| Author | |
Leocea
Forum Pro
Joined: July 14 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 146
|
| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 12:04pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
My teenager (9th grade boy) is telling me that he is bored with school. This does not come as a big surprise, but I am wondering what to do.
What we are doing now is reading aloud together, with his 4th grade and kindergarten sisters. We do this for history and some of the literature. We then do a family flap-book, too, when we finish them, that is. 
He just does not want to *do school* with his sisters anymore, which I can understand. When he is left on his own, though, he hasn't followed through in the past.
He would like to do all workbooks, and finish by noon everyday. I do not like this idea, as I want to do living books, not workbooks. Plus, he doesn't do the work!
When I really think about it, having him work independently, and having more time with my girls appeals to me. Is this wrong?! He is at the point of boredom that is interfering with our day. :-(
I had posted re: his topics, workbooks, courses, etc. on the teen board. It seemed overwhelming, and it IS. I am wondering if I just need to revamp the whole thing!
He is growing up, and no longer has an interest in nature walks, notebooking, and reading with me. :-(
Public school is not an option for me, and private is out of reach as well. I do not know what to do to inspire him!
He is an awesome kid, and wants to be an engineer or work with robotics one day.
Right now he uses: English composition: IEW class at co-op
Math: Pre-ALgebra Teaching Textbooks
Earth Science: Workbook with nature units/nature notebooks too
Literature: co-op unit studies and books (ie. Treasure Island and Crispin), also some Shakespeare with me
World History: mostly reading literature, and co-op unit studies
Technology: First Lego League competition team
Spanish: Rosetta Stone I, which he does not do on a regular basis
I am not sure what I would change.
Help!!
In Christ,
Leocea
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
|
| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 12:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
There is a program, through Homeschool Buyers Co-op called Cyber-Ed, that has online, interactive Science courses. Maybe he would enjoy that? I think the group buy ends in just a day or two, tho  . If you go to their site, on the left side is where you can find the current group buys to get more info.
For History, my teen has always enjoyed what we pulled from Sonlight.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Leslie
Forum Rookie
Joined: Jan 27 2008
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 74
|
| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 12:17pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I don't know if this will help, but a couple of things come to mind from when I was being homeschooled as a high schooler.
1. Try turning over the curriculum to him. Have him think about his future and where he is headed (college?) and maybe research that a little bit. Then, have him write out an outline of what he thinks he needs to cover before he gets there. Then, work together until the outline is something you can both agree on. After that he can flesh out the ideas himself--maybe find some of his own resources, field trip ideas, etc. Set a weekly date (or more often) to talk about how he is meeting his goals and if he needs any help. I ended up asking "experts" in various fields to review some of my papers.
2. Have him intern somewhere. When I was in highschool I "interned" on a whale watch with marine biologists twice a week (basically, I worked for free in the galley--and learned a ton when we got out to sea). I also did an internship at the Huntington Theater Company and followed the set-designer around (and did whatever I was told) for an entire production. The production was of Shakespeare's Cymbeline which lead me to go on a whole self-directed rabbit trail on Shakespeare (not to mention theater production!).
My parents and I had hit a real grid-lock in middle school and I had gone back to public school for a while. When we started homeschooling again they really put me in charge of my education and we worked as a team to accomplish my goals. At that point, my goal was to go to NYU as an acting major.
These are just my random thoughts. I hope they help a little!
Leslie
mom to ds6, dd4, ds2
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Leocea
Forum Pro
Joined: July 14 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 146
|
| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 12:33pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thank you to both of you!
Yes, Leslie, this does help. I think I struggle with him because he is my first, and this is so hard for me to see him growing up and away. <Sigh>. So many people are GLAD when their teens want to be in their rooms alone, but not me! My own mother and I are not close, and I don't want my son and I to be that way. I need to let go some, I think. I just still see a little boy when I look at him. Okay, now I am teared up, durn it!
He has always loved nature things, and reading with me, so this is hard to take. It is just his individual personality though, and it is okay to have different likes and dislikes. I just don't like it, lol.
My girls are still loving reading/projects/nature, so if he learns independently, I can do things with them. This is just very new.
In Christ,
Leocea
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maddie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 27 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1804
|
| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 12:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I totally get the tears!  My son used the chainsaw for the first time yesterday and I had to run in to the house because the tears were flowing. I didn't want to ruin it for him.
Would more "manly" chores around the house help? If he had more responsibilities that set him apart from his younger siblings it may help him feel more his age and maybe he wouldn't balk so much at the schoolwork? Maybe it's not the books?
Just an idea, I'm in the same boat. 
__________________
~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Probably at the beach...
Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
|
| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 1:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
When Trip was in 8th grade, I basically handed him a book about wiring and let him rewire the house. It gave him a great skill, and it took care of some little thing that needed to be done around the house. He has a workshop in the cellar where he keeps all his wires and tools. Two years later, and he is still installing new fixtures (there's light in the cellar!!). In high school (he now attends school) he is a member of the tech crew for stage productions, and his knowledge of wiring is coming in quite handy.
Just an idea!
__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog 
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
|
| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 2:00pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MacBeth wrote:
| In high school (he now attends school) he is a member of the tech crew for stage productions, and his knowledge of wiring is coming in quite handy. |
|
|
Not to hijack the thread - but my dh got his first degree in tech theater. He also was offered many scholarships at different colleges, due to his high school experience in tech theater (most people going into theater programs want to be actors, but they need techs!) (He only ever got an AA in tech theater, as it was going to be his "fallback" degree as his first love was Archaeology - we both have BAs in Anthropology/Archaeology. Needless to say, Archaeologists are quite poor  , and it has been that Tech Theater degree that has always been his "profession" - now as the Lead Projectionist for Cirque du Soleil. Tech Theater can open all sorts of doors!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elena
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 13 2006
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 592
|
| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 3:58pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Leocea, my oldest is a boy too and I totally get what you're saying. My husband reminds me however, that it is part of our son's masculinity now to pull away from me and assert his independence.
With my oldest we put him on a digital school and never looked back. He did the work, he was accountable to someone else, and it worked great for us.
My second son I am homeschooling through high school but I gve him his assignments and then he has to carry them out. I try to be flexible to his needs but ultimately I let him know his education is now more in his hands than mine!
Good luck!
Elena
__________________
Elena
Wife to Peter, mom of many!
My Domestic Church
One Day at a Time
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
amarytbc
Forum Pro
Joined: July 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 323
|
| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 4:16pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Each of our high schoolers do one live, online course each year. It's worth the money.
http://www.memoriapress.com/course/course/category.php?id=10
http://www.reginacoeli.org/
There are probably others that we haven't used.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cay Gibson
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 16 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5193
|
| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 8:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My 8th/9th grade son joined the hs basketball this year and it has been nothing short of a blessing. Sports will definitely do the trick.
As far as my oldest son, he's 20 now, but when he was in high school most of his education was gained in the backyard in the shop. He taught himself plenty of life and job skills out there (and it kept him busy and out of trouble). Today he is working and taking college classes at night and doing very well.
A friend of mine went to a Laura Berquist conference this past weekend and said the two things Laura said to do about teenagers are:
(1) get them involved in something they are good at (sports, carpentry, computer skills, etc.)
(2) give them independence from Mom (a job, making money)
I basically gave my oldest son an unschooling high school education. And it worked for him...though I'm sure there are parts he would have liked done differently. I did require certain "school work" like Math and reading and discussions and I personally think what you have your son doing looks great! And the Lego League competition team sounds like you have all things covered.
I'm on my second high school boy and I have given him lots of independant school work which he generally finishes around noon time. Then he is left to fiddle on the computer, shoot baskets, go jogging, watch the news and ESPN, read the newspaper, or irritate his little sisters. Just kiddings...almost. I think that is an inevitable thing brothers do to younger sisters. Mine always did that to me...and I survived.
My son's work load is:
Math: was using Saxon and Teaching Company...we're switching to Teaching Textbook as soon as I cough up the money (I've stopped counting the times I've said this )
English: Seton
Vocabulary from Classical Roots
Science: Concepts and Challenges
Introductory Logic
Religion: CCD class/ Confirmation prep book & liturgical year observances w/ family
Reading: MODG/Sonlight Booklist
Shakespeare Class
Sometimes I think that---no matter what we do---teenagers are prone to being bored. It's a normal fate.
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Teen is bored, help!
