Non-public/alternative/other types of schools?

[pjlippert]

Hi there,

Gosh, I'm just full of questions this week! It's just that you all are soo full of great information.

So, I'm really starting to wonder if my seven year old son would do better in a different school environment. Don't get me wrong, our school district is very good. But, not all kids thrive in larger classrooms. There are 24 children in his first grade class. He does have some problems with staying focused I will not deny that. The staff is working with him and me to help him succeed, but I'm still not entirely convinced that this is the right place for him to be. It was placed on my heart yesterday to start researching other schooling options.

Oh and PLEASE, don't even bother to mention home-schooling. We'd both end up curled up in a corner twitching!! I love him, but I am NOT the home-schooling type and neither is he. Homework is enough of a struggle.

Who out there has kids that are in some sort of non-traditional public school options? Montessori, private, Christian, very small classroom sizes, another ideas are welcome.

Thank you all in advance for your insights!!

Pam

 

[JennieR]

Oh and PLEASE, don't even bother to mention home-schooling. We'd both end up curled up in a corner twitching!! I love him, but I am NOT the home-schooling type and neither is he. Homework is enough of a struggle.

Pam

I have no advice for you, I just wanted to let you know that this statement made me LOL.

 

[pink_fortitude]

Well, I am a HUGE homeschooling advocate and homeschool myself, so I am sorta biased. But right now my lips are sealed. I do have a friend that tried homeschooling, it didn't work out and she realized that she wasn't for homeschooling as much as the idea of it. She ended up sending her kids to a Montessori and absolutely loved it. Her middle child is SUPER high energy and did very, very well though I don't know all the details: what she loved, why, what she didn't like. I wish I could have more info for you. I think it's absolutely wonderful that you are looking into what's best for your son and recognizing what his needs are. It isn't something that you get to see a lot of living out here in the cornfields of Indiana.

Melissa

 

[pjlippert]

I knew I could count on some understanding humor from this group!! To say that my son is "high energy" is putting it very politely. He gets that and his alleriges/asthma from Mommy --geee, thanks, Mom!! I tell ya, said it before and I'll say it again. My Mom got her wish- "I hope you get a child just like you!".. both a blessing and a curse... mostly a blessing!! Keep those ideas comin' Cathletes!! LOVE YOU GALS!

 

[Pearlstrand]

Who out there has kids that are in some sort of non-traditional public school options? Montessori, private, Christian, very small classroom sizes, another ideas are welcome.

Thank you all in advance for your insights!!

Pam

Pam, I sent you a PM.

 

[pink_fortitude]

My Mom got her wish- "I hope you get a child just like you!"..

BOY, DO I UNDERSTAND THAT!!!

Melissa

 

[Liann]

Pam - I went to a private "Christian" school. I didn't appreciate it much at the time but I was lucky to have great teachers that I still talk to and the small class size was nice - you have to really do your research though because some private (and I'm talking more the small Christian/church run type) schools aren't all that great in their teacher selection. I was really busy outside of the classroom too (figure skating, etc..) and the private school was much more willing to work with my schedule. Honestly, there are a lot of positives and negatives to both options. I have a nephew who is in private school and doing really well, but he would NEVER make it in a public school. Every situation is different.

 

[jonahnah]

Hi Pam,

As a parent who's been there and done that w/ my son who has learning issues, private schools aren't necessarily a panacea.

The small classroom sizes don't necessarily help if: the curriculum expectations are beyond a child's ability to follow directions/focus/stay on task; the teachers aren't skilled in working w/ kids who have different learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic); the curriculum doesn't take into account different development levels for reading comprehension, writing, math; the homework load is designed to justify an exhorbitant tuition (4 hours/night in 3rd - 5th grade); the teachers & staff aren't able to identify learning issues, let alone provide individual assistance; the school can't walk the fine line between 'structured' and 'rigid' in providing a daily routine that offers assurance and certain expectations vs. zero flexibility for individuality or creativity.

Also, unstructured learning environments (Montessori, Quaker, etc.) can be a nightmare for child w/ focus/attention issues as they can feel overwhelmed and at a loss re: what they ought to be doing. As a caveat, they can also disproportionately appeal to children w/ serious behavior issues as their parents have nowhere else to put them.

Public schools may be far from perfect, BUT they have enabled my son to become an academic success after feeling like a complete failure in private school for all the reasons cited above. Don't blame the classroom size yet for your son's school experience. Yes, children develop at different rates in different areas but public schools offer individual assessment and assistance that I couldn't get at a private school. Most privates schools will tell you they cannot provide any support if your child has a learning disability UNLESS they are designed for children w/ learning disorders.

I would talk to your son's teacher and find out more about his behavior at school. Kids can act very differently in a school environment vs. home. Are there certain tasks that are particularly hard for him? Are there certain subjects where he has more trouble grasping concepts? Does he seem unhappy or unsure of himself? Any issues getting along w/ peers? How does he cope w/ transitions (changing from math to science, or getting ready for a art class, etc.) What accommodations can be made to help him? (school provided tutor? extra movement time? more time for tests? no penalty for poor penmanship?)

If your son turns out to have learning issues, public schools can provide some of the best support out there. Getting my son what he needs has become my full time job, but I've been able to get him a ton of support that has made him feel more successful as a student and given him a much need boost of self esteem. It's not perfect (we still deal w/ bullies--just like we did in the private school), but he's a much happier, more confident kid.

Good luck!

 

[janie1234]

Hi there,

Gosh, I'm just full of questions this week! It's just that you all are soo full of great information.

So, I'm really starting to wonder if my seven year old son would do better in a different school environment. Don't get me wrong, our school district is very good. But, not all kids thrive in larger classrooms. There are 24 children in his first grade class. He does have some problems with staying focused I will not deny that. The staff is working with him and me to help him succeed, but I'm still not entirely convinced that this is the right place for him to be. It was placed on my heart yesterday to start researching other schooling options.

Oh and PLEASE, don't even bother to mention home-schooling. We'd both end up curled up in a corner twitching!! I love him, but I am NOT the home-schooling type and neither is he. Homework is enough of a struggle.

Who out there has kids that are in some sort of non-traditional public school options? Montessori, private, Christian, very small classroom sizes, another ideas are welcome.

Thank you all in advance for your insights!!

Pam

When I read your post title it made me think about what my 7 and 9 year old have been going through with our public school. In MOST respects our school is great. It is 1/2 a mile away from home, we walk to school every day. The principal and teachers are great. It is a small school in a small town, . . so small that the district is thinking of closing us down. California is in such a state of budget crisis that the schools are suffering. Just the other day I got a notice that the class size would go up to 29 per class!

With all that said, . .I would have to say that every child is different and every child's needs are different. You are the voice of your child so my best words of advice would be to sneak a peek in the classroom. Check out how he is doing in class cause honestly, teacher reports are not always acurate, . . and child reports are not always acurate. If your son/daughter is getting into trouble, . .find out why. Could it be the teachers teaching style, . . the person he is sitting next to? I would personally love to homeschool but since my son has special needs he needs to be around other children. It is not an option. Would I love a smaller class size and teachers who all loved their jobs, . .heck yeah but I'm realistic and realize that number one I could not afford a private school for my son and number 2 even if I could there would be no guarantee that the school would not eventually have some cruddy teacher, . . after all they are in school untill the 12th grade (with college after that). Seriously, . . you are going to come across a teacher in all that time that is going to piss you off. Make your child's teacher know that you are there and aware of what is going on. I check in every 2 weeks via email with my kids teacher to make sure all is good. That way the teachers know you are involved and when I say involved be involved but not pushy. I always joke about how great it would be to be a teacher if it weren't for the parents. I've seen parents get their panties in a twitch because their son Johnny was not student of the week. Don't sweat it. Follow your heart and do what you think is best.

 

[pjlippert]

Hi there again,

Thank you all very much for your helpful insights and feedback. I really do appreciate it. I also wanted to clarify that I am working with the teachers and counselors at school to try and work out a plan for my son. They have been awesome and we are working closely together to try and help him succeed. It may be that he gets into the swing of things and we stay at the school he's currently in. It's just on my heart to research and talk with other types of schools that might be better suited to his needs. Unfortunately he has been diagnosed with mild ADHD. Talk about a Mommy meltdown when the pediatrician told me that!!

I'll keep you all posted on my decision. He will stay at his current school.

Thanks again!!
Pam