The Imperfect Community

kathyjm · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:01 pm Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

Well, after much debating with myself over this, praying about it and discussing with my husband and family, I've decided to home school Katelynn this year for the 7th grade. I've always wanted to homeschool all of my kids but my life circumstances have never allowed it. I do still work from home but Katelynn is so self motivated and did so well for the five weeks we did last year that I'm sure it will be OK. I'm very nervous about this but I chose a homeschool program that takes the results of her CAT scores and designs the curriculum for me. They will keep track of her grades and transcripts and colleges do accept their students so I'm not really homeschooling in the true sense of the word but I'm homeschooling. I'm just telling myself it's just for this year and if it doesn't work out she can go back to school in the 8th grade. Though based on what I've found so far, I know she'll surpass her peers (heck she did just during those 5 weeks last year!). This program has high expectations for its students.

My reasons are:

1. She very much needs an emotional break from teasing.
2. I need that break...it was so heart wrenching last year.
3. I've always had her at the mercy of the teachers. While a few were great, most were complete losers when it came to her special needs and they weren't open to learning (or abiding by the 504 plan).
4. She's so intelligent (despite her challenges gets mostly A's) and I don't want that to go to waist due to stupid teachers and social pressure!
5. She has a high likelihood of either outgrowing her symptoms or at least they will minimize from where they are now... maybe we can get her through this tough time...
6. While I've not been trained in teaching, I know I can teach her as I have before and even with college math, I tutored both my mom and brother so surely I can teach katelynn at a 7th grade level! Even if I don't know something, all of the text books come with teacher manuals and gives pointers on how to teach different learning types.

I feel good about his. But I'm nervous..I don't want to screw up my kid LOL... wish us luck!

Scout · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:21 pm Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

It seems like you've thought this through and are making the best possible decision for your daughter. No child should be forced to go to school if school is not an environment where she is nurtured and supported in her efforts to get an education. I would make the same decision in your situation. I have always felt that if school is not working for any of my kids, we will do something else.

kathyjm · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:26 pm Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

thanks scout. I know many people disagree with homeschooling so I'm gearing up for the back lash and it means a lot to hear some reassurance!

I may just be posting here in a few months with sos's for ideas!

I'm already wondering where I'll get ideas for 'projects'. Things that will supplement what she's learning in fun ways. Know of any good websites? :-)

Princesso · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:47 pm Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

There are groups of homeschool parents that get together to do field trips, and to give each other support. I know that sometimes they also help each other out when someone is having trouble teaching certain concepts. Work with your school district too, they have resources to help you out as well.

DietCokeHead · Queen of Imperfection Joined: 29 Apr 2002 Posts: 3805

I am sure you can find lots of help and ideas online, maybe there is even a homeschool group in your town? Good luck! Is Katelynn excited too? I can't imagine how hard it must be to be teased at school every day. I don't blame you for seeking alternatives for her. You won't screw her up! Cool

Jessica · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:48 pm Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

Yea Kathy! Good for you!!! I think you'll be great at it!

Let us know how it goes. I wish I had the patience and ability to do that, but I know I don't. Confused

Your reasons for doing this are the best reasons I've ever heard for homeschooling. I think your daughter is going to love it and thrive in that situation. I am so excited for her and you!

Rebecca_R · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 6:56 am Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

I agree, no one should have to go to school and indure any kind of torment from other children. What gets me kinda upset though, is that you even *have* to do this, and that parents aren't more vigilant in making sure their children are accepting kids like yours who may have something going on.

BUt in any case, your daughter is very lucky to have you as a mom. I think you are really doing a great thing for her.

MedeaNJ · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 10:57 am Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

Glad you made a decision that you believe is best for your daughter. Please let us know how things go.

DH and I are considering the possibility of homeschooling the twins if it turns out that the tuition for the Waldorf School that we want to send them to is out of reach. Most likely we will do the Oak Lawn Waldorf curriculum.

I agree with the other PPs, there are plenty of resources out there regarding activities to do with your homeschooled child alone or with another group. Over the weekend I was surprised to find out that our local county YMCA has a special weekly physical education program geared specifically for homeschoolers.

Best of luck!

kathyjm · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 12:52 pm Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

Hey thanks guys! Katelynn is very excited about it.

we've alerady made it a point to keep in touch with her friends from school over the summer. Her bestest friend is also homeschooled and lives across the street so that's convenient! She takes ballet, jazz, tap which I will count as PE. And she goes to weekly activities with her youth group at church (they're at alcatraz today).

It's not so much the activities that I'm worried about but coming up with those special projects (for example they did the missions in 3rd grade, california mammals in fourth, etc...). She did a ton of projects last year for egypt and she really enjoyed those (like they mummified a chicken leg). I was just wondering if there's a place where I can find ideas for projects like that. I think it's important to learn those organizational skills and timelines. I'm a project manager for my paid job and it's so valuable to have those skills.

I will look into some homeschool groups...I just need to find some that I 'click' with.

So far, she took her CAT this week and it's been mailed off. We should have her curriculum set and all her books in the next few weeks.

Wow, this means I wont have to go crazy with school clothes for her!

THere are some things that I know she will miss, like school pictures and hearing her sisters come home and tell stories. But it is a trial year and she can always go back.

One thing i'm selfishly thinking..OMG...I love when all the kids are in school...LOL..I wont get that alone time this year! :0)

julymom · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:54 pm Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

Good for you! I'm serioulsy considering homeschooling ds when he's older.
You might want to check this site out for ideas and other people to chat with:

http://home-school.com

Let us know how it's going.

Jessica · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: OK, I've decided to try it!

kathyjm · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 7:51 pm Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

Katelynn's disorders are very complex and hard for some people to 'get'... It's something we run into almost on a daily basis... adults think she's being disrespectful...kids think she's weird. Here's what happened this weekend at ballet class. She and kiersten have classes at the same time and I can sit in one waiting area and watch both through different windows. Katelynn's class got out a little early and she was sitting down changing into her tap shoes. Always after physical exertion she's a little more 'ticcy'. She made an "uh" sound..it's a little louder than a conversational tone and very abrupt. At first nobody noticed. She did it a few more times and a mom turns around and says to Katelynn, "was that you" and she she half smiles and nods yes. So the mom turns around to watch her daughter some more. Now the think about Tourette syndrome is any kind of anxiety can make the symptoms worse...as well as the pressure to hold it in. So as soon as the lady looks away katelynn has her tic again. At this point I was still watching but not interfering as I'm trying to get Katelynn to speak up for herself and be able to explain that she has TS. After she ticced again the mom goes...wow... can you do it again? then katelynn is obviously hurt by this remark and looks down to tie her tap shoes. Just as I'm walking over to the mom, she says to Katelynn in a not so nice way "what you cant do it on command?". OOOOOHHH i was so upset at this point but I always like to give the benefit of the doubt so I walked by her and said "she has Tourette syndrome, she can't help it". That's all I could sputter out and acted like I had to go get something from the car so that katelynn wouldn't see how upset that made me. What bugged me most about this woman was not that she didn't know what ts was but her total lack of basic respect for a human being. I now know how many losers we have in our population!

These kinds of things happen A LOT! Her last sub last year put her in the corner to sit because he said she was being disrespectful (because she made noises and didn't stop when he asked). Some of the other students defended her and he thought they were just trying to trick the sub.

With kids, well, they're cruel. I stopped posting for a while around the end of the year but katelynn has had trouble with far mor that the first little shit (who by the way is pretty nice to her now...weird huh?). Now it's with older kids (usually the boys who smoke) and one of her tics is the n word. some kids are just mean. some are scary.

So add all of this in with just trying to concentrate on her work while trying to focus on not ticcing and she was just a stressed out kid.

Oh and the school does suck. They say all over the place how they have a no tolerance policy but that's just talk. And their teachers do NOT follow the 504 plan. Well, let me re phrase that because we have had some VERY awesome teachers that I"m proud to have had but the majority sucked.

julymom · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 8:17 pm Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

Kathy, that's terrible. I'd have spoken up quite loudly to the other mother about respecting others. What a bitch.
I was at Linens-n-Things the other day and there was a kid in there who had similar symptoms to what you described. I have to admit it was a bit annoying at first, but after a few minutes, I just tuned it out. Even if it were driving me insane, I'd never have said anything to him. That would just be beyond the boundaries of rude. This boy was about 9 or 10 and obviously couldn't help it. I felt bad for him, because he was getting a lot of annoyed stares from other shoppers as well as employees.

TheBean · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 9:43 pm Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

What a witch. I think I would have wacked her with the tap shoe.

I hope your year goes smoothly. Remember too - you are entitled to the programs at your school! Call the principle to check - she could take Art or Music or other things if you wanted.

But...it sounds like a good program you picked, and I'm sure she will do just fine. And I bet there is a good homeschooling group in your area. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

I always wanted to homeschool Anna - I don't think she would thrive as much as she does in a regular classroom though. But I think it would be a lot of fun...and work....to develop some curriculum and units around some of Anna's interests.

Eileen

new053105 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:08 am Post subject: OK, I've decided to try it!

Kathy - first, I think it's great why you are homeschooling. I had a friend growing up that had epilepsy, and her parents finally homeschooled her for similar reasons. Her meds made her slower than others and she got teased a lot.

I am so sorry there are rude people out there. The problem w/mental illness is people can't see it like someone whose physically sick or physically disabled. And it's why mental illness has such a negative stigma....not everyone believes in it. I have suffered different disorders as well, and it's frustrating.

Anyhow, I hope the homeschooling works out for you.