stringing together coherent thoughts under the guise of learning photography, videography and editing, online use and computer skills <<< The fun stuff.
I wish your family luck with your final decision.
We have decided to let my son go back to regular school. I am going to miss having him at home after two years of home school. If we don't get the support from the school that he needs then we will put him back in home school (online public school). I am not a teacher but I am willing to give him as much one on one time that he might need, unlike teachers in regular public schools can or are willing to do. I will post an update once school starts. Hopefully things will go well. I know it won't be easy for him though.
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