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Moms View Message Board: Parenting Discussion: Archive January-June 2005: School Option
Connections Academy
Looks cool.
Thanx for your thoughts, Dawn. I'm going to look at this further, but I am a bit concerned that it won't offer the flexibility I'm really looking for. I want something that gives us the option of skipping a specific subject for a week or so if another subject is really interesting Robin at the time. We'll still do the subject, just not right then. Ykwim? I also want to be able to challenge him appropriately. He won't work on something if it's boring (that's a problem in public school now for some things). Dh still thinks Robin should at least try public middle school. We're still talking.
Cat I think this works great for some families. It is very structured and you have everything provided for you free of charge. However, when I looked into it (here in Arkansas) and went to the meeting about it. I knew it wasnt for me. lol It is still 6 hrs a day. Its just like going to public school axcept you do it from home. OK, my thing was-- I wanted to give the boys a christian education if I was going to home school them.
Btw thank you soooo much for the card!!!!!
Thanx for the info, Conni. If it's still 6 hours a day, I really don't think that'd work for us. Robin's one of those kids that "gets it" after only a couple times. He doesn't need the repetition some kids do (like Randy with spelling words! lol). You kwim. Like the school giving out worksheets with 25 of the same type math problems. Robin's got it after about 5, but they still make him do all 25. He gets bored! I do like A Beka's program, and have ordered their catalog. My neighbor uses it for her dd, but I really don't want to talk to her about it. We get along fine, just have different views on many things so we don't talk much.
Did you find out more? I'm kinda curious....
Cat,
Laura, I didn't find out more, but like I said before, I don't want something that structured. I don't want "school at home".
What a frustrating situation for you and Robin! I have no advice for homeschooling but wanted to send a hug because I know I'd be frazzled trying to help my son just get the education he needs and deserves. I think I'd love to homeschool my oldest, just because she catches on so quickly and doesn't deal well with pressure. I hope you are able to find a curriculum that fits both of you to a T.
6 hrs?! Obviously designed by someone who has some heavy knowledge about the education system and none about home schooling. I don't know ANY HSers, even much more formal ones than me, who spend 6 hours a day on school work.
Cat
Yvonne, thanx for the info. If A Beka is like that, you're right--we probably wouldn't like it. They have some motel meetings scheduled in my area in the next couple months. I can always go look.
That sounds perfect Cat...I think if you have some organized activities or projects surrounding the plot of land then it would qualify as unit studies. And that's a cool idea...You guys could research plants (perrenials, annuals, bulbs and seed) and climate (what growing zone you're in)for science. Art could be the planning in terms of using colour or structure and drawing the plans (also good practice for mapping). There'd be a ton of math (practical stuff too) in the budgeting and purchasing. Have him keep a gardening journal or even a weblog?
Thanx, Dawn! I checked out the first link you gave me earlier and there was a LOT of great info there. I saved some of the articles to read later (some were long). Robin is 11 and will be in 7th grade this fall (will be 12 in Oct). He's VERY into WWE right now and has some of their magazines. It's funny, because the other day while he was home I told him to pick out a book because I wanted him to read for at least 30 minutes and he asked if he could read his magazine. I told him I didn't mind him reading his magazine, but I really wanted him to read a book, too. Something with a story line that he could tell me about. Maybe I should just let him read the magazines! lol He'd probably love a magazine subscription to something like SI for Kids or Time for Kids. They get Zoo Books now, but are quickly outgrowing them (if not outgrown already). I ran into my neighbor and mentioned to her possibly hs'ing Robin next year and she said if I needed any help getting started to let her know. She also said she's still using A Beka and if we don't want to do the Bible reading/memorization we don't have to. I'll have to look at their catalog when I get it. Thanx for the other sites. I'll probably be online a lot tonight. Dh is going out to a friend's house to play cards. It'll be a quiet night at home with the boys (as quiet as a 9yo and an 11yo can be!).
I'd just let him go with the magazines for now. He may need time to just connect the idea of reading with fun, contentment, enjoyment. Magazines are certainly more welcoming at times and he could tell you about the articles and what he got out of them(Heck, if they're WWE, that's a whole pile of fictional stories, eh?
Hmmmm... I wouldn't rule out the idea of getting some homebound tutoring too in addition. Usually it's only a short amount of time- not the full day. I think you do have a shot at that given his issues.... That is if you aren't completed "fed up" if you KWIM.....
I'm getting there, Laura. I have a meeting with the principal tomorrow morning. I have my letter of intent to homeschool ready if I need to use it. Only problems with that is I have to give them 2 weeks notice. What do I do those two weeks? Send him and hope they can put up with him? I'll let you know how it goes. *sigh*
Go to your family doctor and get him to write up a note dismissing your son from school because of stress?
Dawn, that's what my mom suggested. Robin's psyciatrist already knows what's going on (talked to him last week). We'll see how the meeting goes tomorrow. I actually found something that said most schools don't hold you to the 2 weeks. It's that "most" part that worries me. I can see this school playing hardball. But I can play that game, too. Mama Bear gets mighty fierce when she needs to.
I think if they hold you to it (which I can't imagine) that you could easily get a dr's note. Good luck tomorrow! Is it a PPT? Or just a mtg with the principal? If you want to go the tutoring route, you'll need to have a PPT.
It's just a meeting with the principal, Laura. I'll let you know how it goes. Of course, things can never be easy, so Randy's sick today (sore throat--what else with him!
It IS never easy! Good luck!
Well Randy ended up going to school. He said his throat felt better (and was running around playing like a wild child!) so I sent him. Robin and I met with the principal and everything was going great. We were working out which classes he would mainstream for and which he'd stay in the SCC for. He was being very helpful in the decision makings and very respectful. Then it was time for him to go to class. That's when he changed. He started crying (while fighting not to), started talking ugly and wanted to go home. I finally got him to leave the room (after promising I would leave) so I could talk to the principal alone. We talked about what our options are and we're pretty limited. She said homebound isn't her call, we've have to call a meeting and that it's really only for kids that can't come to school for whatever physical reason. I told her if his stress/anxiety is a result of his bipolar, then it was my understanding that then it would be considered a disability and that's exactly what homebound is for. She grudgingly agreed. Then she asked if I thought he would negotiate about staying today if he got to go home early (I'd already told her I wouldn't leave him like he was at that time--he'd get into trouble on purpose so I'd have to come get him). I said maybe, so we brought him back in and gave him three options. 1-stay and go out to the classes we'd decided on, 2-stay and stay in the SCC all day, 3-stay until 12:40 when I can pick him up He chose option 3. Then we talked about what he wanted to do tomorrow, option 1 or 2. He actually chose option 1 for tomorrow, which is great. I'm really hoping and praying we make it through the next 6 weeks with minimal problems. Yes, I know I can pull him now (and I'm still seriously considering it), but I really want him to finish 6th grade so we're just done with it. We'll see what the next few weeks bring. *big, heavy sigh*
She's right that homebound isnt her call- you have to call a PPT and it has to be a team decision. It's a change in placement and a PPT is a Planning and Placement Team. I totally agree that if he can't come to school for the stress/anxiety as a result of his bipolar it IS a physical reason. You could win that one easily. Just bring a dr note/dr with you. I hear your pain about lasting the 6 weeks. I was there a couple weeks ago with Douglas. Luckily he's turned the corner (for now at least). It's so "up and down." That's what's so hard with these kids.... I'm glad Randy is feeling better, too!
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I'd say it would be worth a try. I imagine that certain children would do better with that then other methods. My only advice would be to keep in mind that your sampling choices for the right fit. That anything that doesn't work can be abandoned after a reasonable trial (including diff. homeschooling styles if you go that way) and you don't need to plug away for the rest of the school year or semester or whatever if it's not working. 
We'll see. 
). So now I have to figure out what to do with HIM during this meeting. Argh...