So, after agonizing over this decision for several weeks between about April and June, we decided to homeschool rather than send Meghan to the gang-infested scary middle school. For more reasons, actually, than that it is kind of scary. However, when I got the list of what colors, brand names and sports teams she was NOT allowed to wear, it kind of sealed the deal. There was a charter school in Pacific Grove that we considered for awhile, it's a Waldorf-style school (which I won't explain here) and I wasn't sure it was a good fit for Meghan. And, it's about forty minutes away...we could carpool to some extent, but I just didn't want to deal with it.
We did find an excellent (so far) home/charter school organization to homeschool her through. I get an Educational Supervisor who helps me pick curriculum, etc. They had her take an online test to see whether she was a visual, audio or kinetic (hands on) learner. I was already pretty sure that she was a combination of visual and kinetic. She's never been great at listening. :0) Just kidding....sort of. So, my ES helped me pick a starting curriculum. We have a $900 budget every semester to buy whatever curriculum materials we can't borrow from the Charter's Resource Center, take enrichment classes like art, music, horseback riding or whatever, buy online courses, pay for tutoring...or just about anything else education-related. They have groups that go on field trips together just like a public school, etc. I had several friends already homeschooling their kids through this school and they all spoke highly of it. Another friend of ours is an ES, although we didn't get assigned to her.
So, school started a week ago today. So far, we haven't killed each other (which was a bit of a concern). We've only started Math, English and Science as we haven't received our books for Social Studies yet. We already signed up for the field trip to see the King Tut exhibit (which Meg is ECSTATIC about...being pretty sure at this time that she wants to be an archaeologist). She had a blast doing her science assignment online. She has to be up and ready by 8:30 in the morning. I'm a morning person...if something's going to get done, it has to be done before noon before I run out of "gas". We read scriptures together for about thirty minutes, she practices her piano for about thirty minutes. We have Math, then either Science or English. When we start social studies, that will be after lunch. She has piano lessons once a week, and soon I hope to sign her up for either Photography or Art classes. She wants to learn Italian, also. I may order, through the school, the Italian Rosetta Stone software and we'll learn it together. Since Sam already speaks Italian, it might be fun.
Meg likes some things about homeschool and isn't crazy about others. She misses her two good friends, but one of them went to a private school, so she's not at the middle school either. I'm hoping that we can arrange something so they can still get together from time to time. She didn't have a ton of friends at her last school, she's "different" (not a bad thing at all) and many of the kids were kind of mean to her. She has some good friends at church, and loves attending youth activities, so she does have a social life. I think she likes that when "school" is over, it's over, she doesn't have 3-4 hours of homework to do between 3pm and bedtime, because she has difficulty focusing for that many hours in one day. She can read almost as many hours as she can stand to read, which is a LOT. Mostly, I think we both like the arrangement, hopefully, we'll still like each other when it's over.
Unless something changes, I'm planning to send her to public high school. She has some mild ADD issues, and I think this will give her time to mature a little and learn how to manage her time and resources as she does, before she has to deal with multiple teachers/assignments. I had a great time in high school and I'd hate for her to miss those experiences.
Anyway, that probably more info than anyone wants to know, but there it is. I'll write about our adventures as we go along.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
You know, I've never been a big proponent of homeschooling but when you write it all out like this it sounds amazing!! I'm sure Meghan will look back on these years & cherish all the time you two got to spend together. I can't wait to hear about all the adventures you two take together.
YAY! It sounds like it's going well.
I don't blame you for homeschooling. I think I would be doing the same thing if we had those choices. My kids actually asked if I would homeschool them this year. I told them with a new baby I couldn't. But I do admire a mom that can handle it.
Sounds like you have it well under control and are organized enough that it should be a good experience for all.
Landee, I never was a big fan of homeschooling, either. For us, anyway. Mostly Meghan has been sure she knows more than me since she could talk. :0) Not to mention, I'm only a marginally organized person. But the more I looked into alternatives to the middle school, the more I was sure this was a way to go, at least for awhile. The days we remember to start with prayer, go mostly well. The one day we forgot that, not so much.
Amanda, I'm absolutely certain I couldn't do this if I had more than one kid. Although the couple of friends I have that are teaching multiple kids are sure that it's easier with more kids. None of them have new babies, but I'm still skeptical. As long as you're reasonably sure your kids are getting a good, safe education in public school...I'm all for public school. We're supposed to be getting into the community and being missionaries, anyway.
Yeah, this is not your mother's home school. They have some cool programs to help families now. Tons of people do it here. Sounds like a lot of work, so good for you! I'll look forward to hearing all about your adventures.
Post a Comment