Unregistered
12-11-2007, 03:22 PM
I'm still looking into the different curriculums, and so far am very interested in the Waldorf method.
I have 3 children, 7, 4, and 2. My 7 year old is currently in the 2nd grade in public school, and the 4 and 2 year old are in preschool (head start). My 4 year old is right on target with her academic program, but my 7 year old is struggling. At the beginning of 1st grade she tested in the 4th percentile for reading ability, and even now she's considered "below grade level". I switched her schools for this year, thinking it was lack of quality teachers at her first school, but she doesn't care for her second school at all. She's constantly in trouble for talking and not doing her work.
Whenever it's time for her to do schoolwork (at home or at school), she erects this mental "wall" where she feels she "can't" do the work, and just shuts down without trying. I can get her to do her work only when sitting very close to her (she'd sit on my lap if I let her.. and I do let her if I can.. mostly I have to be able to get up to chase after the toddler), but as soon as I get up and leave for 5-10 minutes, and come back, no additional problems have been answered.
I've been pondering the problem for a while, and I feel that it's time for a dramatic change of pace for her. She goes to school for 6 hours a day, then she comes home with 2+ hours of homework a night. Many times I can't find 2 hours to sit down with her in the evening, so she gets even more behind.
I've been researching the Waldorf method, and I think it's right up my ally. There is no Waldorf school in my area, so I need to homeschool. I'd like to start right after Christmas. Soo.. here's my main question..
Should I start her back at the 1st grade curriculum to have a "fresh start"? My husband feels it is a shame to move her backwards 1.5 years, and that if we stopped homeschooling that it would mess her up in regular school... but how I see it, she's already "messed up emotionally" in regular school, and if she even passes 2nd grade, the more difficult 3rd grade year is simply going to swamp her and it'll become a downward spiral.
I enjoyed school, and I want my daughter to enjoy it too. I'm thinking if we move backwards for a little while that she'll have the time to "catch her breath", and feel confident for a while instead of overwhelmed, and then we can proceed on the right foot.
There's another angle to my question as well. Since my 4 year old will be starting Kindergarten this fall (and they do letters in the public school of course), would it work to put both her and the 7 year old into the 1st grade curriculum at the same time? (they'll both be having birthdays in the summer.. 8 and 5). Of course although I feel the 4 year old is bright and capable, there is a significant age gap between them.. would it be appropriate to move the older one back and the younger one up so they'd be doing basically the same work? Would that demoralize the older one even more?
My husband feels since the 4 year old seems to be doing ok in the public system, that we should leave her there. But I feel she (and any other child) could benefit from the Waldorf method of schooling (shoot.. I wish I'd been to a Waldorf school when I was a kid!).
Thank you beforehand for any ideas :D
I have 3 children, 7, 4, and 2. My 7 year old is currently in the 2nd grade in public school, and the 4 and 2 year old are in preschool (head start). My 4 year old is right on target with her academic program, but my 7 year old is struggling. At the beginning of 1st grade she tested in the 4th percentile for reading ability, and even now she's considered "below grade level". I switched her schools for this year, thinking it was lack of quality teachers at her first school, but she doesn't care for her second school at all. She's constantly in trouble for talking and not doing her work.
Whenever it's time for her to do schoolwork (at home or at school), she erects this mental "wall" where she feels she "can't" do the work, and just shuts down without trying. I can get her to do her work only when sitting very close to her (she'd sit on my lap if I let her.. and I do let her if I can.. mostly I have to be able to get up to chase after the toddler), but as soon as I get up and leave for 5-10 minutes, and come back, no additional problems have been answered.
I've been pondering the problem for a while, and I feel that it's time for a dramatic change of pace for her. She goes to school for 6 hours a day, then she comes home with 2+ hours of homework a night. Many times I can't find 2 hours to sit down with her in the evening, so she gets even more behind.
I've been researching the Waldorf method, and I think it's right up my ally. There is no Waldorf school in my area, so I need to homeschool. I'd like to start right after Christmas. Soo.. here's my main question..
Should I start her back at the 1st grade curriculum to have a "fresh start"? My husband feels it is a shame to move her backwards 1.5 years, and that if we stopped homeschooling that it would mess her up in regular school... but how I see it, she's already "messed up emotionally" in regular school, and if she even passes 2nd grade, the more difficult 3rd grade year is simply going to swamp her and it'll become a downward spiral.
I enjoyed school, and I want my daughter to enjoy it too. I'm thinking if we move backwards for a little while that she'll have the time to "catch her breath", and feel confident for a while instead of overwhelmed, and then we can proceed on the right foot.
There's another angle to my question as well. Since my 4 year old will be starting Kindergarten this fall (and they do letters in the public school of course), would it work to put both her and the 7 year old into the 1st grade curriculum at the same time? (they'll both be having birthdays in the summer.. 8 and 5). Of course although I feel the 4 year old is bright and capable, there is a significant age gap between them.. would it be appropriate to move the older one back and the younger one up so they'd be doing basically the same work? Would that demoralize the older one even more?
My husband feels since the 4 year old seems to be doing ok in the public system, that we should leave her there. But I feel she (and any other child) could benefit from the Waldorf method of schooling (shoot.. I wish I'd been to a Waldorf school when I was a kid!).
Thank you beforehand for any ideas :D