At my wits end, just don't know what to do anymore! About This Page:

[disneyprincess]

Oldest DS is having trouble in school. As some of you may remember from a post a while back, he is struggling in school. He's a sophmore. All last year we fought about his grades or should I say lack there of. Punished, grounded, took away video games even put him on a weekly progress report with his teachers. Well, this year starts out just about the same. Report cards and progress reports all say "not working to his potential, not completing work, low test/quiz scores"......these are all college prep courses. He is adamant about not being taken out and put in general courses.

Now please understand he isn't one of these kids that is out with friends. At 15 he hangs out here at home. Never goes out with friends, in bed by 9:30. The kids he is friends with are a good bunch of kids. Teachers say he is very respectful in class and polite. He has also proven several times that he can do it, just being lazy.

Last week DH and I had parent/teacher conferences. All teachers said the same thing, again. Not working to potential, doesn't turn in work on time, unprepared for class......English teacher says he is really struggling with vocab. Now to me this is unacceptable because its words and definitions. You just need to memorize! The english teacher says that he asked to stay after school, which is true because he asked me to pick him up last Thursday. She has no problem with him staying. Well, thursday comes and he's home early. Why you ask, seems that that day he asked the teacher if she was still staying and she says, "well, you need to have a purpose for staying." Hello! you're giving my kid a F, what more do you need!!! She would rather he stay one day this week for review of a test that they will be having. Needless to say he didn't get to stay that day. She also doesn't give extra credit.

I just don't know what to do with this kid anymore. I have punished all I can, taken away everything I can think of. And the issue with this particular teacher has me quite miffed.

Sorry for this being so long, thanks for letting me vent!

[chezp]

[lukeandbrookesmom]

Does your school system have an after school tutoring program? Or maybe you could get someone in the Senior class willing to tutor a couple hours a week? I hope you can find what will help him.

[disneydani]

[Luvsun]

[Colexis Mom]

[tndisneyfam]

[tinker_me_happy]

Has your son been tested for a learning disability? The reason I ask is it sounds like you are describing MY DS15!!! He is VERY bright but gets the same type of comments from teachers. Usually when he is "lazy" it is really because he is having a difficult time doing something. Not that he doesn't understand, but that he can't get it from the brain to the hand to the paper! ESPECIALLY vocab!!! I fought with the schools for years because he "wasn't working up to potential" and when we finally had him tested, found he had a slight form of dyslexia!!! (and ADHD - predominantly Distractable with VERY little Hyperactivity so it went UNNOTICED by the teachers!) In order to have testing, most schools require a request in writing with a reason. All the teachers saying he is not working up to potential is reason enough if you ask me!
Try reward system instead of punishment, and go back to having him sit at the kitchen table while you cook supper to do his homework. Help him study as if he were still in grammar school. Oh and if you help him with vocab, have him write the answers, not just verbally tell you the answers. I hope this helps. And I FEEL for you!! My DS15 is VERY smart, but STRUGGLES with all of his classes too, and I don't want to move him to a lower level either!

[Disney_Scarlett]

[poohmaine]

Originally Posted by tinker_me_happy

I fought with the schools for years because he "wasn't working up to potential" and when we finally had him tested, found he had a slight form of dyslexia!!! (and ADHD - predominantly Distractable with VERY little Hyperactivity so it went UNNOTICED by the teachers!

This was also my experience . . . but it didn't show up until junior year for my DD because that's when classes started getting too hard for her (she's so smart and also did not have the hyperactivity part, so it went years unnoticed . . .) My honor-roll DD went to Ds very quickly, almost didn't graduate high school because she was flunking English . . . but insisted on staying in her AP classes, and got 4s on her three AP tests!

Definitely get your son tested ASAP!

[FanOfMickey]

[Jookiba]

[lauren-roxy]

[GATechGal]

I was wondering about eyesight and/or hearing as well. Sometimes kids are funny and won't tell you they can't see. Just last week Lizzie said that her riflery coach suggested she get her eyes checked, and when I asked her was she having trouble seeing she admitted that she was (she already wears contacts so I realize there are some issues already). WHAT??!!?? Why am I just hearing about this NOW???!!!??? Her answer: "Well, I just thought I'd try and tough it out". Had her tested and there had been a SIGNIFICANT change in perscription. So I told her a headache you can probably tough out, but eyes we can fix. So get him tested. JMHO but I would be careful of an ADHD test/label.

[dejavu]

for you and your son. My son is also a sophomore and is having a tough year too. Hope you can identify a cause of his struggles soon.