So homeschooling may be back on the table!

So it has been an extremely long time since I wrote in here but since nothing I had to say had to do with homeschooling I didn't bother but now the option looks to be back on the table!

My daughter Aurora who is now 6 years old going on 7 in April is in 1st grade at the local elementary school and it has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs and tons of emotions.  Her first year there (kindergarten) actually went surprisingly well.  We had a great teacher who really cared and taught Aurora a lot.  It was not as bad as I thought it would be even with my husband overseas for the first 7 months of school.  So we decided to keep the momentum going and continue with 1st grade there and see how it goes. 

This is where our world started to crumble.

From day 1 when I met her teacher at the open house I did not like her, but then again how can you attempt to like someone when they don't smile, don't talk to you or your child other than to introduce herself and point to us where Aurora will be sitting for the year?  Yeah, that is seriously all we got from her.  I left that place saying "oh boy, this is going to be a fun year".  But I still tried my hardest to make the best of it and continue to support the teacher thinking maybe our first encounter was an off day.  I was always sending in extra supplies, always offering to help out at parties and on field trips, sending her a Christmas gift, plus other little things here and there...................and not once, did I get a thank you note, a warm smile, or any form of gratification on her part.  Plus, add on the fact that Aurora was getting in trouble EVERYDAY!  And when I say everyday I mean everyday for the first 3 months (now she gets in trouble about 2 or 3 times a week on average) and I was getting very vague comments like "excessive talking" or "not following directions".  So at least twice now I have written to her asking her to be more specific so I can handle the situation at home, because I can not correct the issue if I do not know what the issues are.  And does she respond back or correct what I asked her to correct........NOPE!  Look, I know my child and she is not perfect and I would be a piss poor parent if I got on her case every single time that child spoke out of turn because my husband and I were both chatter boxes growing up.  But the simple fact is, she is 6 and she seems to get singled out constantly!!!  I have even tried to talk to her at our parent teacher conferences to get more out of her but she always always acts like she does not want to be there, that this is the worst job on the earth, and she can't wait to leave.

So another reason I am not happy with public school this year is because she is not being challenged.  My daughter knew how to add single digits before kindergarten and they just started learning that this past December!!!  She is at least at a 2nd if not 3rd reading grade level and is just incredibly bright and eager to learn!!  So why do I think she is getting in trouble a lot?  the real reason?  because she is BORED.......period!  She has been separated from the class (both years) to do special work because she is so far ahead, everyone says what a wonderful vocabulary she has and how smart she is and I do not think this school is doing her justice.

Last reason is my own personal problem and this is where I will differ a lot with people but it is my own personal beliefs.  They are teaching to much about God and religion in a public school setting!  We are not a religious family and to be frank my husband and I do not believe in God but we do respect others to believe and would NEVER force our beliefs or non-beliefs on our children, we want them to make up their own minds.  But when I hear my daughter come home and start talking about learning about Noah and the ark and angels in school then that really fires me up because there is a time and place for those types of things and it is called church!  Also, as I was helping out with their Thanksgiving party last year the teacher (not hers) made the kids pray before they ate..........I WAS FURIOUS!!!  But was not prepared to spark a debate in the classroom with a teacher I did not know, so I stayed quite.

So anywho, as you can see I'm not happy with the way things are going this year so we decided to try and get her into the county charter school.  Long story short there were 0 openings for second grade for next term and everyone was wait listed and she is number 23 on that list, so yeah, that's not happening, at least not for next year!

Now I am at that point where I need to make a decision to keep her at home and teach her myself for the next year, yank her out of a school she knows with friends she know, and try it out to see how it goes or do I give it one more year to tip the scales in one direction of the next, but at the same time putting her education and "being more challenged" at risk.  And also mind you I am in fact almost 6 months preggers with baby #2 on the way due in Mid-July - a little boy this time too =)  So I will have a couple of months to adjust to being a mom of two before we have to begin homeschooling but will that be enough time?

So now you all know everything that is going on with me at least in my daughters education and the choice I have to make.  And if you are wondering about hubby's point of view, he seems to be no help other than saying he is behind me 100% whatever I choose.  Geez thanks hun for your input!  So share your ideas, thoughts, and opinions below because I would love to hear from you =)