A little background: our oldest son (now almost 7) asked us to teach him to reach at age 3 1/2. We did. He took off with it a little at a time. A year later he really got going and could read pretty well when he started Kindergarten last fall. I guess I didn't accurately explain my concerns when I told both the counselor and the teacher about his abilities. After the first grading period, his kindergarten teacher said she wasn't sure what to do with him after learning he was reading at a mid to late second grade level, but we discussed some ideas I was just fine with trying. The following Monday she came to me and offered a possible solution...move him to first grade. After researching like crazy that week (that's how I found this forum!), we met with his teacher, a first grade teacher, the counselor, principal, and a school psych intern. We decided it was in his best interest to move him up. We tried a slow transition, but he was ready to jump in feet first. So he did after a few days...And it was a perfect fit for him. He started enjoying school and opened up socially (it may or may not have helped that two of our neighbors were in his class). He did well academically, going out for reading group, etc.
Then I learned in the spring that at his public school, all 2nd and 3rd grades are combined. Students have the same "homeroom" teacher for both years and are split into ability levels for reading & math. They do social studies/writing/science in the homeroom class. My initial thoughts were that it would be great as he would have easy access to 3rd grade curriculum if need be. And then the year began... and they do the same thing all the time. Same spelling homework format, different words. Math homework ONCE/week. They spent the entire first half of the year adding and subtracting 2 digit numbers. And doing "mad minutes" for addition facts. He is still working on the 8s, but He wants to learn his multiplication once he grasped the concept months ago.
He is in the highest 2nd grade reading group, and while monotonous (the tests are the same. The homework format is the same. I think it is boring!), I don't have as much of an issue with it because they do have ample opportunities for reading at higher levels, etc. And they switched from a text book to a chapter book before Christmas. He enjoyed that. They are back to textbooks now.
So....I have been looking into homeschooling him. But my husband is on board. Mostly because our son is very shy. An adult asked him his name last night at karate class, and he answered with no problem. The same lady told him after class that it was nice to meet him, he turned away from her. Not trying to be rude, but because he was uncomfortable. I'm not sure he even knew how to respond. He gets very nervous, and you can feel how uncomfortable he is based on his body language in social settings. He thinks everyone is watching him. I was the same way (still can be at times), so I can totally relate. I don't know if that is playing into me wanting to yank him out of school, but, he likes socializing at school.
It has crossed my mind that maybe I could teach him his core content at his rate and learning style & see if the school would allow him to come for specials and other things. Thought that would make him stand out, so I don't know that that would work for him.
Or...I am going to have to fight for a different curriculum for him at school...and I wouldn't even know where to start!
Any advice? Anywhere you can point me to figure this out? I'm not even sure who I would talk to first at school. I think his teacher already thinks I am a helicopter parent!
Sorry so long. It's just heavy on the mind and heart today.
Thanks
