Considering Homeschool, but...

[2lilsweetfoxes]

1)  Every year we consider pulling our daughter and son out of their public schools to homeschool.  But...

      a)  DH and I have different philosophies---I'm more "self-directed, interest-led" learning (aka unschooling)  DH is more "school-at-home" (set curriculum, standards and time frames to be met).  I would prefer that we do independent home-schooling.  He'd rather be under the umbrella of something like Columbia Virtual Academy (a home-based public charter school in our state) or a private school.  For accountability and accreditation.  I'd like to have freedom.  DH is the at-home parent, and would be the one responsible for their education, for the most part.  We tried K12 several years ago.  (We moved to California while I was stationed in Korea.  By law, there was no requirement that DD be in school yet (kindy), but my mom, who lived a mile from us, kept bugging us about when we were going to get her into school--planned "red-shirting", so to shut her up, we enrolled her in K12.  Liked getting the materials.  Hated how it felt like a steam-train barrelling ahead and couldn't keep up.  The next year, we sent her to live with her other grandma to go to the school she taught at.)

     b)  Our daughter has ADHD and is a motormouth.  Seriously.  She constantly is jabbering.  Sometimes I swear we send her to school so WE can get a break. 

     c)  DS is autistic.  In a self-contained classroom.  We want to pull him to control his diet, but are concerned that if we do, Tricare will stop paying for his private speech, OT, and ABA therapies.  CVA (the charter school) refused him last year due to his IEP being too intense.  The local public school is not letting us enroll him part time.

So, then the school year start date rolls around, and we, not knowing what else to do, not confident in our abilities--what about scope and sequence,  I don't want her behind next year, what if she's already covered and confident in that, what if she hasn't covered a prerequisite for this--we just put them back into the local public school.

How can we gain confidence?

DD has tested for the gifted program.  If she gets in, we probably will put her in.  If she does not, then we have to decide if she goes back to school next year or we home-school.

[briansmama]

Have you thought about using a creative, flexible curriculum? That way DH would have a "guide", yet, it wouldn't be school at home with a standardized curriculum, which in my opinion, offers little to many kids, including those who are bright and/or gifted.

While we mostly played and read a lot in the early years, we finally decided to purchase a curriculum for my ds who will be in 2nd grade. After much research, and a gentle 1st grade year using mostly waldorf reading lists and craft ideas, which we loved, we decided to go a little deeper this year in ds studies and found Enki. 

Enki includes nature studies, experiential math, quality literature, and focused story work. It is ideal for my ds, who shows signs of giftedness (we've never had him tested and do not plan to). It is also ideal for my younger son, who loves stories and is more imaginative.

I hope this helps! 

[mattemma04]

If your dh is set on an online school then try one.Different from the one you tried before.He will probably realise soon that he could do *better* to meet the needs of the children. I often tell my kids that online schools can actually be harder than going to public,because they require a lot more work.Our state online schools are all doing poorly(except 1),so they push a lot of work and stress the IOWA testing.

Ofcourse for some kids the online schools are great. I often wonder if my kids would like them. Never know till you try.

As for the tricare ask them.Ask a few people because sometimes one will say no and not really know what they are talking about.

[AllyRae]

Honestly, I'd probably go with the preference of the person doing the schooling.  If it's your DH, then let him do the online one and see how it works--if he doesn't feel confident or agree with unschooling, it won't be done right.  Just because you try something for one year doesn't mean you're always stuck with it...

[2xy]

I can't imagine that Tricare bases medical coverage on school enrollment. Are they paying for the therapy at present?

[Lisa1970]

ADHD is usually exasperated by public school because it makes her nervous and stressed, even if you do not realize it. Chances are, once she has been home a few months, this will calm down.

The differing philosophies with your dh won't matter much if you are the one doing the teaching. My dh and I are different religions. I am a creationist and he is an evolutionist. I am a Christian and he is not. I have moved on to a more relaxed, child-led approach, and my dh was concerned about it in the beginning. After all these years, he is not so concerned anymore though. My dh teaches his evolution to the kids and his religious thoughts and I teach mine. He is welcome to do all he wants and teach all he wants to the kids. (except math, he was very boring and confusing, LOL)