Going back to public school

[MG_]

Hi! I decided to peek in after being away for a long time and saw this. I was meant to be here today.

All 4 of my kids ended up doing stints at both public and private schools. Neither of those choices is really different, content wise, from each other (no matter what the shiny brochures from the private schools say), unless you find an actual Classical school (WHICH I DID, but I won't hijack your question).

I *my* opinion, the best prep for heading to either of those types of schools would be in math and "reading". Here's why:

Math: once the kid get into classroom math, the support is no longer one on one. I sent my rising 7th grader to a classical school with 1/2 of pre-algebra under his belt and it was the best. decision. ever. His transition to the classroom wasn't at all difficult in the area of the content. In fact, his 7th grade classroom is a near do-over to MP6. Being "overly prepared" for math was a huge key to his mastery of Away school: he was free to focus on learning to school Away from Mom over figuring out fractions, percents, and decimals.

Reading: and by this, I mean being well read, which creates a Writer's Voice that most Away schooled kids lack. My son will churn out a composition for his teacher with ease because he knows how to express himself. All 4 of my kids ended up being good writers, and I attribute that to the language-rich environment of our homeschool including the reading of quality books, both as a group and as individuals. His classical school composition teacher even remarked that my son's abilities exceed the rest of his grade level peers. I had to laugh because his spelling is marginal and he doesn't like to hold a pencil, but when he does... he has something to say. I attribute this to the lyric nature of high quality literature that has been in his life since birth.


So, with great irony, I tell you: it's the 3 R's that homeschool does so well that come through when a student heads to Away school. The prep that a homeschooled child gets compared to his peers is pretty prodigious. In the upper grades, that will look like rock solid memorized multiplication facts and the ability to easily segue to pre-algebra and upper mathematics, and "writing", which is the culmination of a language rich homeschool experience.

Hope that helped a little bit today!

Jen,

You have always had a way to convey so much truth, Thank you! I do not believe in coincidences (even though I am reading this post three months later)!!!

Oh how much the world has changed since my last post! I was exploring public/private options for my kids back in January, but now I may have to reconsider that option if schools continue to be closed during these uncertain times. After teaching my kids at home for these many years, I felt that I could not continue to do so due to the mix of challenges we are currently facing as a family. In addition, motivation is almost non-existent and so I believe they are not learning nor enjoying their studies as much as they did when we started this journey. At the current rate, and with most of exams being completed orally, we will barely finish this school year by the end of August. We completely dropped Latin for my 7A kid and reconsidering all Latin studies for the rest of our educational journey. We tried MPOA for two classes this year but this end up being more work for me than I had anticipated. I have tried to concentrate in Math and Language Arts for both, but then again, the motivation is just not there and it scares me tremendously that they have not progressed in these two main areas, specially for my oldest that will be in 8th grade next year!. So, there is a lot of uncertainty of what our plans will be for next school year. Maybe we can just continue with Math and Language Arts? and just read and discuss (not writing in guides) Classical/Christian studies, Geography/Science, Literature? But will that be enough? Compostion/Writing has been a big challenge for both so still not sure what to do in that area (I have tried many things). I continue to pray for guidance.

Thank you for listening! I have enjoyed so much being part of this community.

[Beorn]

Hope that helped a little bit today!

Not that it matters any, but your reply helped me. And I only have a Kindergartner and didn't even ask the question or start the thread.

[Jen (formerly) in Japan]

Hi! I decided to peek in after being away for a long time and saw this. I was meant to be here today.

All 4 of my kids ended up doing stints at both public and private schools. Neither of those choices is really different, content wise, from each other (no matter what the shiny brochures from the private schools say), unless you find an actual Classical school (WHICH I DID, but I won't hijack your question).

I *my* opinion, the best prep for heading to either of those types of schools would be in math and "reading". Here's why:

Math: once the kid get into classroom math, the support is no longer one on one. I sent my rising 7th grader to a classical school with 1/2 of pre-algebra under his belt and it was the best. decision. ever. His transition to the classroom wasn't at all difficult in the area of the content. In fact, his 7th grade classroom is a near do-over to MP6. Being "overly prepared" for math was a huge key to his mastery of Away school: he was free to focus on learning to school Away from Mom over figuring out fractions, percents, and decimals.

Reading: and by this, I mean being well read, which creates a Writer's Voice that most Away schooled kids lack. My son will churn out a composition for his teacher with ease because he knows how to express himself. All 4 of my kids ended up being good writers, and I attribute that to the language-rich environment of our homeschool including the reading of quality books, both as a group and as individuals. His classical school composition teacher even remarked that my son's abilities exceed the rest of his grade level peers. I had to laugh because his spelling is marginal and he doesn't like to hold a pencil, but when he does... he has something to say. I attribute this to the lyric nature of high quality literature that has been in his life since birth.


So, with great irony, I tell you: it's the 3 R's that homeschool does so well that come through when a student heads to Away school. The prep that a homeschooled child gets compared to his peers is pretty prodigious. In the upper grades, that will look like rock solid memorized multiplication facts and the ability to easily segue to pre-algebra and upper mathematics, and "writing", which is the culmination of a language rich homeschool experience.

Hope that helped a little bit today!

[tanya]

Amen, momgineer!

Tanya

[momgineer]

Transitioning from MP, your child will be well prepared for public, skills wise. If it were me (I did send one to public for 8th-12th after using MP material before grade core packages came out), i would focus on what he won’t get in public- Latin and classics. Be sure to have your 7A finish Fourth Form or whichever Latin s/he is in and be sure to finish the Homer study. For the 4A, finish First Form Latin and FMOR and maybe over the summer read through FMOG.

[MG_]

Enbateau,

Thank very much for taking the time to answer! I had not consider looking at the standards for our state nor speaking with a school counselor, this is very helpful. Thanks again!

[enbateau]

If you've been doing 7A and 4A, your kids will be more than adequately prepared for a transition to public school. I've taught eighth and 10th grade English and Comunication Skills classes in the public schools, and MP goes far beyond our state's English requirements.

You can download your local state's standards of learning or benchmark goals for free and look at specific goals for each grade and subject. A school guidance counselor can meet with you to discuss your eldest's 7th grade transcript to see where placement for 8th will best fit. 5th grade classes aren't usually so tailored, so you should decide if you want to pursue traditional or gifted paths and provide any supporting documentation.

[MG_]

If you had to send your kids back to school, could you please share with me the best way you prepared them? And/or What subjects would you focus the most until schools start in August? I’m currently studying both options public and private.
Thank you!