I recently learned that Minnesota has a state statute that allows parents to do part-time (or partial) homeschooling of their children and have their child attend public school for the remainder of the day. Have any of you done this? What were the circumstances and how did it work out?
The reason I posted this is that my son's school was having him spends weeks and weeks studying math that he mastered long ago. His math period is first thing in the morning so I have considered doing partial homeschooling in math to give him the challenge he needs. We had a conference with the teacher and she admitted that the school has fallen down in terms of offering challenges to gifted kids in 2nd grade math. They have support in place for all the other grades but not 2nd for some reason. However, she is working hard with the administration to fix the problem. In the meantime, I have offered to volunteer in the classroom and share my math expertise to work with some kids while the teacher works with other kids. Hopefully, the school will work out this glitch and meet the needs of my son and other kids.
I have not done this or heard about this. What would be the advantage of sending the children to school part-time? It would seem to me to be confusing for the child.
I would have LOVED this option! I live in Mass and pulled my 9 year old daughter for half a year. I felt the public schools were not teaching her anything in math (an opinion backed up by the math teachers at the high school level). Worked with her in math (using Singapore math), reading and writing. She is now back in 4th grade and doing fantastic!
It was worth pulling her for those 4 months - 100%. I would have much rather done the 50/50% but that was not an option here.
Sigh. I've often wished there was a 3 or 4 hour a day option.
I know many families who do something similar in middleschool or highschool (because the kids are all in different classes per subject, ones classmates are -if they even know- jealous of being able to leave early or come late, it works out very well. Jealous like jealous of someone who has a car, "Oh, you're so LUCKY!" jealous, not snarky jealous. Math is always during math class from x hour to y hour, so you never miss anything, etc.), but the ones I know who have tried it in elementary have found it to be difficult and cumbersome, and most have found it's a way to get kids BACK into the PS system. The other kids don't understand why one of their classmates is only there for half the day and the teachers tend to get super cranky & also be making assignments during different parts of the day, so the partial hs'er is 'unprepared' and made to feel that way. The whole "You should have been here, wouldn't you be happier if you were here ALL day, you MISSED OUT because you weren't here" kind of guilt tripping. That doesn't happen in middle or highschool (or in some types of elementary schools... I know a couple families who part time in a montessori elementary that LOVE it), but in most kinds of elementary schools it ends up causing a lot of problems.
i do have friends that do this. it works well for them, usually in jr high/high school. some do it for music, art, pe, science (labs), athletics.... i don't know how it works, we're only in 1st grade and kindergarten yet. pretty much, their kids would show up for the class period(s) that they were enrolled for. i've heard of some schools, i think one in roseville and one in st louis park area, that kinda "cater" to this i think, too
i think all options are good and i'm happy to see states encouraging more flexibility.
that being said, i wouldn't do this. it will be fine in some cases, but my guess is that for most it will be 'less than' either experience would be if fully committed to. homeschooling is a lifestyle, an entire familial commitment, it's not just about how one learns math. now, a homeschooler who takes an occasional public school class? i'd love to see more of that. but going to school every day and also doing 'classes' at home every day? i suspect it will cause a lack of belonging in either realm, and a disconnection from the learning experience entirely.
khairete
S.
g
