My granddaughter, a sweet, smart, beautiful, totally unmotivated 17 yr old is looking at an additional year of high school. If that were all there was too it I (and her mom) would not even worry about it. She's a young senior and another year wouldn't hurt her.
She's a good kid, has a lot of friends, doesn't get into any trouble. She's an artist and has a good time at school but can't seem to get in gear academically.
She has a little ADD and a little dyslexia and year after year has struggled in school. And when I say she is smart it's not just a grandmother talking.
She truly is smart but she is an "other learner" meaning the traditional system of our institutional schools doesn't do it for her. She has had an IEP since elementary school but it has done little to help. The schools are pretty lax in that department especially once you get in HS. She is far from what you would call learning disabled.
In hindsight, home schooling would have been best but that ship has sailed.
(I say "we" because I, her grandmother, have been involved with raising her since she was born.)
We want to get her graduated in some manner (GED or on line diploma) and let her get on with her life, whether it's community college or just go to work. We want her to see there is more going on than what is going on in High School.
And what is going on in High School?
Without going into detail let's just say it's not a good environment. I'd love to elaborate but it would be a book. The word toxic comes to mind (and warehousing). Which is one of the reasons we are considering an alternative.
At any rate she would have to pick up 3 more classes in order to graduate next year. If she manages to flub another year she is still in the same situation and she's no better off. Just a year wasted and one more disappointment for her. That's why we are leaning toward GED rather than on line school.
She is good with the idea of moving on. So as a parent what are your thoughts? If you would like to recommend a good on line school that could be a help as well.
What about going to the local community college and taking high school classes there? While finishing high school she could also be getting college credits.
My granddaughter dropped out at 17. She's now 18, working part time and taking a class at a community college to get her GED.
When she was a high school sophomore and having difficulty in school, she asked to go to an online school. Counselors recommended an alternative school instead.
When she asked to take an online program, her counselor said that because she was having difficulty staying focus and being responsible for her daily work, she needed more structure. If left to herself it was likely that she would continue to not focus and be inconsistent in completing work. The counselor recommended an alternative school instead.
In elementary and middle school, she had an IEP because she has ADD. This gave her a period during which she had individual help. This worked in elementary and middle school but not high school. High school was much larger and staff were less personally involved.
She transferred to a same district alternative school where she was successful for two years. The school was small and provided much more educational and personal support. Her art work and interests were supported.
Entering her senior year she transferred to much larger alternative school but still in the same school district. She dropped out the first week. She thrived in the smaller school where she received individual teacher support, with smaller class sizes. She was allowed to continue at her own pace.
I suggest you consider an alternative school. If you haven't talked with your granddaughter's school counselor, I recommend doing that before making a decision.
Our local community college offered GED classes. and it definitely sounds like it may be a better option for your daughter. Look into it and see what your area has to offer
I also commend you for recognizing that some kids learn differently. That's not a value judgment, just a fact of life.
I wonder if an on line class would be more difficult? If she has ADD and dyslexia, reading stuff on a screen and remaining focused might just play into the struggles she's already had.
I agree that a community college or other location that offers GED might make more sense. A new environment to get her out of the toxic school she's in might be the perfect fit. Ideally, they'll have experience in working with kids like your granddaughter and giving them a 2nd chance. Talk to the staff to see what accommodations they can make. I have a friend with dyslexia, and she got good support in college (such as untimed tests) . She did so well, she went on for a masters degree.
Good for you for recognizing it isn't a good fit and helping to figure out how to get her on to the next stage of her life. I would call a local community college and explore her getting her GED. Do not waste anymore time. Help her get the GED and then explore art schools. There are lots of great jobs out there for artists.
My youngest brother had a really hard time in high school. He ended up leaving the school during junior year and got his high school diploma through the local tech school. That ended up being a great fit for him. No more problems, great grades. I don't know if your state has that option, but it might be worth looking into.
A GED could be the way to go, however, be prepared for her to struggle there as well. I understand when school's do not give the support kids really need. The HS my kids went to was all talk about AP classes and opportunities etc but we have found that there is a lot my kids were not prepared for in college, even though they excelled. If you do have her take the GED or other route, be prepared to support her in her learning. She is probably unmotivated because of the struggles she has had to deal with. She never learned how to handle them and get over the obstacles.
TO add, you say she is an artist. She may be a visual learner where reading is not the way for her to learn. She has to see it. Both of my daughter are artistic, one has gotten awards from her art class. The other is loves to animate and it has helped her to visualize things to help her learn. She is a nursing student now and draws things out to recall and learn. Unforatunately, schools are bookwise and do not help when it comes to visual learning.
My old boss did this with her son.
He'd been home schooled for a few years but needed to go to high school (how ever they were home schooling wouldn't work anymore) and the school did not acknowledge his home schooling grade level and tried to put him in 9th grade classes when he was at an 11th grade level.
After much fighting with the school system they quit it and he enrolled in the towns GED program.
He worked hard and studied and got his GED at technically when he would have finished 11th grade.
Not every school is a good one and not every kid fits into a school well even if there's an IEP in place.
Last time I talked with her her son was working and planning on attending a school for train engineers in Georgia.
A GED is still work and if you don't put effort into it it's possible to fail.
I wouldn't say that it's an easy way out.
The classes have mostly adults in them - so you don't get any of the kid nonsense that can sometimes happen in school.
There's no prom, no sports and maybe not any graduation ceremony (some places have them and some don't) so there are fewer distractions.
It might be a good fit for your granddaughter.
I don't know anything about any online schools and I don't know anyone who has been through one so I have no knowledge of that option.
i'm sure there's a ton of squawking below about the 'stigma' of the GED.
meh.
my kids were homeschooled and got their GEDs. that got them into community college, where they both got into Phi Theta Kappa and went on to university with zero problem.
get her some tutoring in whatever subjects are needed (or enroll her in the pre-credit classes at community college, which was what i did for my kids' math needs) and let her get on with life.
i remember a slew of people horrified that my kids were going to 'miss out' of the 'high school experience' and be forever branded as losers for getting GEDs.
ridiculous.
community college is one of the best educational options out there. use it.
khairete
S.
I think that an online schooling would be something to consider. She can be at home, get her work done in 3-4 hours instead of 7 and won't have the drama.
My husband had undiagnosed adhd as a kid and he ended up dropping out in 11th and getting a GED. He now has a successful business. He too is someone who can't stand a traditional learning/work environment.
If she plans on going to a local community college to start, the GED will be plenty. Same with the online homeschooling. If it were my kid, I think I would strike a deal that if she gets her GED instead then she must start community college the next term. I so regret not getting my degree at a young age.
If it saves her sanity, then this may be her path. So many kids with adhd have this trouble. Traditional public schools generally do not make it easy on kids with these problems. They are smart, great kids who need a different way of learning that isn't afforded to them.
Letting my child/grandchild get a GED would be my VERY last resort. There are WAY more disadvantages to a GED, than a high school diploma and I would only consider it myself if my child had already dropped out and it was too late to go back and finish high school or something like that. As an employer, what a GED says to me is that you were too "lazy" to even show up for class and do the work, why would I hire you? Not only that, there are colleges that won't accept GED holders and what if she later wants to join the military? I know she says she's all into the arts and such now, but who knows what 5 years from now would bring? Why let her burn that bridge if she doesn't have to?
There are so many alternative learning situations these days that allow for a high school diploma without going the GED route. Between modifying her classes with an IEP, ALC schools, online schools, private school - honestly, there isn't a single reason that she shouldn't be able to make ONE of these work. If she can't? I can't believe that community college (even art based) would be a good fit for someone who can't manage to finish up 3 classes to get a high school diploma.
It sounds like everyone, including you, are making excuses for her. That is definitely NOT going to help her out in the real adult world . . .
