Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Right on the verge of HSing

DD6 took the WJIII Tuesday and the recommendation we got from the tester (a gifted specialist) was that if the school did not accelerate her this year, it would be detrimental for her to remain. And even if they do agree to accelerate her (and I'm doubtful they will) I'm not sure it will be the best thing.

So, I have been reading old posts, and I have a feeling I'll be doing that for awhile! I'm going to be looking at the posts/threads about curricula, social stuff, and of course, what you tell people.

I just wanted to thank everyone on this board for being so open about everything. I'm still pretty shy about posting (I don't think I ever offer much in terms of good advice), so that leads to guilt about not properly contributing (you know, I feel like I'm such a "taker"). Maybe if I say thank you over and over it will somewhat make up for my lack of helpful contribution? Doubtful, but at least it will ease some of my guilt and let you know that I truly, truly do appreciate your help. So, thank you, thank you, thank you! You guys are, as my DD4 would say, SO AWESOME!

And now I'll gladly "take" any advice anyone wants to offer about making this transition.

I don't have advice about home-schooling, but you shouldn't worry about posting vs. contributing.

For people who like to give advice, you are "giving" them an opportunity to do so! You are not "taking" anything.

I wish you much luck on your HS journey! We started HSing over a year ago, and have never looked back. It has been such a joy to watch DS blossom at his own pace. If you are looking for HS internet sites, I would be happy to give you some links. Yahoo message boards are a REALLY to place to look for local HS groups in your area.

I have homeschooling experience, but no transition experience! But I'll wish you luck anyway And I'm always happy to babble on and on about curricula!

I think it's personalized to DD6 because she's been complaining about not learning anything new, not liking school, developing stomachaches, etc. She's pretty miserable. It wasn't a recommendation made just because of her WJ scores; they were the last piece of information, I suppose. Except for a few subtests (math fluency and spelling) her test scores are in that just shy of DYS range (ranging from 99-99.8%) Her GE's were more than two years ahead across the board (some much more than that), and that's with her having a full nine weeks of basically reviewing kindy work (acknowledged by the principal) and no real advanced instruction. Her WPPSI scores probably played a role in the recommendation too (her close-but-no-DYS-cigar 148 verbal, 146 full-scale, 144 performance). And we finally went to a gifted specialist with a wealth of experience. I think it was the total picture, not so much the scores themselves.

We had already asked the school for at least some subject acceleration; they declined. We'll see what they say when we present the WJ scores. I'm not very hopeful.

Thank you to everyone for the well wishes. And now I must get the moon sand out for DD4 before her whining calls out the dogs in the neighborhood. Yuck! I can't stand that stuff.

It's our 1st year homeschooling DS6 and things are going pretty well. It took a few things to figure out how to make it all work. You know where to push and where to relax and move on. I think we are in a good position right now.

Right now we use
- CyberEd (check homeschooling co-op) Earth and Space Science
- Singapore regular workbooks and Challenging Problems
- All About Spelling and SpellingCity.com
- Cryptomania (Greek and Latin words)
- regular 2nd grade grammar workbook from B&N
- Maps, Globes, Graphs Level C
- Internet Linked Encyclopedia of World History

Enchanted Learning, Brain POP, Discovery Streaming are nice resources for all of the above. Check out Homeschool Tracker, it's really helpful.

DS6 spends 2 afternoons in a private school. They don't do any academics in the afternoons, think art, music, theater (so now he things that's what's done in every school all the time :()

He takes piano, has a French tutor, goes to gymnastics and Mad Science classes.

We love hearing appreciations. That totally takes the place of advice. Amy - you are Parenting - so by definition you are a giver, not a taker. If we can give you a little extra to spend with your family - that's perfect!

We learn as much from the kinds of help you ask for as we do from any advice. The main thing I'm here to learn is: "Does my child really have special needs? Aren't I just a bad mom to not MAKE him be satisfied with so little?"

Love and more Love,
Grinity

As to what to say to people, I suggest, "I thought it would be so much fun! Haven't you ever wanted to homeschool?"
Would that work?

LOL That would be good one, Grinity. From my own experience the very first reaction you hear from 90% of the people is, "I couldn't do it [homeschooling]"

Yup, me, too, LMom. And it's usually intended as a compliment, like "You're such a good mom, and so patient."

Ha! If they only knew! :p

If you have specific questions, ask, Amy. I'm here "giving" because I took from all the great help here so freely at first. I felt like I had to give back.

And remember, most of what most of us say here is just opinion mixed with personal experience. Maybe with a dash of education and reading.

You're certainly as qualified as I am to dispense opinion and conjecture!

Hi AmyEJ,

I started HSing this year as well. My son is 8 and in 3rd grade. Kriston has talked me off the ledge a couple of times ha ha ha. I definitely don't regret the decision at all. DS is so much happier. And we also have so many more of those moments when I give him a big hug and kiss and tell him how much I love him rather than dealing w/ a sullen child in the evenings and battling 2hrs over homework. It's a lot of work (I have a 5yr old in PS K and a 22mth old) but I think the payoff will be HUGE! If you have any questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them.

My son sounds like your DD. He was having daily stomaches which was morphing into headaches. He was developing poor work habits from not being challenged and had totally lost that spark. I see it coming back and his brain slowly turning on.

I think the best advice I was given is that no decision is permament. Sometimes you just have to try something different.

I find that the most comments are "Oh wow, I couldn't do that." and more often than any other "I hear kids learn so much better and efficiently by HSing" and this by people w/ kids in PS. IF someone asks why, i just say "Oh he has a different learning style," and usually that puzzles them enough to end the conversation.

the other advice is to add one thing a week....start slow...don't buy too much at first. I was an ASer so I already had most of what I needed.