New girl

[sheriblanch]

Hi there, my daughter Avery is starting homeschool as of March 20. It's a little late in the year, but it's not going well at the public school. Our town is well known for having a "top notch" school system, but even a 99% win leaves 1% out. We moved here summer of '10, when she was starting grade 7. It didn't go well socially, girls can be mean at that age and didn't want the new kids to move in and take their place in the pecking order. A new experience for my girl, and it created an unhappy student. Her attention and efforts slipped, and I'm trying to nip this in the bud by having her stay home for the rest of the school year. She will repeat the entire 8th grade, online at home, to make sure she has no gaps in her education. She may rejoin her "peers" for grade 9 in the fall, not certain yet. We've put her in a tight spot, as she must now complete everything or face repeating grade 8. She has a sibling in the high school, as well as a posse of older kids (sister's friends) who plan to protect her and boost her social status by claiming her when she arrives. A lot to do, but she's looking forward to this and is motivated. She's been working hard the past week. We are looking for extra activities as well. I'm teaching her health and nutrition, we're doing field trips for history and plan phy ed time in every week. Any other activities would be welcome.
Sheri Blanchard

[katshu2]

Hi Sheri, and welcome. I'm sorry your daughter has had so much trouble, but it sounds like you've got a good plan for getting her back on track!

I hope you can peruse the forum, and get that extra activity info you are searching for. My boys aren't quite the age of your Avery, so I don't know that I can really offer up any help there. We do science experiments and art projects that we find in books and on Google. Lots of independent reading. That kind of thing...

Again, I do hope you find what you are looking for. After taking a look through the forums here, you may want to try and find a local homeschool group. There are co-ops out there, as well as simple support/field trip type groups. You may find some good information from those groups too:

Homeschool Support Groups in Massachusetts
Homeschool World: Massachusetts Homeschool Organizations and Support Groups

Always feel free to ask any questions you may have, and please come back and keep us posted as to how things are going for you guys!

[4mylynn]

Hi. My name is Amy,and your story is EXACTLY like ours! 7th grade came to a head with my daughter being so alienated by her peers and bullied,that we cleaned out her locker at her public school and haven't looked back! She started homeschooling on March 25th,like you,late in the year. Our school wasn't as concerned with her actually leaving,they just asked that she stay long enough to take their MCAS tests! Typical insensitivity. She is three weeks in to using Time for Learning's 7th grade curriculum,and I too am having her repeat the entire 7th grade,hoping to get her through it by the end of August,as she is undecided if she will re-enter 8th grade in public school,or if we will hold her at home until 9th grade,which I feel is the better plan.She is happier,and beginning to rebuild her confidence and self esteem.Her maturity level has always been above her peers,so I think if she wants to re-enter public school,high school would be easier,as most of her friends are much older than she. But for now,she can work on bringing her grades up,and choose the people she wants to be surrounded by in her life,weed out the bullies and the jealous people. I am finding T4L a very thorough curriculum,and she can for the most part navigate it herself.Good luck!

[katshu2]

Thanks, Amy, for chiming in and introducing yourself and your daughter to other members!