so my son went back

[mzteris]

to PS. :( 8th grade - after hs'ing since 2nd. (Long story. He - we - didn't want to, but circumstances seemed to dictate such.)

He thinks it's a waste of time.

He's bored out of his mind.

"Homework" is a pain in the @ss and basically pointless "busy work". With his schedule, it's difficult to find time to do it - he sacrifices sleep. Fortunately, it's not difficult - just time consuming.

He's called gay (because he dances ballet.) He's been physically harassed in gym. (We filed a report with the principal.)

The other kids are soooooooooooo ill-behaved. It drives him crazy. (A kid was arrested for sexual assault last week at his school. Along with the kid's mom and someone who was with her for interfering with the arrest. . . . )


He's in Spanish II. He's NEVER had any Spanish. He has the highest grade in the class.

He taught Algebra last week. The teacher couldn't explain the distributive property in a way the kids could understand. So he got up and "explained it" to them. The next day he walked around the class and checked kids work to see how they did.


They refuse to do the testing for his IEP. (Yeah, I know. I'm going to have to request it in writing.) He's dysgraphic and probably has dyscalcula as well. Anxiety and organizational issues, too. He's also gifted. They "know" that (by old WISC scores) but haven't differentiated ANY yet. "Let's let him get "acclimated back to PS, first".


He has all A's. The teachers LOVE him. He's polite, well-behaved, well-spoken, cooperative, and smart. (What's not to like? lol)

So - do you think we'll make it til Christmas?


At any rate, my point - for those worried about kids going "back to school" - I'm guessing hs'ing has worked just fine, eh?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. It worked fine for my older boy

but the school he went back to was horrible. I regret sending him there. He ended up dropping out ultimately. He's got a job now, and is in counseling (of his own choosing) to address his lack of motivation. Hopefully it will lead to his pursuing a GED at least...

[Kerrytravelers]

2. "They refuse to do the testing for his IEP."

This is illegal. They must address the IEP. Do not let them get away with this.

When I was still a classroom-based teacher, I always advised my student's families to get an Educational Advocate the minute the administration gave them any static. Get one and bring your lawyer to the IEP meeting, which you have the right to call at any time. The second they see your attorney pull out their tape recorder and begin taking notes, they will jump into line, as they should.

Sorry your son is going through all this.



kt

[lostnfound]

3. Did you make it until Christmas??

How did the year go?
Kudos to his teacher -- for Grades 3 through 7!

[mzteris]

4. sorta . . .

see: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=251x724



however - there is a local highschool that is VERY alternative. Perfect for homeschoolers and quirky kids. It's very small with small teacher/student ratios. It's more of a self-directed learning type of place. Everything is individualized. Discrimination and harassment is absolutely not tolerated.

He really wants to go there in the fall. To get in, though you "have to have attended" the regular district highschool for a "semester".

And we knew that THAT would never work - so after many phone calls, much harassing, creative thinking, and a little sleight of hand - he was "declared a ninth gradeer" in about 20 minutes by the talented & gifted department a few weeks ago - they arranged for him to take one class of his choosing at the local high school - he chose the 2nd semester Algebra class. They were wary - well, there's only 6 weeks of school left and he'd be "behind" - doesn't he want to do something easy??

Uh. no. Definitely not something "easy".

How did the class go? He corrected the teaching assistant's math on the 2rd day (nicely). Taught the kids that the teacher could not get through to how to do some problems (the teacher was using phrases like "magic cloud" to teach absolute value. HUH??? Exactly.) The first "test" on the third day - that they had said they wouldn't count 'cause he was new - he aced. However, he didn't show any of his work so the teaching assistant (yes, that one) made him do the problems on the board to prove he could actually work them (and didn't copy them - which is a joke because everyone else around him barely passed the test, duh!) Unfortunately, the TA didn't really understand HOW he was doing the problems 'cause it was different from what they taught in the book & he wasn't using the graphing calculator 'cause he could do it faster the old-fashioned way.

oh well. So it looks like he'll get his wish in the fall. We'll see how THAT works out, but from what I know of the school - former homeschoolers absolutely love it.