Not long ago I pulled my boys out of the local public school. Some could say it was a rash decision or that I acted to quickly. I don't agree. Home Schooling had been on my mind for several months.
Austin was struggling with getting his work done while in the classroom. ADD. An all too common problem for young kids in today's classrooms. Focusing. The ability to hear what the teacher is instructing or the ability to focus on ones work while 30 other kids whisper, move about, and generally just breath. Austin has ADD. Always has. My friend Paige, the psychologist, had been hinting to me since Austin was 4 that he was having trouble focusing. Bruce and I thought "No, he's just a normal active boy." Well not long after first grade started the signs of ADD could no longer be ignored. Bruce and I decided to have him evaluated by our pediatrician.
The doctor's finding confirmed our suspicions. To my surprise Bruce agreed to start Austin on a low dose medication. Within a week Austins' handwriting improved and his reading skills took off! We were convinced & converted.
Unfortunately several months later the side effects out weighed the benefits. Sleepless nights and little to no appetite are two side effects a growing boy does not need. We started on the typical rounds of try this, try that. "Here's a new one that's working with some patients." After several years we finally settled on a non-stimulant variety. So "happily" medicated my son went off to school each day.
In Maryland, our former home state, Austin struggled from time to time but in general he was a smart kid working with the advanced students. A month into his 4th grade year we moved to Tennessee. Not long into the school year he started to show problems with school. He had a great teacher that year who was skilled in helping kids with ADD. Near the end of the year she expressed her concerns for Austin. She said he was a smart kid but just wasn't able to get the work completed, etc. She wanted to do all she could to help him prepare for middle school. To succeed.
Forgive me for the generalizations and broad strokes here but let me describe the TN vs. MD school difference. In Maryland the students would be grouped with similar skilled students. The students would shuffle from teacher to teacher for different subjects to be taught throughout the day. All 5th graders would be in reading class and each teacher would be teaching a different skilled group. Thus enabling the students to learn and be taught at their level of understanding. This method produces more engaged students and a higher level of learning retention.
Tennessee classrooms have one teacher that teaches to all students at the lowest common denominator. Thanks to No Child Left Behind. The students who already understand the concepts being taught are bored and generally tune out. These students often become labeled as trouble makers, stupid, learning disabled, etc. Basically the reverse of what used to happen when teachers taught to the highest common denominator. Only now we are producing children who are common.
Enough of my rantings....At any rate Austin was well on his way to being labeled by the staff. Two days after report cards were sent home I received a note from the teacher. She was concerned about Austin. I appreciate a teacher who expresses concern and wants a student to succeed. However, this was not the first note she had sent. We had been exchanging notes, emails and face to face conferences. This time she was concerned that Austin was not completing his assignments in class and that he was losing his homework somewhere between home and school. She said that she was keeping Austin in from recess to complete assignments and sending him to the office (during class time) to work quietly with the office staff!
I can't begin to tell you how many things are wrong with that, but sadly that's not the end of the tale. She ended her note stating that she had tried everything she knew how to and was afraid Austin was going to fail 5th grade! She had given up.
Austin's report card had A's, B's and 1 C. Those grades do not show a child ready to fail 5th grade.
As a parent I was determined not to send my child back into that environment. A teacher has the responsibility to inspire and support the kids. With a written note of defeat from the teacher in hand, I headed to the Board of Education to withdraw my boys from the Robertson County School District.
I am now a home schooling mom of two and loving every minute of it! Austin is no longer taking daily meds. He is no longer doing homework assignments two or three times because he can't find them stuffed away in his desk and he is no longer a stressed out 10 year old worrying that he is going to disappoint at school.
I am actually thankful to Austin's former 5th grade teacher. Without her admitted defeat I would not have taken the challenge of teaching my boys at home and our family would be without the immense blessings of being together each and every day.
Austin was struggling with getting his work done while in the classroom. ADD. An all too common problem for young kids in today's classrooms. Focusing. The ability to hear what the teacher is instructing or the ability to focus on ones work while 30 other kids whisper, move about, and generally just breath. Austin has ADD. Always has. My friend Paige, the psychologist, had been hinting to me since Austin was 4 that he was having trouble focusing. Bruce and I thought "No, he's just a normal active boy." Well not long after first grade started the signs of ADD could no longer be ignored. Bruce and I decided to have him evaluated by our pediatrician.
The doctor's finding confirmed our suspicions. To my surprise Bruce agreed to start Austin on a low dose medication. Within a week Austins' handwriting improved and his reading skills took off! We were convinced & converted.
Unfortunately several months later the side effects out weighed the benefits. Sleepless nights and little to no appetite are two side effects a growing boy does not need. We started on the typical rounds of try this, try that. "Here's a new one that's working with some patients." After several years we finally settled on a non-stimulant variety. So "happily" medicated my son went off to school each day.
In Maryland, our former home state, Austin struggled from time to time but in general he was a smart kid working with the advanced students. A month into his 4th grade year we moved to Tennessee. Not long into the school year he started to show problems with school. He had a great teacher that year who was skilled in helping kids with ADD. Near the end of the year she expressed her concerns for Austin. She said he was a smart kid but just wasn't able to get the work completed, etc. She wanted to do all she could to help him prepare for middle school. To succeed.
Forgive me for the generalizations and broad strokes here but let me describe the TN vs. MD school difference. In Maryland the students would be grouped with similar skilled students. The students would shuffle from teacher to teacher for different subjects to be taught throughout the day. All 5th graders would be in reading class and each teacher would be teaching a different skilled group. Thus enabling the students to learn and be taught at their level of understanding. This method produces more engaged students and a higher level of learning retention.
Tennessee classrooms have one teacher that teaches to all students at the lowest common denominator. Thanks to No Child Left Behind. The students who already understand the concepts being taught are bored and generally tune out. These students often become labeled as trouble makers, stupid, learning disabled, etc. Basically the reverse of what used to happen when teachers taught to the highest common denominator. Only now we are producing children who are common.
Enough of my rantings....At any rate Austin was well on his way to being labeled by the staff. Two days after report cards were sent home I received a note from the teacher. She was concerned about Austin. I appreciate a teacher who expresses concern and wants a student to succeed. However, this was not the first note she had sent. We had been exchanging notes, emails and face to face conferences. This time she was concerned that Austin was not completing his assignments in class and that he was losing his homework somewhere between home and school. She said that she was keeping Austin in from recess to complete assignments and sending him to the office (during class time) to work quietly with the office staff!
I can't begin to tell you how many things are wrong with that, but sadly that's not the end of the tale. She ended her note stating that she had tried everything she knew how to and was afraid Austin was going to fail 5th grade! She had given up.
Austin's report card had A's, B's and 1 C. Those grades do not show a child ready to fail 5th grade.
As a parent I was determined not to send my child back into that environment. A teacher has the responsibility to inspire and support the kids. With a written note of defeat from the teacher in hand, I headed to the Board of Education to withdraw my boys from the Robertson County School District.
I am now a home schooling mom of two and loving every minute of it! Austin is no longer taking daily meds. He is no longer doing homework assignments two or three times because he can't find them stuffed away in his desk and he is no longer a stressed out 10 year old worrying that he is going to disappoint at school.
I am actually thankful to Austin's former 5th grade teacher. Without her admitted defeat I would not have taken the challenge of teaching my boys at home and our family would be without the immense blessings of being together each and every day.
Good for you, Jennifer. I hope it continues to work well. I can relate to a lot of your feelings due to challenges with Leslie (ok well, mostly with teachers who were misinformed or didn't "get" it) over the years. Parents have to do what they have to do! I am so happy for you that it is working well and that you are happy!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that homeschooling is working out for you! We've enrolled our oldest in kindergarten, mostly because I need a break, and she needs more attention... but I can't wait to pull her out and homeschool! I'm sure I'll have questions for you in the future!
ReplyDeleteThat is great. I know alot of mom's that homeschool. There are definitely many benefits to be had. I am proud of you for digging your heels in deep and making a strong decision for your son. It sounds like you were inspired. I hope it will continue going well.
ReplyDeleteThe whole No Child Left Behind act infuriates me, too. Especially with the # of non-English speaking, illegals and their children we have over on this side of the country and the teachers who turn so much of their attention to them, while my kids are bored and un-challenged. Ugh!
Good for you Sista!! I would have done the same thing in your situation, your kids are smart and very entertaining, my boys miss them tons. I hope you are planning on coming out for the reunion, we had grandma over for Easter, it was a good visit. Hope all is well, I will chat with you later.
ReplyDelete