Bored son

[J&BsMom]

My ds is 13 and we just started homeschooling lik 3 weeks ago. I let him have some time to himself to get him out of the nasty mood he has been in from ps. But, now that we really need to start working all he wants to do is sit around and watch tv. I have really tried to make what we need to do interesting but... well its like pulling teeth from a saber tooth tiger! :doubt: His dad and I both are already ready to throw in the towel and I know that is the worst thing I could do right now. My ds is in jepordy of failing if we don't do something. HELP!! He is a good kid and really smart but... any ideas would be a wonderful help.
Thanks

[Clementine]

What are some things that he likes to do? Does he have any certain hobby? Aldo, what curriculum and homeschool option are you using? Sorry for all the questions, but it helps to know a little more about your situation.

I'm sure that at 13, it's a difficult transition from ps to homeschool, but don't give up yet. As far as the tv goes, in our home it's totally off limits during the day. Unless we need to watch a video or something that goes along with our schooling, we do not turn it on at all during the daytime. My son doesn't even ask anymore. You also may have to establish yourself as an authority figure now that he is at home all day. Just be very patient, as it's only been 3 weeks. Give both of you time for the adjustment. Perhaps find something of interest to him and go from there. :smile2:

[jeremiah29]

Hi. First, I want to say, I feel your pain.:lol: Don't mean to make light, but I think everyone on this site knows exactly where you are and have all been there. Please, don't throw in the towel yet. 3 weeks is not even enough time to show your son how great homeschooling can be, or you for that matter. Remember, he has been in the public school system for a long time. It will take time for him to de-school, as I have heard it called. We just started homeschooling this year (in Aug.), at my 4th grade son's repeated requests. Even though he wanted this, we still have days when we hear "I hate homeschooling!". But, that is usually when he has to do something he doesn't want to do. Most days, it is "I love hoomeschooling!" I just keep reminding myself, his education is a marathon. It won't all happen in one week, or one month, or even one year. This whole year has been a year of transition for us all. I have had many days when I said, "I just can't do this anymore. I want my life back!" But, then I remember why I am doing this and who I am doing it for.
It has been work on my part to find ways to motivate him, to make learning fun and interesting. My son, who sounds a lot like yours, needs more hands-on, or video. On days when it seems like all he wants to do is play video games, I find free vidoes on the streaming.com site,which is through Discovery Education, (see resources and links on this site to get afree subscription)) or he plays educational games on knowitall.org. Very educational and fun! This may be a good way for your son to transition into homeschooling, instead of giving him totally free time to himself. Then, maybe transition into bringing in one subject at a time, using books- like math, then the next week, bring in Literature, etc. Using local museums, parks,libraries, etc is also a good way to learn without it feeling like school. Remember, you have one year to complete his 180 days. I remind my son sometimes that if we don't finish our 180 days before summer, we WILL be doing school in the summer! That is enough to motivate him at times.
I know you will get a lot of wonderful advice from the long-timers here, but I hope this helps! Just know you are not alone! Keep coming on this site and stay in touch with the awesome people here! One day at a time,
Michele

[Dianna]

I agree with previous posters -- he may still more time to deschool. I also second the suggestion that the TV stays off during the day (and I extend that rule to all electronics -- computer, electronic games, etc), unless we're using it for learning. Sometimes they'll watch a documentary, or they'll need the computer to do research or type a paper, and that's okay. Otherwise, everything electronic stays off. I bet your son would get very bored if he couldn't watch TV or play games -- that's when you make suggestions of good books to read. :smile2:

I also recommend that you let him do as much of the curriculum planning as possible. Does he have any say in what or how he learns? If not, consider giving him more of the decision-making responsibility and he'll probably take more ownership in his learning. Let him plan projects and/or experiments for science, or choose a specific topic to study in history, then go to the library and look for resources, or post here for resource suggestions.

Does any of this sound helpful? If not, just give us more specifics and we'll see if we can help more.

Warmly,
Dianna

[J&BsMom]

All of these have helped! We are using a variety of curriculums and are using option 3 so we can kind of do as we want. He helps in deciding how and when he wants to study. We try to get everything done by three so when little bro comes home from school he is done also and can go play or do whatever. We are also looking into "behavioral visual therapy" as a source as to why he gets headaches and can't retain what he is reading which is making everything a struggle. I am having him cut off all of the tv's, computers, and etc. unless he needs something for his work. He just can't seem to get motivated to do his work. We have some really neat projects we are doing but... they just don't keep his attention very long even though he thought them up to start with. I have even tried allowing him to have frequent breaks to "chill" and then get back to work. He has to complete an assignment and then he gets 15 mins to watch tv play a game or go outside... we time it and he usually comes right back in or gets right back to work... but then... well staying on task and working on something that should take him 15 mins can take up to sometimes 2 or three hours! We'll just keep plodding along... Hopefully as he "de-schools" it will get better. He really loves homeschooling because he can study what he wants but... well I guess we all have to de-school and get used to the changes!
Thanks for all of your great ideas. Any other would be helpful.
Heather

[jeremiah29]

Hi again, J&Bsmom. First, I want to say I am not an expert on ANYTHING, just know a little about a lot of things. The main thing that sticks out to me in your last post is "frequent headaches" and unable to retain anything he reads. Are these new symptoms, or has this plagued him his whole school career? My first thought is to make sure this is not something physical, rule those things out with a medical doc first, if these headaches are fairly recent. You may have already done that. Also, I am not very familiar with behavioral vision therapy, only what I have read. It sounds useful if other physical things have already been ruled out. Hope you can get something useful from this.
Michele

[Dianna]

We are also looking into "behavioral visual therapy" as a source as to why he gets headaches and can't retain what he is reading which is making everything a struggle.

Heather, this comment puts a whole 'nother light on things. Has his vision been tested, and has anyone figured out what's causing his headaches? He may not be unmotivated at all -- it could be a health issue. When I tested children in the schools, the first thing we did was rule out health problems (vision, hearing, etc) before we did anything else. Sometimes the problem was an easily corrected health issue.

Dianna

[J&BsMom]

We have had his eyes and hearing tested before in the ps they said he had a vision perseption problem but tested well enough to not warrent the schools occupational therapy for it.... What ever that means.... needless to say we are now seing a specialist and redoing all the testing. I am hoping that they find something to help us get around the problems and get on with learning. My son is doing much better now even though we are still in the testing process. I'll let everyone the results! Thanks for all the comments and ideas.
Heather

[jeremiah29]

Just want you to know my family is praying for yours. I believe there is power in families praying for other families. We know how trying it can be when anything is going on with the kids. Glad to hear things are already improving.
Michele

[MamaSweetie2]

We have had his eyes and hearing tested before in the ps they said he had a vision perseption problem but tested well enough to not warrent the schools occupational therapy for it.... What ever that means.... needless to say we are now seing a specialist and redoing all the testing. I am hoping that they find something to help us get around the problems and get on with learning. My son is doing much better now even though we are still in the testing process. I'll let everyone the results! Thanks for all the comments and ideas.
Heather




My dd has vision problems, she has never been in ps. We have been going to Vision therapy with her issues for the last couple years, and have had good results with her vision and improving her reading. She is only 7 now, a smart little cookie, but she had a hard time with her reading. She disliked it and didn't want to do it, or she only wanted to read the small paragraphs or sentences. But we used Hooked on Phonics along with the Vision therapy and now she enjoys reading and has started all on her own to read passages from the Bible before bed and Highlights magazine.

I am glad that she has been homeschooled through this because I think she would have been "labeled" in public school because of poor reading skills due to her vision and that wouldn't have helped with her confidence to read.

I am glad you are looking into vision therapy, it may be just what your son needs to enjoy reading and school work. I am in the Myrtle Beach area, what Dr. do you go to?

[J&BsMom]

Thanks everyone!! Prayers are always GREAT!! We are seeing Dr. Dean in Soccastee for our vision stuff. He is really great! Both of my boys have one more exam to do each... I guess then we go from there. I am already encouraged by what I have seen. If anyone wants to know more about vision therapy for your child there are several really good web sites. howtolearn.com also has an "eye-Q" exam you can give your child to see if it is something you need to look into. When you search for information type in vision therapy... It gives you lots to look at. I will keep you all updated on our progress!

Bless you!

Heather

[MamaSweetie2]

[QUOTE=J&BsMom;11952 We are seeing Dr. Dean in Soccastee for our vision stuff.




We go to Dr. Dean also. I think he is the only one here that does Vision THerapy. I heard he has some patients that drive from Florence. His therapist , Robin, is very nice to work with. They have a lot of homeschoolers as patients.