Well, school is under way and we just completed the third week. My son who has always done great in school and rarely has problems is not handling things well so far this year. I just got a call this afternoon from the vice principal at the elementary school about the boy not getting work done, being distracted and *gasp* speaking rudely to his teacher. I am shocked--and quite upset--that he would use any unkind or disrespectful tone with his teacher(s). We do not allow that here at home and, he is really a sweet and sensitive kid so I know that something is going on with him.
I think that the adjustment to 4th grade is tough for him. First of all, 4th grade does a rotating schedule where the kids move through 3 different classrooms for their subjects. He doesn't do change very well and is used to having a more structured single classroom environment.
Also, he started GEM this year which is the gifted education program in our district. He is a really smart kid and I'm thrilled that he made it into GEM. For GEM, he and all the other GEM students are bussed to a different campus two days a week for their gifted classes. This campus solely for GEM instruction. I am wondering if he is having trouble dealing with the all these changes in his educational life.
I had a good long talk with him and he keeps talking about how he keeps getting distracted. I have been telling him for weeks that he needs to tune out the noise and distractions around him, but I am beginning to wonder if he just can't for some reason. He always has so many things going on in his head it's amazing! He can memorize something within minutes after repeating it a couple of times. He didn't get that from me! I am wondering if having so much stuff in his head is starting to get in his way and become a problem.
He has had recess taken away by the VP for the next two days, and I have told him that he can't have computer time through next week. I'm hoping that will help him stay focused on his work instead of daydreaming about how soon he'll get to play on the computer and what he will do on it.
Hopefully this will all get resolved soon. I need to start spending time reading a chapter from a book with him every night like we used to. I think that for some reason that one on one with me helps. I don't know why it helps, but it sure makes me feel special that it means that much to him!
Friday, September 12, 2008
School Daze
Look at this great kid!
I hope he's always such a sweetheart.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Maybe the gifted program is too much for him. I know he's a really smart kid and it's really cool that he made it into GEM, but being that smart doesn't necessarily mean that he is ready for that type of training/schooling and environment. Maybe it pushes him to work at a faster pace than he is used to or wants to. All I'm saying is that just because a kid is smart enough to be in that kind of program doesn't necessarily mean that it's the right or best thing for them. Just my two cents...
He's not having any trouble at GEM, just at the Elem. I talked to his teachers and they all and I agree that all the changes at the school and through the district are causing problems with everyone. He's not the only one. Even the teachers are having trouble because the rotating classrooms is new this year for them too.
Post a Comment