I made a call this morning to get G in to be tested for ADD. Tim and I do not know what to do anymore. We tried helping him get "more organized". I purchased a 5 subject notebook rather then several small ones so that all his work would be in once place - I went to the school and helped him clean out his locker looking for "missing" assignments, we had him drop out of choir so he could have a study hall period giving him extra time to work, we cleared his room of all distractions - we took away all privileges - (w/ the exception of the long Christmas break). He is failing. and most of his grades that he is getting "f"s in are missing assignments. At conferences, one teacher did ask us what he was like....he didn't know how to read him....he seemed to be a daydreamer. I've heard this since the time he's been in kindergarten. I'm not looking for a straight A kid, especially given the grades Tim and I got, we weren't expecting to produce some kind of genius offspring. We did expect his best - and I don't feel we're getting it. If it turns out, he is diagnosed with ADD, I think Tim and I will have failed in our parenting skills in this area, for forever putting it off. If he doesn't, well, I'm still going to feel like a failure because we don't know what else to do! If F's were all he were capable of, I'd be fine with his grades. I don't even know what grades he should be getting, because he doesn't turn in his work. He "forgets". Friends of ours charge their child a dollar every time she "forgets". I've given this some serious consideration. I've also in the past couple days given thought to getting a sitter for my two little ones, and going to school with him. He's almost 13, should he need that much guidance? Would the humiliation of having his mommy with him from class to class making sure he's doing his work, turning it in, remembering his pencils be worth it? Will there be more humiliation in having to repeat most of the 7th grade classes? He's struggled, as I've said since kindergarten, but this year has been the worst as of yet. Though his teachers mentioned his lack of ability to stay focused, he did well in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. I'm thinking because of the teacher's styles of teaching. The 4th grade teacher really put herself out there, giving him the one-on-one he seemed to need, and he did quite well. I would really appreciate prayers for him, Tim and myself.
This year has been different in there is no recess, and no gym in the first semester. Doesn't a kid - even pre-teens and teens - need time to release some energy? I don't want to be one of those parents that play the "blame" game, unless there's blame to be given. So I"m just throwing out some thoughts here. I'm also quite disgusted with his arts and humanities teacher. I think since the beginning of the year, they've watched about 5 movies so far as part of their curriculum....one of them being "CAVEMEN". This is a class he was very excited about. He'd come home showing me his art projects, and very proud and pumped up about them, and yet receive very low grades for them. ( I discussed this briefly on FB). But I don't get that. I could see if the arts were an elective course, but since it's required, I don't believe talent is something that should be judged and graded on. Art skill, is a great percentage of one's opinion. I'm afraid, after receiving too many D's and F's for his projects, his joy for that class is going to be crushed... and that and the technology class are the only two that he seems to enjoy and care about at all.
Once again, if I'm off my rocker....let me know - in the mean time - please remember us all in your prayers!
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