The first meeting with my son’s kindergarten teacher was a memorable experience. I found myself perched on a small chair, feeling like a giant in a dollhouse, as she detailed the challenges he was facing. “He struggles to engage,” she said, shaking her head. “He prefers to wander off and chat with his classmates.” She passed me a worksheet where he had written, “I LOVE YOU MOM” instead of tracing the assigned numbers.
That moment marked the beginning of many emotional encounters with educators, tears welling up as I wished for him to conform to typical expectations. I felt a deep ache for my son, wishing he could navigate the school system without such difficulties.
Over the following years, the saga continued. We faced a mix of ups and downs, with notes from various teachers repeating the same concerns: he was unfocused, unmotivated, and often distracted those around him. After a diagnosis of ADHD, we tried medication, which initially helped. However, when we needed to adjust his dosage, he preferred to take a break from it, and we respected his choice.
Using strategies from his cognitive behavioral therapist, he managed his ADHD as best he could, but soon the situation at school began to worsen again. At the sixth-grade parent-teacher conference, I heard the same old complaints, but this time, the bullying had started. His peers were prodding him into silly behaviors, like pretending to be a dog.
In the car ride home, my heart sank. “We can’t let him endure this,” I sobbed to my husband. “Middle school is tough even for kids without these challenges.” He agreed; we needed a new plan.
Although some might have turned to homeschooling, I felt daunted by the prospect. I had considered it, but the idea of being solely responsible for his education was overwhelming—I never felt equipped for such a task. However, I stumbled upon an online public school program that combined elements of homeschooling with a structured curriculum, and after some research, I enrolled my son in K12, which follows state requirements.
The transition was seamless. The school provided a loaner laptop, a printer, and all the necessary textbooks and materials at no cost. His school day starts at 9 a.m. and includes subjects like social studies, language arts, and math, with breaks for lunch and study time. While there are no physical education or art classes, we can easily incorporate those at home or seek community classes.
My son accesses his lessons through a portal called Blackboard, allowing him to interact with teachers and classmates via chat and microphone. The lessons are engaging, with videos and presentations, and he submits his assignments online. Occasionally, he completes tasks by hand, which we can scan or photograph to send to his teachers.
Social interaction remains a priority. His school offers various online clubs and activities, including talent shows and in-person meetups. Just recently, they hosted an event at the local science center for online students. Plus, with three siblings and a neighborhood full of children, his social life thrives.
As the designated “learning coach,” my role is to support him rather than teach directly. I help keep him focused and organized, and I can track his progress and assignments through the school website. Daily attendance is crucial, as he needs to meet specific hours to advance. He takes regular online tests and attends proctored state assessments at a nearby hotel.
While this approach involves more effort on my part than simply putting him on the bus for school, it feels less intensive than traditional homeschooling. The environment at home has been incredibly beneficial. He no longer requires a specialized learning plan to accommodate his needs; as long as he can hear his teachers, he can move freely around the room. We even got him a mini trampoline that he uses while learning.
The transformation in his attitude has been remarkable. If someone told me I had to do the most strenuous exercise every day for his benefit, I would gladly comply. Every child deserves the chance to learn in a way that supports their unique needs, and for my son, that means learning from home.
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Summary: Online schooling has provided my son with the flexibility and support he needs to thrive academically, free from the distractions and challenges he faced in traditional settings. The combination of structured lessons and the ability to move around has made a significant difference in his attitude and engagement with learning.