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OK, so Keri came to me last week for help with her pre-algebra. She then started to cry and said "I HATE this online school. I miss talking to people-I feel like I can't pay attention looking at the computer screen. I feel like I don't know anything." I gave her a hug and didn't really know what to say. I felt she was trying to get across that she wants to go back to public school, but that is not an option, as I don't think that the company of the local school kids is what is best for her.
Anyway, I looked at her calendar and she is 25 lessons behind and the term ends on January 21st, which means it is highly unlikely she will be finished with all her "A" term classes before the "B" term begins...unless she worked day and night for the next week, which I don't think is worth it.
I know when she comes to the room where I am working with her younger sister, she is smiling and relaxed. She sits on the sofa while we are having a discussion. Sometimes she even joins in. She has borrowed her sister's school books to read. When she is sitting at the computer with her lessons, she is stressed out and working verrry slowwwly.
At the beginning of this school year, Keri was the one who did not want to home school, and chose the online school. Her actions are speaking louder than her words. I know she will do better with HOD.
SO, I am going to pull her from the online school at the end of the term. She will do the second half of Preparing with extensions, and I will assign all the reading to her independently. She will do the first half of Rod and Staff 6 daily, DITHOR 6/7/8, and Life of Fred Pre-Algebra with Biology. I want to ease her into HOD again after all the stress of public school, which she was in for 5th through 6th grades, and the online school which she is in for half of 7th.
Then, next year for grade 8, she will do CTC with extensions, 2nd half of Rod and Staff 6 twice a week, DITHOR 6/7/8 and Algebra 1 along with her younger sister, who will do CTC as written. There are enough independent portions that they don't ever have to be working on the same part at the same time, so that should help with not causing conflict for competitiveness, and we can all be together for Bible study and story discussions. I will revisit what to do for high school after we have completed CTC.
I like the girl I see sitting on the sofa and smiling so much better than the uptight-looking one in front of the computer. Thanks for listening!

It sounds well thought out, very cohesive...and cozy! I hope that y'all have a wonderful spring semester!

Sounds like a great plan. My kids did not do well with online learning either. Retention and accountability became huge problems for us. Hope your daughter loves her change!

Praying for you as you make the switch.

Oh, your dd sounds the same as my dd9! My dd's love language is quality time and she is a social interactive girl! One of the worst things you can do to her is send her to her room when something is going on somewhere else in the house! Lol. She goes so much quicker if I am sitting at the table with her, even if I am not helping her, she just likes to know I am there to interact with and discuss things with and show me her work and ask questions and chat.....If I leave her in a room alone to finish her work, she will still be there at the same point 1/2 hour later.....if I stay in the room, even if I am cooking or doing something else, things go much smoother!
Hope your new plan works.....all the best!

blessedmomof4 wrote:...I like the girl I see sitting on the sofa and smiling so much better than the uptight-looking one in front of the computer. Thanks for listening!

I think you are a great, Mom, just had to say that - I love your words here. When you have a good heart like you do, Lourdes - dc's hearts are changed too. I am excited for your dd, and as a former online teacher for an online homeschool program, I can't wait for HOD to breathe some life back into learning for her. I have prayed it goes smoothly.

Love in Christ,
Julie

Ok, so I am waiting with bated breath. I took Keri and her younger sister to a local field trip sponsored by the online school. It was a free roller skating/pizza party, so it was a lot of fun. She met 2 teachers and her advisor there. She has renewed her vigor trying to get her unfinished lessons done and has turned in many in a short time. She is down from 35 to 18 overdue lessons. She told me she will try to finish so that she doesn't get zeros for incomplete work. She has until Monday at 7 PM sharp to turn in the rest. We shall see...if she manages to get it all done and passes, I may let her finish the year in the online school, but I definitely want her to do HOD in the fall for 8th grade. I need to be strong and simply let her know that returning to her public school is not an option. However, her advisor did make a good suggestion that the local school may allow her to participate in extra-curricular activities there-that may answer the issue of her needing an outlet for her athletic nature as well as provide her with the ability to look up "old" friends from 6th grade that she misses.
If I can manage it, I would rather have her do RTR or even Rev to Rev as written instead of CTC with extensions if she is starting HOD in the fall rather than now...there is a lot of time between now and then. I think she actually got some renewed confidence simply because I had a plan in place for her and all was not lost because she was behind Anyway, I will update after Monday night one way or the other. Whatever happens, I believe it will all work out for the best I'm so glad HOD is so flexible and there are so many ways to make it workable for almost any situation.

Ok, so after a very stressful day (for me too-student lessons are not officially submitted until the parent marks them complete), and right down to the wire of the deadline, Keri finished submitting all those overdue lessons Well, she wants to finish the year at the online school, but was declaring in her frustration yesterday that she is going back to the local public school for 8th grade in the fall I didn't say anything at that moment, because I did not want her frustration to turn to anger and then inaction. She passed her courses with one A, four Bs, and one C. I am praying God will help me communicate to her that I want to teach her because there is a better way, not because she isn't smart, but because she IS smart, and because I know a better fit for her personality. Because I want her in a Christian program. Because I want what is best for her. Because I know better thatn she does. *Sigh* Well, MY plan is to use CTC with extensions with her younger sister, or if we can afford more than that, RTR or possibly even Rev to Rev for her 8th grade year. Either way, I know she will get a great and meaningful education. With Life of Fred PreAlgebra 2 with Economics, and Algebra 1, and Rod and Staff English 6, she will have a full and fulfilling year. Please keep praying with me for a change of heart.

Well, after grading the C became a D and one of the Bs became a C Oh well, at least no Fs. If I have to sit on her, she is not getting behind like that again, lol. And no matter what she thinks about it, She is doing HOD next fall for grade 8. I am praying, praying for a change of heart with her, though. Out of all my children, she is the only one who enjoyed her public school experience so much All the others are glad to be done with it, go figure.

My son started homeschooling in 7th. He came out of a Christian school. He asked if he could homeschool. You still need to make decisions for her, but praying your dd will have the desire to come home. That's a tough age.

Pam, thank you for the encouragement. As of today she has again fallen further behind, despite my "sitting on her". I have been praying, and felt the Lord nudge me to have my husband talk to her about it. Perhaps she won't be as defensive with him as she is when I talk to her about school. The other day was also encouraging, because my computer was on the fritz, so she had to wait for her older sister to leave for ballet so she could use the other one. She said to me, "Maybe I can just listen in with you guys for now." So, she did, and even participated. Every day can be like that! I believe she will come around. But in the meantime, you are right, I have to make decisions for her, when it comes to something this important.