My plan all along was to unschool the kids, but this year DD1 is 5, and un- or home- schooling is out of the question this year. I am in school (nursing) full-time, and I work as well, so I will be gone or sleeping (I work nights) every single day from mid-August until mid-December. I graduate next December, and I'll be unschooling after that (either from December on, or after DD finishes the school year).
DD got into 2 charter schools in the area. The first called us months ago, and we did all the paperwork, and DD has seen the school and spent a couple hours with the teachers, and is very excited about going to school. The second school just called me a week ago, and they have an open house/registration event next week. We haven't seen the school yet.
At this point I don't care which school she will be learning the most at; I just want the school that will do the least amount of damage
until I'm able to be home enough to unschool.
School #1 is an accelerated K-12 school that is based on the "Core Knowledge" books by E.D. Hirsch. They have a longer school day "to accommodate a 105 minute rotating lab and intensive learning formats". They also group the children according to skill level to 'further accelerate learning in Math and language arts.' Pros to this school: they are very conveniently located, near to both our house and the sitter's, who will be doing some pick up and drop off. Cons: it's not really my ideal style of learning.
School #2 is a brand-new Waldorf-style charter school. Pros to this school: I much prefer the style. Cons: It's farther away, so it would be less convenient for the sitter to pick her up and drop her off. And, my #1 complaint: DD is very interested in letters & sounds, and suddenly has an interest in telling time. I would feel weird about discouraging this interest.
I am so stuck, I keep going back and forth and can't decide
They are two very, very different schools. DH is no help whatsoever at deciding.
DD got into 2 charter schools in the area. The first called us months ago, and we did all the paperwork, and DD has seen the school and spent a couple hours with the teachers, and is very excited about going to school. The second school just called me a week ago, and they have an open house/registration event next week. We haven't seen the school yet.
At this point I don't care which school she will be learning the most at; I just want the school that will do the least amount of damage
until I'm able to be home enough to unschool.School #1 is an accelerated K-12 school that is based on the "Core Knowledge" books by E.D. Hirsch. They have a longer school day "to accommodate a 105 minute rotating lab and intensive learning formats". They also group the children according to skill level to 'further accelerate learning in Math and language arts.' Pros to this school: they are very conveniently located, near to both our house and the sitter's, who will be doing some pick up and drop off. Cons: it's not really my ideal style of learning.
School #2 is a brand-new Waldorf-style charter school. Pros to this school: I much prefer the style. Cons: It's farther away, so it would be less convenient for the sitter to pick her up and drop her off. And, my #1 complaint: DD is very interested in letters & sounds, and suddenly has an interest in telling time. I would feel weird about discouraging this interest.
I am so stuck, I keep going back and forth and can't decide
They are two very, very different schools. DH is no help whatsoever at deciding.
) In AK, 7 is the mandatory enrollment age, whether home/private/public... You definitely don't have to enroll her if you choose not to. Just a thought!
) as well. I dont know how well they are going to do their first year.
and now I am wondering if I should just scrap teh school thing (and break poor DD's heart 
) and unschool her like I want to. Poor DH is in the middle and really doesn't care either way, or if she goes or not, or which school, or anything.
