It's official!

[Nikki]

I've written a letter to the principle school that we are withdrawing Kailey from school. I made the letter very short and simple and told them that it was based on a personal decision and what we think is best for our child. I feel 90% better already!

I also spoke with Courtney's teachers and they said there is no way they'd make her leave the pre-k program. Her one teacher told me that she completly understood why I was taking Kailey out and that we need to do what we feel is best for our children. So, that worry about her not being able to stay in the program is over. Phew!

I'm going to go to the principle Monday after I drop Kailey off and give him the letter. By law I don't have to since she's not 7, but if I keep her out without saying anything, it will look like I just don't send her and they will send the cops after me. I want to tell her teacher before I take the letter though. I'm sure that she's already gotten word from Courtney's teachers, but I want to tell her myself and also get anything Kailey might have there at school. Plus, she's got books to return and her towel to get.

I'm going to spend the next week de-schooling and then I will start looking at different workbooks/curriculums. I don't think I'll pick one certain curriculum. I've found a TON of places online where I can print the same worksheets that they are currently using in school. The web has everything for kids their age!

I'm also going to have my first meeting with a homeschooling mom that I met on a support forum and I want to take the girls on one of the upcoming field trips.

So, just wish me luck! I sure hope that i'm doing the right thing. I've had Kailey out of school the past 2 days and it has been wonderful! The High Frequency Words that they're supposed to know by the end of the year is about to get thrown out because within the past 2 days, she's learned all of them but a few!

Also, I told her yesterday to write how she felt and she put "I Fil Hapi". I was the first sentence that she's ever written that was able to be made out easily!

Well, I've got to go. I've spent the past week crying every single day and night worrying about all this. Finally I feel good about things :D

 

[Sheilagh]

That is so awesome - Im glad things have all worked out for you!

 

[Jack Lewis]

For elementary math you can use http://looklistenlearn.org/learn/math/. My 5 year-old was using it yesterday and enjoyed it. All my other kids loved it as well. It's free.

 

[Mike01075]

Nikki,
I'm honestly sooo happy for you. I have lept you in my prayers and praise God for the outcome and what is to come. If God brought you into it, He will lead you through it. (I don't recall where I read that :roll: )

Jack,
That is a fantastic site!!!!!!!! If you have any more, please let me know. My son, who is 4, is in preschool now and is facinated with math. Thanks again. :wink:

 

[Heidi Mighty Mo]

You go girl!!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

 

[Jack Lewis]

Jack,
That is a fantastic site!!!!!!!! If you have any more, please let me know. My son, who is 4, is in preschool now and is facinated with math. Thanks again. :wink:

That's my only educational site. I have My Calendar site, http://radioJesus.com, The Red Primer for Children and Diplomats, http://america.needsyourprayers.com/, and my latest one http://SpelChek.com

 

[Nikki]

And she was so nice! I was hoping that she would have been mean. That would have made me feel so much better and completly sure of my decision. Instead, I was fighting back tears on the phone the entire time. Her teacher had talked with Courtney's teachers and they filled her in on my decision. I told her that I had planned on coming and talking to her personally tomorrow. She said that she couldn't stop thinking of Kailey and wanted to talk with me about my concerns. I talked with her for quite a while and she was just so nice and understanding. She said that Kailey is a very bright child and doesn't want Kailey to be sad or crying all the time. I explained that I don't know exactly what the big problem is with school and Kailey, but that I was hoping that I would be able to get to the bottom of the problem and that homeschooling is something that I've always wanted to do and that Kailey is wanting to also do.

Her teacher said that there are a lot of wonderful support groups for homeschoolers in the area, so I told her that I had found a few of them! I told her how scared I was of the decision I made, but that I fee a lot better with the decision since all I had done is cry non-stop for the past 2 weeks worrying about what I should do.

I'm going tomorrow to get Kailey's things and talk to her teacher a bit more. Please pray that I can be strong. I came so close to breaking down on the phone. I don't want to start questioning my decision and I'm already starting to. I was so happy yesterday and telling everyone that I was going to homeschool. I just felt so great! Now, after talking to her teacher, I feel guilty. Her teacher said that Kailey had been on her mind and how they hate to see her go. I just want to be strong and not break down tomorrow. UGH! I feel so sorry for her teacher because I'm sure it's hard to be a teacher to over 20 kids. She sounded so upset. Not mad upset, but sad upset.

Anyways, just say a small prayer that I can be strong. I get the impressiong that her teacher is supportive of my decision. I'll know for sure tomorrow, I guess. :-?

Nicole

 

[Heidi Mighty Mo]

I will pray for you. I understand your feelings but you have no reason to feel guilty because you are only trying to do what is best for your child.

 

[Nikki]

So, went today to get Kailey's things and talk to her teacher. I was BAWLING like a baby! Her teacher was so nice about everything and had tears in her eyes when she told Kailey bye. That's when I lost it. She told me that she thinks I'm making a good decision and that there will be days when I feel like giving up, but not to. She also told me to make sure to stick with the support groups and for us to come up and eat lunch with the class anytime we want to. When we got there, they were having storytime and then she let the kids go play. Kailey looked so happy sitting there making snowmen and coloring with her friends. I asked her numerous times, "Don't you want to stay? Aren't you going to miss your friends?". She said "No, I don't want to stay. I'll see my friends at Girl Scouts!".

I still wish she would have been mean about it. I think that she homeschooled her son. Not sure on that. I'll ask her when I see her again. It was so weird having Kailey with me while we waited for Courtney to get out of school.

 

[mom~2boys]

Nikki, I've been meaning to post this for awhile, I'm so proud of you. Both of your girls are very lucky to have such a great mom looking out for their best interest. I can't wait to hear all about your sucess and adventures in homeschooling. I'm tutoring a grade 6 student who is on a modified day for behaviour and his mom is looking into paying me to homeschool him next year. That would be WAY cool. God Bless.

 

[Nikki]

Thanks Jill!

Things are going great! I haven't gone out and bought anything. I'm just using the net, myself, and the library. And guess what? Last night, I got Kailey a book from the library that she had never heard and I didn't read it to her. I handed it to her and told her to read it to me. She looked at me like I was crazy. BUT...she read the ENTIRE BOOK and only needed help with 3 words!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!! I was so PROUD of her! It was one of those "first readers" and each page had like 5-7 word sentences. It took her forever to read it, but that's ok!

I can't wait to tell her teacher today! We're going to go see her today to return a book and I figured I'd take Kailey at recess time so she can play with the kids. Hopefully they won't mind...???

 

[sparrow]

8) glad it's working out.