What if he wants to continue going to school outside the home?

[Phoebe]

I have been wrestling with schooling ideas for my oldest ds for a long time. I ended up coming to the conclusion that if he was accepted into our local public spanish immersion school (dh is spanish and it's important to us for our children to learn another language) he would attend, if not we'd hs him.
He was accepted and has been in attendace there since September. He is a child who had done very well learing at home in the past. He learns with very little instruction from me and due to that has been quite far beyond the kindergarten level for a couple of years now. I thought the spanish would keep him engaged and challenge. Well, to make a long story short it isn't. He is being sent to get drinks of water and being given busy work. I can't stand the idea of him being "taught" this way next year in an all day school experience. Right now as it is he's doing second grade work at home with me and probably reading at 5th grade levels (my assessment of course).
Sounds like a no brainer to homeschool to me but he LOVES the school experience. The bus, the backpack, eating in the cafeteria next year, the independence. He saw me looking up hsing on the comupter and he seemed so concerned. I played it off like it was for his little brother but I felt like he knew and he reiterated how much he loves this and that about school. How can I do that to him??!! But I am his mother and my job is to give him the best opportunity in life. But I just don't want to crush him!!

Please give me some insight here. I know I can't be the only one who has been through this. School is awefully fun for alot of little kids (not so much a problem with the bigger ones )

TIA!
amy

[ocelotmom]

One thing that jumps out at me is that, at this age, he likely has a very concrete idea of what homeschooling is - all the work of school done at home, without the fun social and experiential aspects.

Maybe over the next few months you could attend some events with a local homeschooling group so that he could develop some social connections.

Do you have charter schools in your area that offer money for materials and classes, or in-person part time classes? Being able to offer alternatives (especially fun ones that he wouldn't be able to do if he were in regular school) might help.

You can also commit to just trying it for a short time, like a single semester or year, and switch back if he really wants to after that point.

And sometimes, you just have to be the parent. Kids will say that their parents are RUINING THEIR LIFE!!!! when they have to move to a different state, or go to a previous Cub Scout committment instead of a friend's birthday party (my personal example from this weekend ) or any other number of things that just have to happen. They also tend to like consistency, and change away from the established norm is difficult. They generally do eventually adjust.

Are you considering pulling him out this year, or waiting until next year?

[SagMom]

Personally, I'd let him continue in school unless/until he wanted to homeschool.

Of course, I'd also talk with him about the OPTION of hsing--the things you might do during the day, the hs groups and trips available to him, etc. If the lunchbox is important, I'd reassure him he could still use one, if friends are important, I'd suggest a plan for getting together with them. Perhaps you can find a way to increase opportunities for independence at home?

For my kids, they'd have to at least be willing to give hsing a try before I'd pull them out of school. I don't think that removing him from something he loves, to do something he doesn't want to do will be a very good start to successful homeschooling.

[AAK]

If he still wants to stay in the school, and you are willing to let him, I would get pro active about finding out about opportunities for gifted students. We pulled our dd out mid 3rd grade because school was finally boring enough that the good stuff didn't out weigh it anymore. She still attends the pull out program for gifted students and loves it. So, maybe let him stay in and get into the gifted program. Then, if that doesn't do the trick, pull him out except for the gifted program. That way, it is kinda the best of both worlds. We certainly think so. Too bad our gifted program only goes through the fifth grade.

I think you should also post this on the gifted board as those mamma's (some hs some ps) know how to fight for their child's right to a stimulating education.

Amy

[Phoebe]

Everything you ALL have said rings true to me...that's the big problem. I tend to believe that what ocelotmom said is the case:
"One thing that jumps out at me is that, at this age, he likely has a very concrete idea of what homeschooling is - all the work of school done at home, without the fun social and experiential aspects."

I don't intend to pull him out this year. It's only 1/2 day and he's having fun with it, if nothing else. It's like a daily play date. So when he comes home in the afternoon maybe we can get together with some other hsers and see what happens. That way if we decide to hs next year he will understand what hs is all about. On the other hand he may think it really stinks and that would lead us down another path.

Ahhhh...I think I have found a good middle ground for now. I'll test the waters and see!