Homeschooling

mrsmac: I didn't mean any offense AT ALL. I thought I wrote on there that it isn't true for all schools and all teachers, and yes, I do understand that a lot of schools are embracing learning styles theory and working very hard to include all students and not label. I don't mean to "teacher bash" either, I am talking about schools, and school policy, in general, not teachers. Most teachers are aware of this but have their hands tied by policies that value traditional education.

I should have been more specific... when I'm writing the assignments the markers having an understanding that when we say 'school' we mean the policies, and when we say 'teachers' we mean the teachers.

I DO still think that traditional schooling has a long way to go though, and a lot of schools still label instead of recognising learning styles. That is my experience anyway. I have been to a lot of schools, but perhaps I have't been to the right ones.

So I hope you can see what I mean, and that I didn't mean to "teacher bash".

Alisia, thank you for your post. I think you have managed to sum up part of my concern about Jack attending a traditional school. He certainly would fit into the more technical and convergent categories. I am also concerned about traditional schooling because he is very bright and very easily bored. He could read every letter of the alphabet, numbers to 15 and a few words well before age 2. He is starting to be able to count backwards and do simple addition and subtraction (we are not coaching him, HE is doing this himself - eg he will have his cherry tomatoes on his plate and take one away and say now there are 3 etc). I can see that he will probably already know the prep curriculm before he even gets to preschool. I am very worried that putting him in a traditional school will result in a bored, disruptive child.

So what to do. Well, so far my options are:

- Put him in a traditional school but choose it carefully based on the principal, teachers and philosophy, ideally with smaller class sizes to better cater for a "different" child
- Put him in a traditional school which does mixed age learning (we have one nearby - probably will be good for the first years, but bad for the last years)
- Home school
- Look at alternative schooling such as Steiner and Montessori - am liking Montessori so far.

Does anyone, particularly the teachers out there (MrsMac?) have any feedback for me?

ETA: Of course the next worry will then be, is the choice I've made for Jack, the right one for Tom, because ideally they would go to school together. But if their needs are totally different that might not be the best option.

Many independant schools have services for gifted children. At my DD's school there are accelerated classes in the subjects the gifted students are proficient at... but they remain at their appropriate year level for social reasons. She attends an Anglican private school. In prep she was one of 10 students as well, so nice small classes :)

If anyone thinks h/s is easy think again! I have just spent the day doing my lesson plans for 4 of my kids for term 4. I also put in my orders for schoolwork needed for next year. I must admit though that thr remainder of our years work that needs to be done will take us to the end of November so we can start our holidays early!

Well done! You are obviously doing a great job! Enjoy the extra holidays!!

Melanie, have you thought of (of course I can't think of the word now...) schools where they put grades together in the one classroom? Collective? Not sure but I do know Cannon Hill has a public school that does that. Puts grades 1-3 in one class and then 2-4 in another etc etc...

I think the word you are looking for is "composite" Christy? Yep, it can work well for younger children who have advanced skills... as long as the overall class size is not too big. My DD was in one when she was in grade 3. It was a 3/4 composite. The overall class was 22. Worked well.

Thanks for that Christy and Bath. Yes, I'm considering composite - Murarrie State School does it too. I think it would be great for him when he's in the younger part of the grouping, but it might not work so well when he's in the older group. So many things to consider!!