Online High School?

[LoriL]

I wasn't sure if this should go in regular chit chat or family life. Does anyone here attend this?

My daughter has a really hard time in school. She struggles and hates going. We've had tutors, we've talked to the teachers, we've had testing done, basically, she is slightly dyslexic. She knows she flips some of her words and letters around and works to correct it, but it takes her some time to do it. In the meantime, she continues to get C's and D's in Science, English (especially now that she's expected to read novels), History, etc.

She's not bad enough to qualify for help though. :banghead: So, we continue to try to help her cope with this. Of course, she becomes more and more discouraged.

What helps, or sometimes doesn't help, is that she is a gifted dancer (and I'm not just saying that). She knows she has other options in her life and can make a career out of ballet. When this doesn't help us is when she decides that she doesn't need school, she can just dance.
:(

Obviously, things get frustrating at our house.

She just brought home her latest report card with the same results, and of course, frustration. She's a smart girl, just frustrated. Can't say as I blame her.

I've been searching the internet for options and found an online high school. At first I thought this would be a bad idea because it would require a lot of reading, but I followed a demo of the courses and there seems to be a lot of audio/visual. There are teachers also.

So I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this? Most of her friends are in her ballet classes, she said the kids in school just don't understand her. She's always been so driven with ballet, that she's never made a lot of friends other than those there. Even those who attend classes don't understand her drive (I don't either). Soon we'll be getting ready for auditions for larger companies too, so this online school might be beneficial for that.

[Lutra]

I had to do this my senior year because I was very sick in the hospital. I had the best grades ever that year, but I think that's because I was getting just about one on one attention, and also because the material just wasn't challenging enough. I didn't really feel like I learned as much as I would have in an actual class. Also, it requires a lot more discipline, you have to devote time to homework and all, and it just plain takes more concentration doing it on your own. So, if your daughter is dyslexic or has any other concentration problems, I just don't know that it would be a good idea. However, if you're at you wits end, it's worth a shot.

[DustBunnie]

I take online college classes, and I love them. I know it's not the same thing, but it might give you a little more insight. I think it's a great program, if you do it right. It may help your daughter because then she doesn't have to feel like everyone is judging her, and she doesn't have to be embarassed about asking for extra help. She can deal directly with the teacher, and her class mates don't need to know if she doesn't understand something, or needed extra guidance. If it is anything like my program it may also help boost her self confidence, because she's not dealing with stereotypes. She's not sitting in a room, looking around going "I can't ask those people for help, they'd just laugh at me." It's nice to have that computer screen as a barrier. You don't have to be uncomfortable talking to someone that would normally intimidate you because they can't see you. It may give her some of the confidence she needs.
I don't think it would cause any social conflicts, as you said she's got lots of frinds in dance, but she would have to be motivated to make it work. She has to be able to sit in front of the computer and ignore that urge to chat wih friends or download music and really work on what she's doing. But maybe removing the social aspect of traditional high school would help her focus more. But it can be hard to get things done on time when you don't have a teacher staring at you asking why you didn't finish your assignment.
Anyway, that's just my input. I hope it helps!

[Tsukiko]

My boyfriend's little brother had to take online high school classes because he was flunking out and wouldn't graduate otherwise. He did good on them, but they were way too easy. Do you have anything like the sylivan (sp?) program in your area? They have some good results I've heard. Don't let her think her only career option is dancing because what if she gets injured?

[Midwest Exotics]

Without reading the above posts.. i would have to say that i would give it a try.

The worst thats going to happen is it wont work out & she will have to go back to school.

I honestly feel that if i would have had the chance to do my stuff online i would have done better. I wouldnt have had to put up with all the goof offs in class slowing me down & i work & keep focused better on my own.

I wish you & your daughter luck!

[Meredith]

Like several others have said, I'd give it a try, for your daughter's sake. I also take online courses for my college degree. I decided to do it this way so I could be home with my son, but I have to say I enjoy it so much more than actually going to class. Some kids just have a really hard time learning in a traditional classroom setting-- your daughter may be one of those kids. I know if I could have done high school the same way I'm doing college I would have. Good luck!

[Jeanette]

I think that online classes are not for everyone.

But in your daughters case, it would be worth a try!
I know that I had a really hard time in school making friends (although, I did really well in school) and there were times that I wished that I could just study at home.

She has got to have disipline if she is going to study at home... it's sooo tempting to just ignore school work and turn on the TV when Mom and Dad are at work (anyways... how would they possibly find out!!).

Just remember that kids change their minds 50 billion times a day... She may not be as interested in dance when she graduates as she is now. Keep the doors open and do well in school so that if she does change her mind, she would have good enough grades to go to college/university!

Good luck!!

[maryrnsn]

have you checked into a charter school? my son was struggling and failing every class he had he hated school and it was a fight to get him to go , he now attends a charter school and his grades have came up to b's and a's and his overall attitude is a whole lot better

[KrptcMschfMkr128]

Just be careful with what school you DO go to. I was in an on-line school for 8 and 9 grades... The first year, I did fine. But the second year, the teachers stopped really trying to help me and I did horribly.. I think my highest grade was a "c" and I didn't get 2 of the credits that I needed. I think for on-line highschool, though, you have to be pretty good at teaching yourself, even with the visuals. But good luck if she tries it out!

[Riven]

can make a career out of ballet.

Unfortunately this is like saying you want to be a movie star...Ballet doesn't last forever, companies change dancers fairly often, and when it's over, if it begins, then she's looking for a job with nothing... I'm not trying to spoil her dreams, but it's not like there are a lot of companies out there looking to pay professional dancers... And what about her life? Most companies travel, if she wants to have a baby... her career is gone. If she wants to get married, she has to have someone who wants to go with her or understand that she's going to be gone...

I didn't see if you said how old she is or in what grade? Perhaps you should get her to transfer her ballet drive to school work instead. If she has problems with dyslexia to the point that it's creating problems with school then that needs to be addressed. Not to sound cruel but my thoughts are for someone in high school is school should come first, other activities second.When you're 30 years old looking for a job a diploma is much more important than a dance record. :dunno:

Have you tried a different school? Or a private school?