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ricearonis · Oct 17, 2012, 09:59 AM

Our daughter is currently in a private school and struggling, receiving C's. She is a very young 8th grader (if born a week later, she would have been in a lower grade). Every year she has struggled. Her homework is not turned in on time and she doesn't seem to know how to study. I feel that if she had the benefit of another year, she could catch up in maturity and social skills. She has very few friends.

Our thought is to homeschool her for one year, and then to place her in our good public school, where she knows no one, the following year. This should avoid any embarrassment factor.

I have 4 older children who are high achievers, 2 having gone to Ivy League schools, and I have a degree in Education. I know I could help her to catch up.

What do you think? Do any of you know of an Education specialist in NJ that I could talk to? Have any of you done this? How were the public schools about the holding back after a year at home (this would put her in 9th grade as an older child, but not the oldest)?

Wondergirl · Oct 17, 2012, 01:08 PM

I have a friend who is a retired NJ teacher -- will run this past her. Stay tuned! Our member teacherjenn will hopefully respond too

teacherjenn4 · Oct 17, 2012, 05:33 PM

If you are homeschooling, can you do this through the school district your daughter currently attends? Also, have you tried tutoring? I do have an issue with homework not turned in on time and study skills. These can be learned. I'll answer more when you answer these few questions to give me a better idea of what is going on. Thanks!

Wondergirl · Oct 17, 2012, 06:12 PM

Here's my NJ teacher friend's quick reply (more to think about) -- "I would pull her from the private school. Send her to the good public school repeating the 8th grade. I would hire a tutor and work on study skills and organization. Actually the Mom could work on those things but if problems emerged, I would push going to the tutor. I would encourage the public school to have her tested for any discrepancies in her test scores and for placing her into appropriate placements. If the public school wouldn't do that, she may have to pay an independent source or perhaps the private school could do the testing or send along any tests already taken. I would not home school her. If she repeated 8th grade, she would then finish the following year and enter high school with her new peers. This would ease her entry into high school."

teacherjenn4 · Oct 17, 2012, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Here's my NJ teacher friend's quick reply (more to think about) -- "I would pull her from the private school. Send her to the good public school repeating the 8th grade. I would hire a tutor and work on study skills and organization. Actually the Mom could work on those things but if problems emerged, I would push going to the tutor. I would encourage the public school to have her tested for any discrepancies in her test scores and for placing her into appropriate placements. If the public school wouldn't do that, she may have to pay an independent source or perhaps the private school could do the testing or send along any tests already taken. I would not home school her. If she repeated 8th grade, she would then finish the following year and enter high school with her new peers. This would ease her entry into high school."

I agree! Definitely a tutor is necessary. I am not pro homeschooling unless the parents have tried all other avenues. Switching from private to public school will be a huge step, but maybe a change in teachers will help. Study skills are a must. A tutor can help with that. A public school teacher will be able to see if there is a discrepancy between ability and achievement. If so, then testing is necessary to find out what the issues are. Most private schools do not have the resources to do this.

Fr_Chuck · Oct 17, 2012, 08:14 PM

While I love home schooling it is a commitment, not a one year coast. For home schooling one parent is not working and at home with the child.

Next,
1. not turning homework in on time, WHY, if you want to home school, why are you not working with her every evening, why are you not making her get her homework done. Sorry

2. Friends, if she has few friends now, repeating a grade will take away what few she has, home schooling will do the same.

3. Stop ever, ever comparing other kids to each other. This child may be doing the best they can, guess what C is passing, and some kids never do much better than that.

I would say that from what "little" I am ready, no homeschool is not a option here, it does not sound like you know the effect and work it will take, esp since it is a full time issue. And you stll have to force them to do work on time.

I think letting her go with her class, with her few friends and getting her tutor help, start being more involved in her work, talking with teachers and making sure work is being done.