Placement revisited-update below!

[blessedmomof4]

*Sigh*. My 13 year old STILL is asking to go back to public school. her main reason, this time, is she feels that I am holding her back (not letting her work at a level appropriate to her) and that having specialized teachers for each subject was better I told her, because of her attitude over the past year, I had her working at the level of ability she was showing, and if she can work at a higher level, then that is what will happen. So now I was thinking of having her look at the placement chart and tell me what she feels she is capable of. Also, my dh is soooo much better at math than I am, and very good at explaining it, so I thought maybe he could be her math teacher. He is already teaching her piano and she seems to like his methods and manner. Good ideas?

[my3sons]

Lourdes -
Teenagers. Yikes. If we can get through this, we'll be stronger, won't we? I have one coming up, and I can tell it is a tricky thing to balance me being the parent he must obey, and him being the ever growing and maturing child that has ideas to be valued and nurtured too. I think it sounds like a great idea to have dh teach the math. I know my oldest sister has done that for many, many years with her dc, as her dh is an engineer and math is more "his thing". It has worked well for their family.

As far as the placement chart idea - Maybe, if you think she is going to be able to really look at the placement chart candidly. I'm not sure she'll be able to do that. Maybe you could narrow it down to 2 for her to choose between, based on where you think she places? And then print off the first week of plans for each and have her pick? I'm not sure, but you'll know here. I wondered if it might be good just to make the decision for her about school next year - as far as going to ps or being homeschooled that is. I think that there will be much angst and discussion back and forth about this all summer otherwise. I think a more peaceful summer could be had by all if you and your dh decided that dd is going to do "x" next year, and that the decision is final. It will be easier to work through any rebound emotions now then at the start of a school year, and dd would have some time to adjust to the idea, whichever it is, throughout the rest of the summer. Sometimes dc just don't know what's best for them. Most the time they don't. I think you and your dh have all the information to make the best decision for her in regard to next year, so maybe you can just tell her you are praying about it. After praying about it, maybe you and dh could make a date to choose by and tell her for sure? These are just ideas you are welcome to toss to the curb. I just know when my oldest thinks he can sway me or push me into a decision, he is very talented at using all of his persuasive techniques to do so... relentlessly. It can be exhausting, and it doesn't bring out the best in him or me. However, you will know best what fits your dd here. I hope something here can help!

In Christ,
Julie

[blessedmomof4]

Julie, I am always grateful for your advice Truth is, we have already informed her of our decision to homeschool her for grade 8 since last month, but she is the one who keeps bringing up public school. We already told her that is not an option for this school year. But I do like the idea of printing the sample lessons and letting her pick from those. Truly, I think she could do RtR or even RevtoRev IF she puts her mind to it. She will turn 14 mid year (January), is advanced in math and science, does well with R&S 6, and is interested in any kind of history. Reading is always a concern I have for her, but again, much of it has to do with attitude. If she is a slow reader, so be it, just as long as I don't feel like I have to "sit" on her, you know? I would like to trust she will complete her readings on her own if I have to do something else. This past year was a mish-mosh for her academically (and maybe emotionally) and I want her to have at least one, solid, productive year before grade 9. Continuing CTC with Extensions would be a pretty easy year for her, so although that is my least expensive option (since I have CTC already), I want her to work up to her potential so *she* will feel she is being prepared for high school, too.

[my3sons]

Thanks, Lourdes! I do think either RTR or RevtoRev would be the 2 best choices to give your dd. I think she can handle either, and she'll probably know which when choosing between the 2 printed weeks of plans. I'm glad you let her know what you and your dh have decided for her for school already. Dc really do have quite a way of working us over as parents at these ages. I find my dc, especially when my dh is traveling extensively, sometimes push buttons to wear me down, and being weary I sometimes give into things I previously said "no" to. I have been praying for strength about this. I love my dc very much, as I know you do your dd, and they love me very much, as I know your dd does you, but this stage of parenting isn't always the easiest. May the Lord give you and your dh strength to stand your ground with this decision, and may He lessen dd's "wearing down" tactics and help her spirit (and also my dc's spirits) be more teachable. Praying for us both!

In Christ,
Julie

[blessedmomof4]

Well my dear daughter has accepted the fact that she is being homeschooled This came about after me actually making no mention of it for a couple weeks. I have been very busy with my college courses, but I have also made time to just sit and talk with each of my kids, since they spend a lot of time at home as it is too hot to be outside (106 the forecasted high today!). We have had talks about God, what the Lord has been doing in their hearts at church, what the Lord has been doing in me and my husband, and also talks about "fun stuff and fluff". Today while my Keri and I were talking I brought out the HOD sample pages for RtR and Rev to Rev and said I would like her to look at them and decide which one is more her "speed". She did so with no sour looks and said she preferred Rev to Rev, because it is stuff she hasn't learned before (she has studied ancient and medieval times to death), and because it looks challenging. She sounded excited about the inventor studies and the science projects. I showed her an Algebra book I chose for her and samples of Discovering Mathematics and she picked the Algebra book. Finally, I told her that her stepdad would make himself available to her once a week to go over math with her, and she thought that was a great idea, because she noticed "he likes math"-she has probably noticed that I DON'T (He is also teaching her piano once a week, and the church is offering some free basic voice instruction.) She even thought the Creative Writing book was agreat idea. The only complaint she had was Rod and Staff English-I told her if I find anything at all comparable that is in a format she prefers, I will get it, but R & S is hard to replace. Thanks for advice and prayers-I look forward to a better school year-now please pray for us to get good ideas to raise the money to buy all the books!