Frustrated with the IB program, should we homeschool?

Parents Forum
1

<p>So, homeschooling isn't the only option, but it seems any option we might seriously consider would have 'schooling at home' as a part of the program.</p>

<p>My daughter is currently in Pre IB in high school (10thgrade). She's made all A's s far. This is her 2nd yr of Pre IB. She hasn't seemed to struggle much at all with the undestanding of concepts,retaining info, etc. But between the stress of LOADS of homework, and classes she is simply not enjoying, she is starting to think that maybe this IB thing isn't all she thought it would be. She started out pretty excited for the challenge of IB and the more challenging classes.
We've heard from the GC and a couple people who hae had kids go through the progrm that this sophomore year is the worst and that by junior year kids seem to hit a stride that somehow makes it less stressful, but I've heard others warn of the stresses to come.</p>

<p>My daughter has never been one to back down from a challenge, but although this is challenging, it also seems to be sucking the joy or learning out of her.</p>

<p>We know she would not be happy in standard courses. We are thinking an option might be some combination of home school/virtual school/dual enrollment. Wehave no idea how that would affect college applications later...not to mention social life, etc. She is just realy having a hard time facing continuing what she has been doing (school, homework, sleep, repeat...all in things she seems to have little or no interest in this year.</p>

<p>Oh, and she can't just choose different classes. Her school has very defined IB course work and she has to follow their prescribed courses.</p>

<p>Have you been through this? Have you looked into or have advice about homeshooling in high school? </p>

<p>It is just frustrating to see someone who normally loves to learn become someone who is dreading school, and though she could probably trudge through it, it makes you really question the system. She knows of a couple people who have left the IB program and then come right back to it because of the dramatic difference in the caliber of the students/classes that would be the other option.</p>

2

<p>Are there no other school options besides the unchallenging standard courses and the IB courses that she does not like?</p>

3

<p>My DD2 is in Pre-IB grade 9 and while she’s doing well I am not quite so enamored with the program almost a semester into it (or with AP or honors either as she has some of each). It seems to me tests every two weeks or so, usually on several subjects per week, and much heavier homework is the way to go. But without better teachers. And that’s where the problem lies. </p>

<p>A lot of her friends are super-happy in their normal courses, spending considerably less time on homeworks and dealing with considerably easier tests (and in the grand scheme of things, getting better grades since a lot of colleges care more about unweighted rather than weighted GPA). </p>

<p>Pre-IB Biology, for example, is a classic case where a poor teacher and even poorer class organization has all but managed to kill interest in biology in DD2. Despite 90’s in tests, she does not like the stuff. </p>

<p>Pre-IB (aka AP) World History has not been any better, with grading all on multiple choice and questions that make one wonder if she’s taking AP World History or the LSAT.</p>

<p>The irony here is that our (top school in state, very highly ranked nationally) school seems to graduate a handful of IB’s every year (single digits) in a graduating class of four figures. No answers, I’m afraid, just more commiserating. Come home at 4, study till 11-12, sleep, repeat. None of her friends in the Pre-IB is doing much better, it reminds me a lot more of freshman engineering than anything else. I don’t expect it to be easy but I expect a bit better quality of instruction to go with the more advanced material. Faster pace, much stricter grading and tougher tests do not make a class IB or AP or whatnot if the teachers are not any better than the normal classes. Out of four Pre-IB, AP, or honors classes she has this semester only one is a better teacher than what we saw a few years ago with DD1.</p>

4

<p>I have a junior in the IB curriculum. And it’s not for everyone that’s for sure. </p>

<p>The problem for a lot of kids, including my own, is the very strictness of the curriculum. My daughter has had to take summer school courses every year - including the summer before freshman year - to be able to have room for her honors choir. If she were in orchestra, forget it. There is no way she’d be able to do IB. It’s insane. </p>

<p>And honestly, I believe it’s junior year that’s the roughest. </p>

<p>She may just be hitting the sophmore slump … perhaps the holiday break will leave her a bit more refreshed?</p>

5

<p>“It’s insane.”</p>

<p>If it’s insane, then only insane parents have their kids do it. Waste of kids’ time. Thirty years from now, your kid might be playing in a community orchestra, and loving it. And the benefit from insanity will be…</p>

6

<p>IMO, IB will only get worse… the workload is extreme. Way more than college. I was churning out essay after essay when I was in the IB program. My classmates and I were always up until after midnight, and 2am wasn’t out of the norm. We were always on AOL Instant Messenger (this was before facebook) discussing homework, math problems, essay topics, etc.</p>

<p>Couple this with the other activities that these top achieving kids do, and you can bet they are way overloaded (sports, music, theater, etc). At my high school we had 7 periods, so IB Diploma kids that were in music classes had to take TOK after school (and there were enough kids for a full class).</p>

<p>As a benefit, the stress level in college will be much lower. Kid will be able to write their papers very quickly and be used to having lots of exams (and writing on all their exams).</p>

7

<p>Huh. Well I think someone just called me insane.</p>

<p>Nice.</p>

<p>I’m not “having” my child do the IB program. It’s my daughter’s choice. Hers. Not mine.</p>

8

<p>Both my daughters received their IB Diplomas and found it a challenging, worthwhile experience. They had amazing teachers, became friends with very diverse classmates and gained a global perspective. They were well prepared for college with strong study, research, and time management skills. Their IB program is only Junior and Senior year of high school though. Agree with KaMaMom, the student must make the choice and this is emphasized in our area. They had AP classes that were interesting, but it the IB program that defined their high school experience. We all feel grateful they had the opportunity.</p>

9

<p>I agree - IB gets tougher junior year. There are more projects and requirements… and then the dreaded Extended Essay. I had one kid that thrived in IB and one (the more “wing it” disorganized one) that crashed and burned fall off junior year.</p>

<p>“We know she would not be happy in standard courses.”- Are there honors and/or AP classes available? At our hs, many of the pre-IB students switch our of IB at the end of 10th grade. That gives them more flexibilty to mix/match a set of honors and/or AP classes more to their liking.</p>

10

<p>“Huh. Well I think someone just called me insane.”</p>

<p>You called it, not I. </p>

<p>“I’m not “having” my child do the IB program. It’s my daughter’s choice. Hers. Not mine.”</p>

<p>I usually advised my children against making “insane” choices, choices that I call “insane”. They would have had difficulty looking 30 years out. (they still do).</p>

<p>But as I always advise, put one dollar in the therapy fund for every dollar in the college one. ;)</p>

11

<p>I am a senior in the IB program right now, and it is tough. But applying to colleges, I can see that it is worth it. My gpa isn’t super high but I have the rigor they are looking for. By the way, 10th grade shouldn’t be hard at all. Your daughter isn’t doing something right if she’s stressed now. I work and play soccer and still manage good grades as a senior in the IB. if she wants a future, stay in IB.</p>

12

<p>Wow. Well, homeschooling requires certain strengths and determination in the kid. The ability to both follow a track of some sort and go off track, pursuing additional challenges, knowing what the right challenges are for the kid. I know some who have been extremely successful, but it requires a sold effort to tackle the education. Have you looked into any programs or learning tools? Do you have reason to believe your D has the inherent organizational skills and can learn independently? Or would missing the group aspects be its own challenge? Also would suggest you look at some of the college supplements for home schooled kids, to get an idea of what they look for.</p>

13

<p>I’d rather my child make her own decisions based on her own research, interests and dedication then take my advice based strictly on personal opinion.</p>

<p>But, whatever floats your boat.</p>

14

<p>OP, my daughter also got the love of learning whacked out of her by the tsunami of busywork in her AP class in 10th grade. We too had very few creative options to put together a curriculum that would interest and challenge her. </p>

<p>I guess my question would be: what does she love to study? Can she find a college level course (maybe at a local college) that has an advanced class in that one discipline and then maybe scale back on the classes that are not as interesting to her? And/or is there a summer learning option to delve more deeply into the course she likes (a friend’s daughter took a summer class at Brown in neuroscience – loved it).</p>

15

<p>If she doesn’t like IB she doesn’t have to do IB. I’m hard pressed to understand why she thinks there aren’t courses in her high school that she would like and challenge her and that the only alternative is “homeschooling.” Check into her school and see if AP classes are offered, they are often challenging but can be a pick and choose alternative depending on her interested. </p>

<p>No structured program, whether it’s AP or IB is the end all be all and at least with my kids, each had a semester in high school that was really stressful. Why not have a meeting with her GC and look at the course curriculum that would be available to her aside from following the IB plan and put an 11th and 12 grade plan for her if she needs to finish off 10th grade in 10th grade. If she doesn’t need to finish out the IB curriculum this year, you can look at modifying her schedule for the rest of this year. Worse case scenario is that after dropping IB she might fine that those classes actually aren’t as “bad” as she thought and she picks them up again for 11th and 12th. </p>

<p>I really don’t think this needs to be an all or nothing proposition for yor D, perhaps you can help her filter through that.</p>

16

<p>Does your daughter’s high school offer the option of taking only some IB courses, without being a diploma candidate?</p>

<p>If that option is available, it might be appropriate for her. She could choose the IB courses in the subjects she likes the best and take regular courses in the others. This would free her from some of the more time-consuming requirements of the IB program (like CAS and the extended essay) but still give her the opportunity to be in rigorous classes in the subjects she prefers.</p>

<p>Unfortunately,though, not all IB schools offer this option.</p>

17

<p>My D did the IB diploma program and it was absolutely perfect for her. Amazing, amazing teachers with whom she is still in contact three years after graduating. That said, it is NOT for everyone and we wouldn’t even consider IB for my son.</p>

<p>But I don’t get the concept of “enjoying” one’s high school program or being “happy” with it. They are there to learn and develop good skills. Great if they do enjoy classes or find themselves happy with some things, but that shouldn’t be expected in all classes. Also, some things that are worthwhile require hard work. Really hard work, and that has its own value.</p>

<p>Some students attend college where they are required to take courses they don’t enjoy and choose majors that are the right choice, but require the student to work his butt off.</p>

18

<p>

</p>

<p>Well, it is four years of their lives. If they have the choice between options that are equally suitable for them academically, why not choose the one that makes them happier?</p>

<p>Don’t we adults do the same thing? I left a job two years ago for an essentially equivalent job in another company because I was unhappy in the old job (too much overtime, stressful atmosphere, boss who was difficult to work for). I am happier in the new job (almost no overtime, pleasant atmosphere, best boss I’ve ever had). </p>

<p>Is what I did wrong? And if it’s not wrong, why would a similar change be wrong for a high school student?</p>

19

<p>I think one has to weigh happiness in the balance, particularly in the case of high school students. A lot of what will set them up to make choices that bring happiness in adult life isn’t particularly fun. I think it’s more important to be “happy” in one’s chosen career because that can last a very long time, than to be “happy” at 15 or 16 in period of life that will necessarily be short. Now, of course, they shouldn’t be miserable, but if the issue for a particular kid is that he doesn’t want to put the work in to reap the long-term benefit, then tough noogies. But if IB is really wrong for a particular kid, other choices should be considered.</p>

20

<p>Parent of IB certificate kid here, from IB magnet program in urban public high school. </p>

<p>From what you describe, it sounds as though your school does not allow a certificate-only approach, where you can mix and match IB classes with other courses, based on individual student’s interests and priorities. If so, the question is really full IB vs. regular level courses (which you describe is not an option) vs. leaving the school altogether for other online, dual enrollment or other approach.</p>

<p>In our experience – which is only one school – 10th grade was the easy year and 11th grade the killer. In 9th grade, kids were adjusting to the expectations so had some struggles, 10th grade they knew what to expect and there was some coasting, then 11th was a huge step up in homework, expectations and stress, and then 12th grade was ok, with the added stress of college apps.</p>

<p>Sounds like it is worth some conversations with guidance and perhaps your Parents group or other informal information source – are there particular teachers who are extra tough this year, feeling like they have to get the kids ready for next year?</p>

<p>Also, an opportunity for some open conversations with your daughter. If she has all As right now, she could really be feeling the stress of continued expectations to bring home those grades. At our school, there is an informal competition to stay in the running for Valedictorian – with each passing semester that students still have straight As, they feel more pressure to maintain those grades. Could your daughter be feeling that? </p>

<p>Also, it may be worth talking with her about her study skills – have they adapted to the high school environment? For instance, my son relied on his excellent memory for history tests etc and therefore spent way too much time trying to memorize, when what he really needed to do was see the connections across events. He was inefficient and, as a result, more stressed. So perhaps spend some time with her walking through how she approaches her work in each class – are there ways to be more productive? </p>

<p>High school is a busy time for active kids, there is no escaping it. Between sports, music or other ECs, there is not a lot of down time. My older son definitely needed breaks in his day to be productive and healthy whereas my younger son, a freshman in the same high school program, loves trotting from activity to activity and is bored when it is a “quiet” night with no commitments. Talk with your daughter about what she needs, and perhaps plan a schedule together. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>