Home schooling question?

Robt Heemstra: Instead of just moving on, try approaching abbreviations and punctuation from another angle. You might try gradually introducing it: Read to him and occasionally, point out the fact that you know that a certain sentence should be read more forcefully because it ends with an exclamation mark (and then read it in an exaggerated manner--most kids love that), or that one should be read as asking something because of the question mark (again, use your acting skills to ham it up). Or point out that you take a slight pause when reading where there's a comma. If you make it a point to show him the difference that punctuation makes when reading, they'll start to make sense to him. But don't worry if he doesn't completely get when to use which form of punctuation in writing--that's something that's generally taught year after year in English, even into middle school.With abbreviations, I'd do the same thing. Start by pointing them out when reading. Explain tha! t abbreviations are like a short-cut in writing, that it is faster and easier to write "Mr." than "mister" or "St." than "street." Most kids like the idea of taking a shorter way to do something. Then, once he gets the idea, try introducing just one or two abbreviations a week (or an even slower pace). Go over the short way to spell the word and have him practice finding it in things you read or using it in sentences that he writes. But since he's only 8, I wouldn't really worry about these topics. He'll have plenty of time yet to understand them. (As others have said, he's probably not as far behind as you think. I know a fellow who's taught 7th grade English for years and he has lots of students who can't remember to start sentences with a capital letter or to use a capital for the pronoun "I" and they are several years older than your son.)As for a teacher working with him, it depends on the teacher. These days, teachers have much less time for working individuall! y with anyone. Schools may claim that they will, but the trut! h is that teachers are usually so busy with having kids practice taking tests, dealing with discipline problems that the school won't actually handle, and doing lots of "administrivia"-type paperwork, that they have little time left for actually teaching the class, let alone working with an individual student....Show more

Rolanda Merritt: Hiit's really up to your son if he want's to then why not?i've just left public school because of bullying and i was kept back.but do what feels righti'd defo go for homeschool!!!!:)good luck xxx...Show more

Barrett Alosa: Thank you all for your wonderful input and suggestions!! I do appreciate it. One more question, my son seems to be confused when it comes to abbreviations and punctuation marks. Everytime i try to teach this to him he gets confused so i just move on to something else. What is an easy approach?

Torri Tippey: One word: PHONICS! Makes teaching and reading soooo much easier for everyone. I am a home scho! ol mom of 2 recent high school graduates. I taught them at home since the 1st grade. The school will require testing to see where your child(ren) stands. They only hold back a child if they are terribly behind in almost all or all subjects. Many children struggle with reading until the middle grades or even high school. Once I completed teaching my children, I began a home school rental business. So many wonderful home school families out there, with an enormous wealth of information. Best wishes to all of you....Show more

Gabriel Realmuto: Hi - I recently (Jan '09) put my child back into school after 2 years of homeschooling. He had to be tested by the school system to see exactly which grade level he was. It turns out that he was exactly on grade level so, he entered 4th grade.You may want to contact your school district and have him tested. He may not be as far behind as you think (I think that all of us who home school question whether our children are l! earning all the necessary skills).Also, you should probably just work o! n reading and math skills. That's was all my child was tested on....Show more

Benita Nancy: I'm not a mum. i'm 14 and home schooled because my teachers didn't held me back my reading and spelling is bad and when i got to high school i could take it so my mum home schooled me I'm so happy now because of how easier it is with my mum giving me easier work.so it up to you if you what to seed your son back to school or keep he home schooled.P.S if he has to be held back let them do it. it will help him when he get older....Show more

Torrie Weissenbach: I home schooled and found that I tended to let things slide with one child and 'fed' the other child. One could take notes and do the work well in normal school, the fed child. the other couldn't and wouldn't do the work there. He did it at home but never turned it in. So, you get the charts that show punctuation and abbreviations and all the things your boy can't seem to get. You put them up on the walls where you do! school work He reads them at least one time a day to you. Then you tape over some of the words so he has to actually remember them. Same for capitalization, state capitals, mathematic facts and figures, and you get some of those computer games/programs offline that are free and give him an hour a day on them as well. He HAS to learn those thing and not slide when he gets tired and you get frustrated. He has to know them or yes they will absolutely hold him back as many years as he shows on the state test that he's lacking. They won't be gentle and coddle him along. They will put him in basic classes with those children who are slow or hindered and he'll stay there the entire year or until his evaluation test shows he's learned what his age group knows and has mastered the basic reading, writing, maths, history, science, and social studies. These are core areas of learning. You can keep him home and send one to school. Some parents do because one child has mastered the basi! cs and wants socialization skills. The other child will still have to d! o the core curriculum and meet the skill set that is state required. You should ask your local school board what is required and what books they suggest you use to bring the child up to standard. Don't slack back because he gets confused. He has to meet that challenge and master it or they will reclass him as challenged when he's just bored and knows how to get mom not to push the subject. Mine were masters at it....Show more