[star jewel]

My son just got his first six weeks report card (1st grade) and it was not good. I've been having problems with his school "performance" (I hate that term!) since the beginning of the year. The teacher (rather, teachers) insist he is very bright and I agree. However, he seems to have great difficulty with keeping his hands to himself. He regularly gets into trouble for hitting and pushing his classmates. I haven't observed his class this year (and I'm not making excuses for my angel; I know he's a physical kid), but in previous years, I have seen that other kids tend to pick at him and each other and my son is not passive. If he's bugged, he's going to strike out. I know this is not acceptable, but I'm trying to get him to stop. However, that is not the only problem. This is the 3rd year our school district has been doing the Dual-Language program, which essentially has the kids' day divided in half: the morning is reading and social studies taught in English and the afternoon is math and science taught in Spanish. Those two subjects are not taught at all in English. Now, my family and most of the community is Mexican-American and my kids are pretty proficient in Spanish. But our primary language is English. Needless to say, my son is falling way behind in those subjects. Because of this program, several families have pulled their kids out of school and started a sort of homeschooling co-op, headed by a concerned grandmother. She's using Saxon math and has told me that her granddaughter (my son's age) is on 3rd grade level already. Math is not my strong point, but I have a BA in English. I'm seriously considering sending my son to her for math hs'ing and teaching him all other subjects myself. He's just not thriving in the large group atmosphere, and the school program is really screwing the kids up, in my opinion. Anyone else out there sending their kids to other "teachers" on the homeschooling track? What are the "rules"? Anyone else with kids that "fight back"? Is homeschooling the thing for my son? I'm not worried about "socialization"; my son is a social butterfly and I'm going to sign him up for Bible school and Cub Scouts, plus he has a lot of friends and cousins that play after school and on weekends. It just looks like a room full of kids to punch and shove is too distracting to get any learning done!

 

[star jewel]

Sorry, but if you look at Star Jewel's other posts they are LONG!!! (I'm a writer!)

 

[lesleenbillysmom]

We are considering something along these lines in my town right now as there are very little alternatives to public school. I say go for it and the only rules are the ones you set for yourself.

 

[Openskyheart]

Star jewel,

I promise you homeschooling will be better for your son than what he is experiencing now. His "behavior" is most likely a symptom of his environment. It is not uncommon for bright children who have a lot of energy to get in trouble in school. They act out because they are bored silly. Bored silly doesn't have to happen at home where you can be in tune with your son and his needs and how he learns best. They also act out when their needs are not being met. Schools almost always blame the child, rather than adjust their teaching/curriculum to meet the child's needs.

When my ds was in a school - a great little school with only 12 kids in his class, he was starting to have "behavior" problems which he had never had before (starting in 2nd grade - 8 years old). Since we've taken him out of school (after an initial "deschooling" period), he is the HAPPIEST MOST "WELL ADJUSTED" KID you'd ever want to meet.

Don't worry about the math. If you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide you can help your son with math. Personally, my son *hated* Saxon, (and I admit it made my eyes glaze over too). Since you have the internet, you can look all over for math books that may be interesting to you. We use Miquon Math and Singapore math, but there are many to choose from.

Or, you could go with an unschooling approach and just learn about real life math as you go along. I would say this approach is the bulk of my ds' math learning (the workbooks are a minimal part of his math education).

You can do this!

 

[star jewel]

Thanks so much for your words of support. I've decided to start with the homeschooling on weekends from now until Xmas holidays, then withdraw him at the new year. I need to coordinate my work schedule (I own a vineyard and am basically my own boss anyway) and decide on a program. I will keep you "posted."

 

[lesleenbillysmom]

Good for you! I'm sure you'll feel better about not only your son but yourself. I hope it goes great!!!!