Conference moira::parenting

Wow - a school that gives grades in primary school.  My son didn't even get 
grades until 4th grade! 

First, have you had a discussion with the teacher on why his grades are 
"falling"?  They can often give you insights into your child that you
may not have because your interaction with your child is different than 
theirs.

I would suggest that you work with him on "learning" activities outside 
of school either on your own or with a tutor.  An extra language, etc
to supplement what he is getting in school.  You might also consider, if 
possible, a private school where he can get more attention in a smaller class.
It costs but it also depends what your goals and objectives for your child are.

We also have two very bright children.  When our town failed to pass a budget
override, and all of the enrichment programs were cancelled, we made the
difficult decision to remove him from the public school.  Our daugher is now
in the same public school in kindergarten and we are watching very closely.
When class sizes are high, bright children are neglected.

    Hi.  I have an 8 year old in 2nd grade.  My son's grades have gone
    down as well.  He also seems to have ALOT of homework!  One of the
    things he was marked down for is not completing his work.  He can DO
    the work, he just doesn't finish it IN school.  I'm wondering if it's
    because he's bored in the classroom. 
    
    I'm curious to see what kind of responses we get...
    
    Thanks,
     

Hmmm, I thought I had replied to this yesterday?


Homework at the primary level has two purposes. One is to reinforce the work in
school the other is to develop good study habits. In our system we don't give
formal homework until third grade. 

As far as grades at the primary level go, I think they are inappropriate prior
to the 3rd or 4th grade. Students below the 4th grade are usually being measured
to a teacher's set of "norms" as opposed to any outcome specifications. A student
who can do everything a second grader can do in September will certainly get all
A's but that student may stumble some when exposed to more complex subject matter
in grade 3. All A's in the first or second grade is not necessarily, by itself,
an indicator of a "gifted" child. 

Boredom is common among young children (K-2) who have attended pre-school. 
They've  already learned alot of what a school system might expect them to learn
in K and 1. In a large number of communities elementary curriculum has not
caught up with the fact that a large number of children have acquired these 
skills. 

If I were you I would backoff on the grade pressure a little. Find out from the 
teacher what he's having trouble with and work on that with him. If he's not
completing work in school but find's that work easy when he does it with you
then boredom is definitely a possibility. Find something more challenging in
the same subject area. 

And please remember that you are dealing with a 7 year old child. A couple of
B's or C's is not going to make or break him in life. I admire your concern (I
wish all parents got this concerned) but you need to be careful that you don't
make school work such a chore that it turns the child off to learning.

    The student handbook states that homework should begin in grade 3. My
    some sometimes gets 50 math problems in a night. 
    
    My son is gifted. His pediatrician tested him. When he was two, he was
    operating at the level of a 4 year old. I haven't tested him since. 
    
    Kate
    
    

Exactly my point. An 8 year old is not a 2 year old. The norms are different and
while your child may have been operating at a 4-year-old's level at 2 that does 
not mean that the same child will continue to operate 2 years ahead of his peers
forever. Nor does it mean the child is gifted. I would sit down with your child's
school teacher and administrator and try to put together a plan to determine
if the child is truly gifted and then what to do about it. Again, a child who is
gifted in Math may not be so in language or other areas.