Newarcher Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Okay, I know this pales in comparison to the hurricane survivers plight and many of the health needs of others, but I could really use some prayers for my son. He is 6 years old going on 7 and just started 1st grade. He is brilliant but has a stubborn streak in him that is just unbelievable. He can be a pill at times, but has never had a problem in pre-K or Kindergarten keeping up with classwork and has generally done very well. Anyway, he is having trouble at school staying on task and completing his classwork. Granted, they have first graders who are just barely learning to read and write and spell writing stories such as "I live in a house. My house is on a street. My street is .....". Or the teacher will read him a book and then tells the students to write a sentence about the beginning of the book, the middle of the book, and the ending of the book. To me, that seems very advanced for first grade. We like that but don't want him burning out and stressing out to the point that he hates school and/or gets labeled a problem child. To boot, the teacher is very strict and honestly not very pleasant....not the fun, bubbly personality of the Kindergarten teachers of the past. She sent his classwork home for us to finish last week and then sent me an email yesterday stating that she told him that she cannot keep sending his classwork home....she didn't say what 'or else' was. I am not one to make excuses but we recently moved...in fact the week before school and I think that along with perhaps being a little behind on his writing is causing him trouble. For those with kids, you know the agony of watching this little human beings struggle. You love them so much that it burrows down deep in your soul when you see them having trouble. The problem is that you cannot make them do anything...in that respect they are much like drug addicts. You cannot make them do the right thing until they decide to do it themselves. We can rant, rave, yell, punish, etc. but that cannot motivate them to do a good job. He had a good day Tuesday and completed all classwork but I cannot figure out how to motivate him to be consistent. I think, honestly, that his problem is with writing. He can do pages of math in the time it takes us to fight him to do one page of writing. Practicing and supplementing his homework (which is a LOT, for first grade IMHO) usually turns into an angst ridden stress ball. So I am asking the prayers out there to pray for Nicholas that he will be able to consistently get on track and learn the tools he needs to succeed. Those with parents know precisely how much of your personal emotional wellbeing is invested in these wonderful creatures and how it can hurt you to your core to see them struggle and suffer. There is nothing more hurtful to see a child this young's eyes when they appear to be having trouble and cannot get on track. Anyway, thanks for reading and praying for Nikko. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son we will be thinking about your son. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BuckMaster058 Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son Prayers sent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYBUCK Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son New, Having raised four kids, (my youngest is a soph in college) and taught for 7 years along with much coaching, I feel your pain. Todays kids are sometimes very difficult to motivate and especially hard when they are your own. One suggestion, you said that he had a good day on Tuesday. When he has a good day you may want to offer some positive feedback. Don't go overboard, but maybe something little like saing hey, you got everything done today so lets go get ice cream, or go to a movie. When he doesn't finish his work then don't dwell on it, just don't offer anything. I am not a huge fan of this behavior, because then they always expect something when they do good, but sometimes it is what works and can help tremendously. Just my thoughts and good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son We definitely try the positive reinforcement and will try to downplay the negative reinforcement....although you do want to wrap your hands around their throats at times. I think honestly that he is being overwhelmed by something that he doesn't understand or cannot comprehend and that is causing him to escape via paying attention to anything and everything else going on in the class. He generally is compliant and isn't a troublemaker at school anyway. So I think something is shutting him down mentally to where he cannot follow simple instructions--I have been there before. If we can get past this hurdle and first grade, I think it will get easier. Establishing the baseline of reading and writing and getting him to a point where reasoning is easier to do, I think we will make it. Man, it hurts to see your kids hurt and struggle. Thanks everyone, New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son My 10 yr olds the same way, give him some math to do or a science project he will be done in minutes and do very well on them.Give him a spelling list to study or a book to read he will screw around with it for hours and not accomplish anything if you dont sit right there and make sure hes doing it I dont know if motivations really the problem, seems like some kids just flat out dont like some things.I was just the opposite, I hated math and science, but i could read a 200 page book overnight and tell you anything about it the next morning. This year we are making him sit and do his homework as soon as he gets off the bus.He cant go outside and play, cant watch T.V., no snacks, or anything till its done.That way he can decide himself if hes gonna sit there till dark or just get it done so he can go do something, it dont matter either way to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son Praying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son You got em' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son Hey swamp, I just got an email from his teacher....as part of his punishment for not finishing his classwork was to do additional work and turn it in. He had some printouts of pictures in his karate uniform and I made him write 'I like Karate, I am a white belt' and give it to his teacher as pennance...so to speak. She emailed me and said that she was active in Tae Kwon Do and that she and Nicholas were practicing kicks in the hall. So maybe that could be her in with him. I saw your bear and figured you could appreciate it. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchies Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son If finishing the work is the biggest problem he has feel lucky. They tested my oldest 2 years ago and found out she has dyslexia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_lou Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son [ QUOTE ] Hey swamp, I just got an email from his teacher....as part of his punishment for not finishing his classwork was to do additional work and turn it in. He had some printouts of pictures in his karate uniform and I made him write 'I like Karate, I am a white belt' and give it to his teacher as pennance...so to speak. She emailed me and said that she was active in Tae Kwon Do and that she and Nicholas were practicing kicks in the hall. So maybe that could be her in with him. I saw your bear and figured you could appreciate it. New [/ QUOTE ] That sounds like a good ticket to get him to write. Tell him to write about things he likes to do. Prayers sent. I know how hard it is to get a stubborn kid to do anything they don't want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son Hutchies, I am keeping everything in perspective. Sorry about your child and their dyslexia. I am always aware that we could be at St. Judes right now. That is the biggest hurdle of parenting. You cannot make a child do anything when you really boil it down. You can make them do things in your general viscinity but when they go into the world, it is on them. I am going to cut back the hunting a good bit and spend some extra time with him working on homework and supplementing his class work. There is nothing more important. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son At least you are communicating with the teacher well. That's a plus. your family is in my prayers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scrape Maker Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son My son is also in the 1st grade this year and struggles with writing.On his SAT scores from last year he was on the 3rd grade reading level and 2 grade math level. All kids learn at different rates.Keep working with him and praising the good days and he will catch up soon.Prayers sent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son Prayers sent. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Re: Please pray for my son sent. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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