Today is day 3 of homeschool.
I pulled my first grader out of school on Monday. I should have gone with my gut instinct and never sent him back to school this year. Though I do have my issues with public school, I am not anti-public school. I just know from my own experience as a teacher, some kids just don't fit in the classroom. My kid is one of those kids. It seems like we've known that since the day he was born. I know it sounds strange, but we just always knew that he was different. He met every milestone way early, from walking to reading. His vocabulary at 15 months was over 100 words. His memory astounds us daily and he thinks about things to a depth way beyond his years.
Add to all of this, he is a September birthday, making him the oldest kid in his class. Oh, and he has my wonderful husband's genes, and that makes my boy a good 3" taller than the other kids in first grade!
I realize now that instead of embracing his differences, which are awesome, I was trying to cram him into a box he will never fit in. No matter where your child goes to school, remember this: no one will go to bat for your child they way that you can. Your child is looking to you to be that person. I am not saying that homeschool is the only way to be your child's advocate, that would be crazy. You know what you have to do to let your child know that they are important, valuable, and unique. Don't get upset when your child is different, embrace it. Let them know that God made all of us unique and He did it on purpose!
5 comments:
Nana here...Some may think I am biased but thats ok, I can't control what you might think. My grandson has always excelled at whatever he tried to do. At 11 months, while he watched me very intently, I got a baby spoon,put it in his hand, placed a raisin on the spoon and guided into his mouth. Then I sat back and waited. He looked at the spoon, turning it over and over, putting it in his right hand and then back again into his left one. He then looked at the raisins on his highchair tray, very carefully picked one up and placed it on the spoon and then put the spoon in his mouth. A STAR WAS BORN! I could not believe my eyes. I called his Papa into the kitchen and said, "you gotta watch this!" To Papas amazement, he did it again. He then later "performed" for his Mom and Dad when they got home. We were all amazed that at 11 months he had the eye and hand coordination to be able to do this. He fed himself from then on. Anyone who knows my grandson understands that unless he feels challenged, he gets bored. School is not able to meet his thirst for knowledge due to the restraints the NEA or State Education Agency has put on the teachers of today. They are told how long, what and when to teach it. If your child falls behind or wants to spring forward, Sorry kiddo, we have to stay on task and get ready for that big test to show how smart we all are and get more money for our district. I am proud of my daughter for wanting more for her child/children than the public school can offer in todays schools. I wish more parents were afforded the luxury to do the same for their children and be able to teach at home. Just maybe....if enough parents could and did, it would really make the school districts and the State and National Education Agencys realize the mess they made of this train ride and put it back on track again. You go Heather and you go too Buddy!
I totally agree. Kids should not be confined to a box or expected to perform like circus monkeys or robots. Thanks for sharing your views on this.
I fully agree with everything that has been posted. Having taught my daughter at home as well for most of her educational life, I have seen so many benefits, and experienced so much of what it takes to get to the "light-bulb" stage.
I promise you this Heather, you will never, ever regret the decision you have made... And my sweet nephew will never forget it either. You will get to know him on a new level, and he will get to know you too. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that You are the one who was there when he learned all that you give him this year. And, your relationship with him will never be the same. He will gain a whole new level of trust and confidence in you as parents... He will begin to understand that you really do have his best interest at heart, and that you will always be there to step in and do what it takes to make his life profitable.
I am very proud of you and my sweet brother for chosing this path for your kids. WAY TO GO! KEEP IT UP!!!
Love you bunches,
Kim
I too have a child that doesn't fit inside the box. He's in preschool this year because, well...it's FUN! lol. But next year when they tell us he has to repeat it because of his birthday our response will be, "sorry, we're going to homeschool him instead."
I found your blog via CM and am loving it already!
I love how strong your faith in God is. God did truely make each of his children different for His own reason. I don't think some people just realize how much children are a blessing. Most adults can't look past a child's hyper behavior to see the true beauty.
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