I am considering homeschooling my 6th grade son. He started middle school this year and is having a horrible go of it. He is writing defecient and the 'extra time' they have allotted through an IEP has not remedied the situation; he's struggled with it since 1st grade. I let them hold him back in first grade hoping he would 'catch up' on his fine motor skills and pick up on writing well. He can read above his grade level; comprehension is great.
I am so intimidated by the public school. I don't know how to say, 'I am removing my child and teaching him at home'. I've read the Missouri statutes and I'm still confused. I attend University here and my major is Education however, I only have 15 credit hours completed. I went back to school because of the struggles my son has faced. The Elementary teachers were wonderful and helped him a lot, but the middle school teachers are leaving him behind and treating him as the lazy kid that doesn't want to write neatly. It breaks my heart. He wants to please so desperatley and stresses out to the point of tears when it takes him five hours to finish a writing assignment. He makes A's in math and science, but the mechanics of writing still make things difficult as his penmanship is so bad. I think I could do better! I think I could give him remedial writing education. He was never taught phonics, in my elementary years, phonics was a staple. Praying I make the right decision about this and God intervenes. Kudos to all of you worrying about the real things in life and loving your kids. It's 2 am here. Been looking at this homeschooling stuff since 9.

There's no reason to be intimidated or to think they will be insulted by you homeschooling. They might be relieved, and it sounds like your son will benefit greatly. He can always go back if he needs the interaction with other kids his age. It's possible that he will shine in math and the sciences. Go for it! Every area of the US has homeschooling parent groups who will gladly help you and even sell you used books, or you can get them on eBay.

Try www.homeschoolinginmissouri.com/ if you haven't; I didn't actually read it.

I don't see enough reason to switch to home school. . What I do see if a need for you to work more closely with your son and his teachers to SUPPLEMENT what the school.

My son had bad writing skills so I went on the internet printed out writing worksheets and had him practice. I continued this until his writing improved and is good. If your child did not learn phonics well then you must teach him. You tube have ABC phonics songs, games and exercises that will help.

I am most likely the most dedicated and pro home school advocate on this site. I will agree, really not seeing it, Home school will take you full time, do you have that to do. But if he is just behind in one subject, writing, what is being done, is he having tutors after school, perhaps in classes after school. So why did you not teach him phonics years ago, if the grade school was so great, why did they not ( of course not all schools use it any longer)

Next has he been medically evaluated to know if there is a issue, I know several kids who have medical issues reading things backwards and they almost never learned to write.

If you want to home school, because you believe it is the best form of education, and if you can devote 8 or more hours a day to nothing but being his teacher, it is a great thing.
If you have that ability.

Next if you have been trying to tutor him all these years, he is not going to magicly know and learn, if he is out of public school.


And this group is a must if you want to homeschool,

Many school districts will lie and/or try to require things not legal. They have legal links and members can be represented by their attorneys.

China seems to be blocking my access to their site, ( that is common) so I will give you the search for it.

Home School Legal Defense Association
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Have you met with the Resource teacher who is in charge of the IEP? If the teachers aren't being effective, you need to meet with them and let them know. Have you done that yet?