what are your thoughts on homeschooling?

[princesslily]

If we get transfered to the home district school with services in place after our staffing meeting (which looks to be the case) DS only will have 8 weeks at this new school until school is over.

What are your thoughts about homeschooling for just those 8 weeks until his camp starts? His camp is partnering him with a para for the summer - and of course start at the new school in the fall.

[mrsbuttinski]

I am not a fan of homeschooling under almost any circumstance.

In this particular situation? There are no words to adequately expression how utterly bad an idea I think this is.

- Assuming he is turfed to the public school after all this time, you have been given a gift of being able to start meaningful supports and services in a week instead of in 5 months. Sooner is better.

- Your son will have the opportunity to transition at a time when teachers can focus entirely on him rather than on getting to know all of the 20+ kids on their roster in the fall.

- Your son will have the opportunity to get familiar with the new school's culture and routines and be ready to hit the ground running on the first day next year. It'll save him the experience of being "the new kid" for an entire academic year.

- If you express a desire to opt out for the final marking period, the IEP team may come away with the impression that you have no real sense of urgency around your son's needs.

- If you pull him from the district, it could be construed as refusing services. I doubt CPS would be called, though it is an option they have as mandatory reporters.

- Keeping him home could set the stage for school refusal down the line. You really don't want to go there.

- Starting now would give you the chance to test the IEP for appropriateness so that you can address issues ahead of the next academic year.

- Starting now would dial back any anxiety your DS might have around the transition. It would also address the anxiety you might have around this change.

- Doing an 8 week stint of homeschooling would add a third transition for him to process in a single year.

[akafred]

I am not anti-homeschooling in general but I don't think it's a great idea for this situation for many of the reasons Auntie said. Actually add a fourth transition because camp will be a major transition as well. In fact if the kids trade out during the summer, it will be a lot of mini transitions. Thankfully the para will help with that as long as there isn't a change in paras in the summer due to illness or job change.

[cam]

I am not at all opposed to HSing in the right circumstances and when done well, but I don't think it would be beneficial at all in this case. You know the whole picture best, but based on what I don know of the situation, HSing would likely not have even crossed my mind as something to consider in this scenario if I were in your place. HSing shouldn't be a reactive choice IMO; it should be chosen when it the best choice. The concerns auntie mentioned, plus the fact that it is such a short time and you will need to check laws, prepare however is needed, figure out a plan, implement your plan and work out any bugs, and so much more, just make it seem like it would not be the most beneficial option. Happy to discuss in more depth if you would like further information about HSing prior to finalizing your decision.

[BostonKisses]

There are certain circumstances when homeschooling would work. I'm not anti-homeschooling at all, but for your situation, I feel that this would be unwise. In other words, I agree with mrsbuttinski.

[princesslily]

I was thinking this from such a smaller picture than you guys expressed, that's why I wanted to gather your thoughts on the issue.

I certainly didn't consider the way the school would react to that, and nor would I want that reaction!


Its time to put on my big girl underpants, and walk him into the new school and show no fear. . This is all for his benefit, I just never considered the other implications of those choices!

Thank you again ladies!

[anintrovert]

Full disclosure, home schooling is dead last on my list of options. However, I can see the appeal. Our situation is different but when his teacher and principal told me my son was being suspended because they didn't know what to do I never wanted to send him back again. When his teacher told me she felt like ASD was an excuse and she didn't want to enable him (since he can be flexible and can handle transitions most of the time she expected him to be able to ALL the time) i again wanted to run and not look back but I didn't because it would have been very bad for him, academically, behaviorally , and socially. Instead I hired an advocate and got him moved to a school with resources and trained educators who know what to do.

My son just finished his 6th week at his new school I will say that Mrs. B is spot on. He's already losing the new kid status. He has friends. He has the morning routine down. He's comfortable on the playground. A few of his friend's parents have become my friends and we're already planning summer park and pool play dates. He knows the routine and will get to meet his teacher for next year before summer. The team has gotten to know him so they know what 1st grade teacher will be am good fit. They also know his needs personally and we will amend his IEP soon and really dig in before Oct when his next annual is due.

Plus I'm not an early elementary educator. I definitely can't give him what he needs socially.

[princesslily]

Mar 20, 2015 14:50:06 GMT -5 anintrovert said:

Full disclosure, home schooling is dead last on my list of options. However, I can see the appeal. Our situation is different but when his teacher and principal told me my son was being suspended because they didn't know what to do I never wanted to send him back again. When his teacher told me she felt like ASD was an excuse and she didn't want to enable him (since he can be flexible and can handle transitions most of the time she expected him to be able to ALL the time) i again wanted to run and not look back but I didn't because it would have been very bad for him, academically, behaviorally , and socially. Instead I hired an advocate and got him moved to a school with resources and trained educators who know what to do.

My son just finished his 6th week at his new school I will say that Mrs. B is spot on. He's already losing the new kid status. He has friends. He has the morning routine down. He's comfortable on the playground. A few of his friend's parents have become my friends and we're already planning summer park and pool play dates. He knows the routine and will get to meet his teacher for next year before summer. The team has gotten to know him so they know what 1st grade teacher will be am good fit. They also know his needs personally and we will amend his IEP soon and really dig in before Oct when his next annual is due.

Plus I'm not an early elementary educator. I definitely can't give him what he needs socially.

Your LO just moved? I love to hear this! It takes away some of the concerns I've been feeling.

[anintrovert]

He moved on Feb 9th. He has settled into his new school very well. We framed the change up in a very positive manner and it went well. Much better than expected.

The positive differences the move has made brings me to happy/relief tears on the regular. He's now getting what he needs and he's HAPPY. I didn't realize how unhappy he was until he was happy again. The more significant negative behaviors haven't reappeared. I hate change too but getting him moved was the best thing for him. We hired an education advocate to make it happen and it was money well spent.

[princesslily]

I'm not sure what services/accommodations we will get yet, but when DS was accepted into a summer camp this year that will be partnering him with a para for everything (including field trips), it gave me such a piece of mind that I didn't have before.


I know this will be a positive change, but I think the most worrisome aspect was the social part - him walking into a class that has already 8mo of established friendships, but hearing that by 6w your LO has made friends, that is totally taking that fear from me - thank you.

[mrsbuttinski]

Every time we have changed DS's school, whether because it wasn't the right fit anymore or because he had outgrown the setting, it has been a positive experience.

At this age, especially among boys, the social piece will take care of itself.

[anintrovert]

Mar 21, 2015 7:19:28 GMT -5 princesslily said:

I'm not sure what services/accommodations we will get yet, but when DS was accepted into a summer camp this year that will be partnering him with a para for everything (including field trips), it gave me such a piece of mind that I didn't have before.


I know this will be a positive change, but I think the most worrisome aspect was the social part - him walking into a class that has already 8mo of established friendships, but hearing that by 6w your LO has made friends, that is totally taking that fear from me - thank you.

By the first week of school he had an new "bestest friend", another boy who loves Skylanders. By about the 3-4th week he started playing the other boys some.  He still prefers the first boy most of the time but will join the other boys when C is out or DS and C are annoyed at each other.  What I've seen is that the kids are pretty flexible about accepting a new playmate.