Then, after the first year of homeschooling with our adopted children, I had to face the fact that the people who could learn at home were not going to learn a thing if I continually needed to manage severe behavior problems. That is when the Old Guy and I made a decision that was very hard for me... Some of the kids would actually be better served in a traditional educational setting. We have rarely regretted that decision (really only around halloween, Christmas and Easter when the holiday focus is on things other than the Lord...) The kids who go to "real school" are better served there. There is no question they learn more in that environment than they ever did at home. I am amazed at the progress they have all made and I am so thankful for the teachers who work with them and us and make it all happen.
I am the main educator here at home, but back in the day the Old Guy would teach math, specifically Algebra. The Old Guy is seriously math minded. He just gets it. Without any effort. It is obvious to him how it works... This does not necessarily make for a great teacher. His frustration level was quite high when someone did not understand after he has explained it a couple of times. He would start talking LOUDER and S L O W E R. We have given him a bad time about this on more than one occasion.
Well it is time I fess up. I am every bit as poor a teacher when it comes special needs education. Last night as I was "helping" one of the "real school" kids with homework, I realized how many times I end up talking LOUDER and S L O W E R and LOUDER and S L O W E R. I thought I would go berserk explaining an obvious concept over and over again. Just to make sure my kiddo's teacher and her aide would know how aware I am of my limits, I thought I would add what I learned from this word exercise:
6 comments:
HA HA HA HA!!!!
I am in complete agreement--with my ability, not yours. :)
Oh man I laughed at this whole post. Considering I was the first tearful recipient of Dad's teaching expertise it's amazing part of my major in college WAS math. And then the head pop off thing...gosh we could start a website fueled with anecdotes from the home. www.thingsthatmakemyheadpopoff.com
Love,
Kelly
You are so wise :)
The fact that you recognized that some of your kids would be better served in the traditional school environment is a testimony to your desire to give the best to each and every child you have. You know your limitations (our kids are so good at showing us our limitations and weaknesses) and aren't afraid to ask for assistance. I am home schooling a few right now who learned absolutely nothing in school (except how to get away with doing nothing-sigh). I don't think they're learning a whole lot at home either, but definitely more than at school - without all the trauma and drama. It's ironic that my love of learning is in direct opposition to my kids who aren't the slightest bit interested in education.
roflmao
R O F L M A O
dad
Love your note to the teacher.
We have homeschooled our kids for 21 years. Several times over the years, some of our older kids went to school for awhile, but most everyone was home schooled through high school.
Our younger 1/2 had never spent any time in school ... until last week. We just enrolled one of our adopted girls in a small Christian school and the stress relief for ALL of us at home has been amazing. Her R.A.D. was tearing us all apart. Now, she gets on the school bus at 7:30 and comes home at 4:00. She enjoys school, and we enjoy having her in school. It is a very good thing.
Laurel
I can relate!!
Here I was homeschooled, and homeschooling my bio until college, and then comes the special ed and RAD that comes with adoption... and one is in school full time. the other is in school part time.
AND I LOVE their school.
Because I think my head would pop off someday if I didnt send them.
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