Newbie homeschooling advice

Kantankrus_Mare

When would he be taking his exams? This coming summer or the summer after?

Haggis_man

Mojisola wrote: »

There are lots of working people out there who don't have degrees. You know he's not academic - why push him into studying stuff he isn't good at in a place he hates? I wouldn't go into work if it made feel the way you describe he is feeling.

Is he good at any practical subjects? I know a dyslexic lad who walked out of school at 14 because of the problems he was having. He started making wooden ornaments in the shed at home and now runs a successful bespoke furniture making business.

Start thinking outside the box - and let your son do the same so that he can find his place in life.

"Is he good at any practical subjects?"

Only if that includes using a mouse and keyboard.

Haggis_man

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

When would he be taking his exams? This coming summer or the summer after?

Next Summer.

Kantankrus_Mare

When you say him and a mate are internet entrepreneuring? What sort of thing are they doing?

Haggis_man

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

When you say him and a mate are internet entrepreneuring? What sort of thing are they doing?

Video marketing/"YouTubing" they have a channel and a server. I think we're talking of subscribers in the 10's rather than the millions though!

Kantankrus_Mare

Hmmm at least he is looking at ways he can earn money lol

Don't know wha tother advice can be given. Time will find a way though.

Carer

When my youngest was almost 11 we took him and his 12 yr old brother out of school and home educated them.
I won't bore you with the reasons why but it was the best decision we could have made.

We did no formal lessons, no written work at all and just spent time taking them to interesting places, talking to them, letting them watch stuff they were interested in on tv.

We had one visit from the education authority but they are not mandatory so we opted out of further contact with them.
We joined a local home education group and went to several meetings and some activities but they were only twice a month.

When they were 14 and 15, they both decided they wanted to go back to school to take their exams rather than take them independently. We weren't keen on this but let them both make their own decision.
Anyway 15yr old had 10 months to do full gcse courses - he passed them all and got 5 A*.
14 yr old had almost the full 2 years and passed his with good grades.
Oldest is now at Uni reading Physics and youngest at Art college.

My biggest regret is that we didn't take them out of school earlier.

greenorange

Mojisola wrote: »

I wouldn't go into work if it made feel the way you describe he is feeling.

Many people have such feelings when they go into work. If you've got bills to pay, a roof over your head to pay for, and food to put on the table for your kids, then simply throwing in the towel and quitting your job isn't an option for most.

Sometimes in life you've got to suck it up and get on with it, even if you don't like it. Suck it up for a short time, put the effort in, and work towards a better future.

Harsh, but true. Good things in life aren't handed to you on a plate. Sometimes you've got to take the lows with the highs.

kafkathecat

Hi, ds 16 has never been to school.

He is taking gcses through a mixture of correspondence courses and small home education groups. He plans to go to 6th form college next year.
Not all of his friends are academic. Some are already at 6th form college part time - you could find out whether they have any suitable courses to help your son develop his ideas as colleges can now get funding for over 14s.

Even if your son is in school you cannot make him study or pass the exams so he may be no better off in the long run.

Some home educated children start doing OU courses from as early as 14. Again is there something that might interest him there?

You could try taking him out of school and insisting on a certain number of GCSEs for your own peace of mind. The work does not have to be done in school hours and he would have more time for his interests.

In my experience very many home educated children and parents have Aspergers traits, if not the whole syndrome. Home education does seem to work for them.

I have know many home educated teens over the years and am happy to answer any questions.

kafkathecat

Just to add, I would consider finding out whether there are any home education groups near you and chat with them if you can. They are likely to be a mine of information on what is available locally. Education Otherwise is a good place to start.
They may also be able to advise re correspondence courses, college courses or internet schools.
It may help you make an informed decision.