A
adrenochrome42
Guest
At this moment in time, and for the next year or two, I have VERY few schooling options for my son (it' a question of where I live and not really negotiable for now). He started school early, has just turned 5, and is in kindergarten (having been in preschool since age 2). He likes doing schoolwork, is especially interested in math, reads fairly well but not yet independently (makes mistakes). We use 3 languages, and he is highly articulate in all 3, and is attempting to learn a 4th (local language where we live) pretty much on his own, as well as getting along in basic Spanish (which he gets at school). At home, he asks for math and writing work ("homework") although, at this level, the school does not yet hand out any, so I give him pages off store-bought workbooks or things I print off websites. He will sometimes invert the direction of a letter or number, but adds and subtracts very well, is beginning to understand multiplication, and generally likes learning. At school, however, he is doing less and less. He will sit in front of a simple assignment, such as writing out his full name, poke holes in the paper, draw lines without actually finishing the work, etc. His coloring varies from careful and sensible (in the lines, right colors) to a black scribble.
His teacher is intent on holding him back (repeating kindergarten), stating that he is "immature". He's preoccupied (as are many kids his age) with who is or isn't his friend, and his teacher tells me some of the kids reject him because they perceive him as a baby. is the youngest in the class, but his friends tend to be older (mostly aged 6-9). I have asked him about what is going on at school, and his answer so far is that he is very frustrated (his own words). When I ask why, the answers vary, but involve being distracted by friends and being harassed by a couple of other boys. He also says that he knows how to write his name and his letters, so why can't he do it differently every time - which he sometimes does, varying the inclination of the letters or adding curlicues. He also says he'd like more work with numbers.
I see no action on the part of the teacher to address any of this, beyond saying that she hasn't seen him do the work at school so it fails to be her problem. The school does not have a counselor or anyone who could really solve the problem, and switching schools is not an option in any way. I am looking through home schooling possibilities, but it will pose huge problems in many ways. I firmly believe that holding him back will be disastrous, as he is already showing clear signs of boredom. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to deal with this? I really want to avoid the most drastic solution, which is moving out of the country so I can enroll him in another school.
His teacher is intent on holding him back (repeating kindergarten), stating that he is "immature". He's preoccupied (as are many kids his age) with who is or isn't his friend, and his teacher tells me some of the kids reject him because they perceive him as a baby. is the youngest in the class, but his friends tend to be older (mostly aged 6-9). I have asked him about what is going on at school, and his answer so far is that he is very frustrated (his own words). When I ask why, the answers vary, but involve being distracted by friends and being harassed by a couple of other boys. He also says that he knows how to write his name and his letters, so why can't he do it differently every time - which he sometimes does, varying the inclination of the letters or adding curlicues. He also says he'd like more work with numbers.
I see no action on the part of the teacher to address any of this, beyond saying that she hasn't seen him do the work at school so it fails to be her problem. The school does not have a counselor or anyone who could really solve the problem, and switching schools is not an option in any way. I am looking through home schooling possibilities, but it will pose huge problems in many ways. I firmly believe that holding him back will be disastrous, as he is already showing clear signs of boredom. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to deal with this? I really want to avoid the most drastic solution, which is moving out of the country so I can enroll him in another school.