So now we're in the middle of it with Mikey. He's only in Kindergarten and we're already having strong concerns that public schools just aren't cut out for what he needs. He's been reading since before he turned 4. Last night I attended a "Literacy Class" at Mikey's school to learn how to teach him to read. Right... cause that's just what he needs... I totally understand that for the majority of 5yr olds it's needed, but not my kid. I decided to go so that I could get some resources to help teach Joseph and from what I saw last night this will be perfect for where Joseph is in his reading skills. But back to Mikey. The class was a two parter the first half we were given a kit and then told what was in it and how to use it. There's some pretty fun looking stuff in there. The second half I didn't go to, Mikey's teacher stopped me and told me if wouldn't be useful because Mikey had already far exceeded what would be taught in that half. She did however talk to me about his strengths and weaknesses. The reading specialist at the school tested him and he scored a 98% on whatever test it was (maybe she meant 98th percentile?) meaning that he was fluent in reading (ok so tell me something I don't know). She then explained that he's at and "entering 3rd grade" reading level and the only think that kept him from scoring higher was his comprehension of the material. He can tell you what he read but he can't extrapolate (is this the right word?). He can't tell you why the author might have written something, or guess what the character might do next or how they might feel. She said that this kind of thing is mostly because of his age and lack of life experience. They're trying to find a 1st or 2nd grade classroom that has a reading group at his level that he can participate with during reading time.
I appreciate this, but I don't want my kid to be the "weird smart kid" that everyone teases. I've been there and it wasn't fun. I stopped enjoying school, I got bored because everything was too easy. I can't remember how involved my parents were in my education (I was a kid I didn't care) and I don't know how the schools have changed or if they have to try to combat this boredom in the classroom. They want to keep kids with their peers, but still challenge them so they send them to different classrooms for the subjects that they need challenged. It's just starting to seem really complicated and I worry about the social repercussions of him being the "smart kid". Kids can be mean he'll get teased by the older kids while visiting their classroom and he'll get teased by his peers for having visited the other classroom.
I know there's a lot of negativity towards home schooling, and I'm pretty sure most of it comes from misconceptions or the exceptions rather than the rules. I've heard a lot of positives about home schooling and all of the people that I know personally that have been home schooled turned out just fine and really enjoyed the experience (how many of you ACTUALLY enjoyed public high school?). Maybe I'm becoming one of the strange minority that wants their kids to have better than what the public schools can offer. I'm not saying the teachers are bad, I love Mikey's teacher I think she's great, but she doesn't have the time to focus on what he needs, and I do (or should if I can prioritize better). I can be sure he learns what he needs to when HE's ready and not when the rest of the kids his age should be learning it. I can focus a curriculum around things he's interested in and I should be able to keep things interesting by going on field trips any time I darn well please. If he's learning about Utah state history he can learn it from a museum instead of a text book. I guess maybe I've started to sell myself on the idea. I still would rather send him to a school where the teachers have the time to personalize his education, but for lack of that I'll have to make something else work. I think ideally I'd like them to maybe spend a half day at school (maybe learning the things I don't teach as well) and then the other half at home with me or out on an exploration learning by doing. I just want so much more for my kids than what I had. I worry so much about them losing their sense of wonder and amazement at all of the new things they learn. I think that has been one of the most beautiful part of being a mom is being there as they learn new things and the light in their eyes as the accomplish something for the first time. I love seeing their sense of pride and accomplishment as they've worked hard to learn a new skill. I'm afraid that in a public school they'll become lazy because they get labeled as "the smart kid" and they won't feel like they need to work hard. I want my kids to be the "hard working" so they can always experience that sense of accomplishment and when things are too easy there is no pride in a job well done.
Ok I think I'm done rambling for now. What do you all think? Any of you in Utah know of any good programs that I can look into?
