3rd grader totally bored in school, asks to be homeschooled

[TouchOfWhimsy]

Jmoreno, if you go back and read this thread as well as the one entitled "socializing homeschooled children," you'll see that we've already covered this.

[haggardhouseelf]

jmoreno - I appreciate your input. It's important to hear a student's perspective on this issue. I agree with you that homeschooling can be socially isolating. As I mentioned in my original post, we homeschooled our oldest son through the second grade. At that time we found it to be terribly isolating. We were living in an area where every homeschooling family we met were doing it for religious reasons, and we just didn't fit in. It was one of the main reasons we chose to switch to public school when we moved into a better school system - my son was doing great academically, but was terribly lonely.

Things are different for us now. Not only do we have children in the neighborhood that our kids are becoming close friends with, but our kids are also very involved in extra-curricular activities such as the city swim team, art classes, music lessons, band practice, theater, and volunteer work that we do together as a family. The area where we live now, also, is less "churchy" and I have already found several local homeschooling groups that are not religion-based. If we choose to homeschool (as we are still in the "researching it and considering it" phase) I feel pretty confidant that we will have an easier time of it this time around.

Just one question for you: Are you really in the twelfth grade?

stepka - To answer your question, we are still looking into it. It's just not something we can rush into. Also, in February the school district here has what they call "open choice week". We are planning on visiting a few of the charter and magnet and two other alternative schools in our school district to check them out. I went to a magnet high school and loved it! Here we have several language immersion schools which seem to have a very good reputation. We also have an arts magnet school as well as a international program which sounds promising. I'm not writing off the public school system just yet. My kids do love going to school, I think it's just that they aren't in the school that is the best fit for them. My youngest son's current school, especially, is so large - and growing - that it's just impossible for him to get the attention and teaching that he deserves. We will definitely be doing something different next year, but we're still checking into all the possibilities in order to figure out what that different situation will be. We are also signed up to attend two different online school parent workshops. One actually is affiliated with a public school district, and another is a private school.

chiisai - Thank you for your reply. And what exactly is geocaching? I have heard of this before, but I'm not sure what it is?

I have a lot of respect for a person who has earned a teaching degree. I have always volunteered a lot in my children's classrooms as well and one of the reasons for my doing this is to learn from the teachers. A lot of the strategies I use at home while working with my kids, I picked up from watching or talking with the teachers at the kids schools. I really, truly, feel that we have many outstanding teachers in all our public schools - but the schools themselves are overcorwded and underfunded. Also, I feel that children are not getting proper parenting and lessons from their parents at home - especially with regards to behavior, manners, etiquette, learning right from wrong... - and this makes things even harder for the teacher trying to do their best. I have all the respect in the world for teachers today, facing this thankless battle daily, year after year. I've very rarely have ever had issues with teachers, it's just the situation which we - and the teacher's I have spoken with - find frustrating.

Since I'm feeling long-winded tonight, I'll go ahead and get this off my chest...

Something that really concerns me, is when someone is hired as a teacher who has a degree in an unrelated field. I haven't seen this too often in the school my kids currently attend, but I saw this in Washington state when our kids attended a public school there. It really blew my mind that someone who received a comp sci degree 5 years ago, and then was laid-off, was hired without any teaching experience to teach 32 second-grade students. I think the laws vary by state as far as whether or not this is allowed. Personally I feel it should not be allowed. How does a computer science degree prepare you for teaching the basics to elementary school kids? What does it teach you about childhood development? I dunno... it's one thing to have a degree in an unrelated field and then choose to homeschool your own child. I'm OK with that, as it's your child. But I believe teacher's in public school, who are responsible for teaching so many different children all at once, should have a teaching degree.

Sorry - have I gone off-topic?

Anyway - thanks again to everyone who has responded. I really appreciate the input.

[Huckleberry3911948]

boredom is a lack of personal investment. and hard to handle at a young age. counseler can help with motivation? maybe other stuff goin on?

[chiisai]

Geocaching = The sport where you are the search engine!

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site

GPS' are relatively inexpensive these days, so this is a very do-able activity for most people!

SOME points to keep in mind;

1. secrecy is key, stomping through the woods like elephants is NOT the idea

2. Put the cache back EXACTLY where you found it, and re-hide it (leave No tracks)

3. Remember to take something and LEAVE something OR don't take anything at all!

4. If you notice the cache needs work, a new container, new sign in book etc.. report it!!!!

5. If you can't find the cache REPORT IT!! It may have been taken.

6. Have fun!!! Learn more at the web site, be sure to read the rules.

I get my goodies at the dollar store or Oriental Trading. i.e. key chains, matchbox cars, pens, pencils, small flashlights, erasers, etc....

http://www.geocaching.com/resources/guide_to_geocaching.pdf (broken link)

[stepka]

Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf

Something that really concerns me, is when someone is hired as a teacher who has a degree in an unrelated field. I haven't seen this too often in the school my kids currently attend, but I saw this in Washington state when our kids attended a public school there. It really blew my mind that someone who received a comp sci degree 5 years ago, and then was laid-off, was hired without any teaching experience to teach 32 second-grade students. I think the laws vary by state as far as whether or not this is allowed. Personally I feel it should not be allowed. How does a computer science degree prepare you for teaching the basics to elementary school kids? What does it teach you about childhood development? I dunno... it's one thing to have a degree in an unrelated field and then choose to homeschool your own child. I'm OK with that, as it's your child. But I believe teacher's in public school, who are responsible for teaching so many different children all at once, should have a teaching degree.

I'm glad you brought this up, b/c I believe that I can answer it. I am working on getting certified thru an alternative route--the ABCTE program, and my area of focus is English Language Arts, 6-12. To get certified, I have to study on my own and then take 2 tests that are similar to the PRAXIS tests. One is a language arts test and the other one is practical teaching skills. Well, my degree is in Economics, but that was a huge mistake on my part, b/c English Lit was my first love. I didn't major in it b/c I didn't know how I'd get a job with it, and wasn't really interested in teaching at that time. However, I've always kept up with it, and I've read a lot of really good books thru the years, and I love poetry and plays, and I do enough writing to keep my skills up. Also, I'm an excellent speller for the most part. I had to study very hard for the test, and go back and pick up all that grammar stuff (I read the Grammar Bible 3X!), but I did manage to pass the test with a high score, so now I'm working on the teacher skills test. My point is that just b/c someone didn't major in a certain field doesn't mean that they're not knowledgeable about the subject matter. I am concerned about how easily I'll be able to get a job though, b/c I'm worried that admin will think the same way that you do, so I'm glad you're helping me to hone my argument for the interview.

[stepka]

Oops, there's another thing I meant to say about this--some people are natural born teachers and instinctively know how to work with children. Others have a lot of experience with them thru other means, such as leading a scout troop or substitute teaching. I've had several teachers tell me that I am a natural born teacher and should do whatever it takes to get my own classroom--I'm a substitute teacher right now. Some people can't teach, no matter how many degrees they have--they have the knowledge, but they don't have the touch. I have learned a lot this year from watching other teachers teach.

[jmoreno]

Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf

jmoreno -

Just one question for you: Are you really in the twelfth grade?

Yes I am.
.