Thanks everyone - it's nice to know you all understand and empathize!
Last night I told DS that the principal said he can't go to second grade for math. He almost started to cry! And then he said he is taking two of his friends and going anyways! I told him that he doesn't have to do the homework anymore - he was thrilled with that. When the principal said the teacher could modify the homework as she sees fit to "reduce the rote-like worksheets" I stated that my time with my child in the evening was precious and that I was no longer going to spend an hour or more fighting to get him to do meaningless work. So, no more level 1 Saxon homework, period. Mama says so! I also informed the staff that by sitting through the math class my son's very soul was dying...he was losing interest and turning off. I can't let that happen!
Then I told DS that he would still go to the class and do the worksheets with the teacher. He almost lost it. Said "I am DONE with first grade math! I can't do those worksheets anymore! They are so dumb! I already know it all!" That was when I knew what I had to do. I asked him if he wanted to go to school after math class was over, but do second grade math at home. He jumped up and hugged me! He was so thrilled! He said that he wouldn't even miss being "student of the day" sometimes. But then he asked about doing the other problems, referring to the enrichment activities. I asked if they were hard for him to do and he said sometimes. So, I'll have to see if they follow the same schedule every day. Maybe he can get there to do some enrichment stuff with his class.
The principal was fine with us keeping him out part of the day. He said that other parents do this for different reasons, we just need to register with the ROE(whatever that is?). He was a little too eager, if you ask me! But after last nights discussion with DS, and then this morning him being mad about having to go to school on the bus (I tried to explain that we needed time to work the details out, and we would start next week), I know this is the right thing to do.
I'm not sure how it will play out in the future, as Saxon math really isn't going to be a good match at all. But I'm just going to take it one step at a time. If we can get him through this school year, then we'll look at next year in a little while. We are hoping that the 3rd grade math thing will work, but if not, then we'll look at other options. I think having him work through the Saxon curriculum at his own pace will give us good information about just how fast he will go through stuff at school. I mean, if he can do the school year program in 5 months, then every single year we will have this issue! Maybe he could do EPGY at home, but attend school for everything else. I don't know. I'm sure that as time passes we will find answers. And have more issues to deal with. The ride continues! (Notice, I am no longer in the "battle" mode!)
