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#81
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Ericka Kammerer" wrote in message ... Jenrose wrote: I balk at the notion that a parent should "have" to homeschool to get a gifted child what they need (although I would have yanked my kid out of school so fast if it hadn't been great for her...) or that it should take "extra" time outside of school hours. Kids are in school for what, 29-30 hours per week? That's PLENTY to learn what they need to learn. Sure, they should have programs and opportunities for gifted kids. But if they *don't*, then besides agitating for them to have appropriate programs, one has to find a solution that is workable in the current environment. And believe me, having *been* a gifted kid in a school (at various times--I was in a lot of different schools) where there were no programs, I would *NOT* have wanted a solution where my folks pulled me out of school once a week! I was already different enough, thank you very much. Doing something that made it painfully obvious that everyone else was having to accommodate me would have been much worse. We found other solutions that worked within the classroom structure. Sometimes I'd go to the library (to read, to help, or to do special projects) *after* I'd done the work for my regular class. Sometimes the teacher would give me extra projects to do when I was bored. There were always plenty of ways to keep me from being bored in class when we looked for them. I agree...but I've also been in situations myself where the teacher and the school were not interested in making ANY adaptations, so I skated through, bored. Mom agitated, but they mainstreamed the gifted kids to the "CP" program from the "advanced placement" for 11th grade...and it was terrible. They said they did it to "bring up" the level of the CP class...yet we were getting cutsy certificates with stickers on them for acing brainless quizzes about poor movie adaptations of literature. I agree that anything that puts a kid up as "separate" is lousy--but when a kid is very bright and clearly bored by the curriculum, they're both isolated AND bored silly--might as well cure the boredom if you can't fix the isolation. I agree that the first step is to get some adaptation within the classroom structure--my point in my lengthy post is to show a situation which avoids all of these issues--kids aren't routinely taken out, yet even if they miss a few days the school adapts. Kids are engaged in the learning process. Kids are not bored. They can work up to their level and are encouraged to keep pushing that level, not to compete, but simply because new challenges lie ahead if they do. But you'll notice that none of your suggestions involved taking your child out of school every week! Your child is working *within* a very nice system--and using adaptations that the OP very likely *could* get implemented for her child with a little effort! Which is one of the reasons I went into such detail...g Personally, I think that's a much better approach than trying to "fix" things by bailing on the regular classroom once a week. It's far less likely to cause problems or resentment, and it's likely much easier for the teacher to accommodate. I agree. Partial homeschooling can work, but works best, IMO, when you are cutting out "all" of one specific segment (say, if math is done every Tuesday and Thurs from 10-11:30, then you take your kid out of all of the math sessions and do math separately). Or when you're doing a majority homeschool and using the school to supplement with music or such. My daughter's classes are consistent enough week to week that it would be very easy to do that sort of arrangment if we needed to. But it is best, IMO, to NOT need to. Jenrose |
#82
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
Nikki wrote in message
I even got some completely freebee days where once a year or so I was allowed to stay home just because I couldn't possibly deal with school that day! Didn't hurt me a bit. I was top of my class, never take a sick day at work, wildly successful at life ;-), lol. I guess I think an occasional miss helps kids learn balance as well. Sometimes things *are* more important then school or your job. Also with a job, we get vacation days so we can miss for whatever reason we want to. Nikki But taking her daughter out once in a while is not what she is suggesting. She wants to take her daughter out at least one day a week or more for things that she deems as important. Of course one has vacation and such when you have a job, but you couldn't miss one day a week just because you wanted to and not have some kind of repercussions unless your job is set up that way. I still think she is sending the wrong message and that it is hurting the dynamics by missing that much school. I personally was allowed to stay home every once in a while for a mental health day and plan to let my girls do that also, we have in fact done that. One day here and there is not a problem and that wasn't my point. -- Sue (mom to three girls) I'm Just a Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll World... |
#83
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"dragonlady" wrote:
If you've been calling the school to tell them of her absences, and that she's been sick, they are not truancies, but they should be excused absences. If you have NOT been calling the school to tell them why she's not at school, they are, technically, truancies, and there could be some nasty actions regarding this. If you call the school to tell them you are taking her out for something that YOU think is important but they do not excuse it, it is a truancy. I have called to let the school know that dd was out sick. It seems that if a child has more than 5 *parent excused* absences per semester (for sickness, appointments, etc.) then they are truant. If a child is 5 minutes late one day, that counts as one of their absences. So, sick or tardy, you get 5 per semester. After that you need a doctors excuse. Since we're taking her to see terminally-ill relations soon, she will go over the top, even without additional illness. Something WE think is important for her IS important for her. The idea that they could fine us for exercizing parental authority is just SO ridiculous. Anyhow. We are coming to grips with this, and I have to say, I am angry. What a stupid system. Today dd came home complaining about a headache and stomache ache. Her brother's have both been down with fevers and complained about stomach pain and headaches, so I don't think this is an emotional issue. Still, I asked about what went on in school today to feel out that possibility, and everything sounds fine. If dd is feeling bad tomorrow, I am supposed to either send her or call the doctor and get an excuse. This is insane. Imagine if I was without health insurance--I'd surely end up with truant kids. Even with health insurance, I'm not going to take her to the doctor for the flu... that is just ridiculous. It would not surprise me to find out that after five truancies in one semester they would take action; it would surprise me to find out that they would disallow any more than five excused absenses. However, the only way to know what is and is not the law vs. optional is to talk to a local lawyer -- one who knows both the state law wherever you are, and any local school board rulings. A newsgroup, with people from all over the world, can't tell you those things. If you are very concerned, I'd make an appointment with a lawyer who specializes in these things. Thanks. Good idea. dh wants to get a group of parent's together who have had similar problems with this and go to the schoolboard and legislature and get the law changed. So maybe dd will inadvertently get a great education this year. "Stupid laws and how to change them." Either that or "Stupid laws and opting out of the system." |
#84
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Donna Metler" wrote :
Vicki wrote: Luckily dd's teacher is very nice. The principal seems good. We're friends with people on the school board. We are supportive of the school and have had a good relationship in the past. dh volunteered in the classroom last year. We initiated and donated money to start a community fund to finance special projects or trips that teachers might want to do... I'm not saying that the letter from the principal *isn't* about money... it just seems misguided if that's what its about. It surprised us, got our attention... but not in a good way. I'm angered by the letter. Maybe she is required to send the letter and has no over-ride authority. I don't see this as an issue the school board would have authority over... I don't know who we're supposed to talk with, and what options are legal. dd will be truant by their definition. Then what? I don't know. She is almost certainly required by law to send it. I would strongly suggest getting documentation from your doctor, if possible, on past absenses, and certainly getting documentation for ANY further medical absense. Do you think my doctor will give me documentation for dd having the flu three weeks ago when we didn't visit the office? I'll call and ask. Do most of you take your kids to the doctor when they have the flu? I did call the nurse's line b/c we thought it might be meningitis, but I don't know if they document that, I'll have to call the hospital and ask. It'll be a good use of their time to look through the records, to prove my dd was sick. Egads. This boils my blood. If everyone is being required to take their kids to the doctor when they have a fever in order to let them rest at home, then no wonder our health insurance rates are going up. What a nutty law. |
#85
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 19:43:56 -0600, "Vicki"
wrote: The more I think about it, the angrier I get. You know, you think truant kid, and you think a kid that's in trouble, falling behind, uninvolved parents, unsupervised, etc., etc. But no. A truant kid is now a kid that had the flu, went for a doctor appt., and will be visiting her ill relative... who reads/writes/comprehends/computes well above grade level, takes after school piano lessons at the school, is a Girl Scout for G*d's sake... with parents who volunteer in the school and community. Oh, my dd is at risk. Better threaten us with fines. I am really irate. Who came up with such a stupid law? Blame the zero-tolerance folks, the no child left behind folks... Bush anyone? -- Dorothy There is no sound, no cry in all the world that can be heard unless someone listens .. The Outer Limits |
#86
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"H Schinske" wrote:
For example, this school district I live in allows only ten excused absences a year or you are retained. Oh, that's insane. You can be retained just because you had stomach flu three times, and didn't have the luck to have it over any weekends?? I can't think of too many things I would sue over, but a law as stupid as that, it would almost be fun. --Helen dh wants to get the law changed too. I am irate. The school board is taking us out to dinner this week (for something else, of course,) and the principal is bound to be there. She may have been required by law to send the notice, but urghh, I'm not ready to talk with her calmly. I am so angry about this. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. You know, you think truant kid, and you think a kid that's in trouble, falling behind, uninvolved parents, unsupervised, etc., etc. But no. A truant kid is now a kid that had the flu, went for a doctor appt., and will be visiting her ill relative... who reads/writes/comprehends/computes well above grade level, takes after school piano lessons at the school, is a Girl Scout for G*d's sake... with parents who volunteer in the school and community. Oh, my dd is at risk. Better threaten us with fines. I am really irate. Who came up with such a stupid law? |
#87
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
Vicki wrote:
Do you think my doctor will give me documentation for dd having the flu three weeks ago when we didn't visit the office? I'll call and ask. Do most of you take your kids to the doctor when they have the flu? I did call the nurse's line b/c we thought it might be meningitis, but I don't know if they document that, I'll have to call the hospital and ask. It'll be a good use of their time to look through the records, to prove my dd was sick. Around here, the peds are pretty used to this stuff. You can just drop by and they'll sign a note. You generally don't have to make an appointment for the child if it sounds like a garden variety illness. Best wishes, Ericka |
#88
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
Jenrose wrote:
My daughter's classes are not self-paced, per se, nor self-directed. And the teacher/student ratio varies from 24:1 to 28:1, although we have enough parent volunteers that there are usually other adults around. Honestly, when you get a bunch of kids with different ability levels together, ditch the whole "letter grade" system, encourage group learning environments and make the curriculum one which allows children to do assignments to their ability rather than to one "objective" standard, then yes, you can accomplish an education with the same basic resources any public school should have. Ain't gonna happen in public schools as long as there's this rabid push for "accountability" through testing and attendance and other "objective" measurements that mean little to nothing. My opinion is that a bright kid whose parents feel the kid needs to be out of school once a week to get a decent education is a symptom of a school that is failing to provide an adequate education. Absolutely--that's the whole problem! The solution to this situation isn't to make the situation more difficult all around by bailing on school 20+ percent of the time. It's to find out how to meet the child's needs in the class (or a different class) or find a different system. I don't see the sense in trying to put band-aids on broken systems. Best wishes, Ericka |
#89
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
toto wrote:
On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 19:43:56 -0600, "Vicki" wrote: Oh, my dd is at risk. Better threaten us with fines. I am really irate. Who came up with such a stupid law? Blame the zero-tolerance folks, the no child left behind folks... Bush anyone? Bingo. And as far as I can tell, it's going to get worse, not better. Best wishes, Ericka |
#90
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Penny Gaines" wrote
Vicki wrote [snip] I think you're right about the problem with truancy and part-time home-schooling. I'm not sure how we avoid that. As an aside, I'm not worried about dd missing what is taught--she knows it. Nor do I expect her teacher to spend additional time to get dd caught up--dd is ahead. 2nd grade curriculum seems pretty limited if you're already a good reader and good with numbers. Our idea was to give dd a day of more challenging materials. It is hard to fit them into the weekends and evenings (piano, scouts, time with dad and siblings, etc.) dd reads constantly, but I'd hoped to use the day for more hands on learning--science projects, trips to museum, etc. She's expressed interest in this (as opposed to full-time homeschooling, which she's rejected,) but maybe this won't be allowed. Can you work with the teacher to ensure she gets more challanging work at school. My 7yo is in the top groups in her class, in spite of being the youngest girl in th eclass, and the teacher sets her group more challanging work while she goes over the basics with the rest of the class. This is exactly how my teacher handled it when I was her age as well. Hi Penny-- We went and talked w/the teacher, and send notes back and forth each week, but have our first "official" conference with her in November. She gives dd some work more challenging then the mean, but hasn't challenged her yet. There is a "group" of advanced kids they put in her classroom. But it's hard for the teacher--she didn't have reading material in her classroom at dd's level; she is doing one-digit addition and subtraction when dd is trying to figure out multiplication; her spelling words are one's that my 4-yo can do. dd seems to already knows most of the 2nd grade curriculum. Teacher works in some things that are more advanced for this "group", but much of the day dd is with the class on the normal lesson, or she colors, re ads, or talks with friends when she finishes early. How much of your 7yo's day is spent doing things that challenge her? How much time is she separated out into this "group" of advanced kids? How are you measuring what she has learned? Does she do the same worksheets that the rest of the class does, and then the more challenging things on top of that? Or does the teacher substitute an entirely different worksheet book for her? Does the teacher have an assistant to help her teach two curriculums, or is s/he able to do this alone? We'd like dd to get a good education (which is why we thought of taking her out one day/wk for things not on teachers curriculum.) And we don't want to be unreasonable in what we ask of dd's teachers (this is why we try to volunteer to help the kids who are at the other end of the spectrum, to help narrow the range the teacher has to teach to.) Thanks. Vicki |
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