Insight needed : Teachers and parents of middle-schoolers

[taxqueen]

Here's the scenario...I get an email from Nick's Health teacher that he has an "A" in the class and we don't need to have a conference (I had sent him an email asking how Nick was doing in general). Great. Nick has all As and Bs in his classes, so I'm proud and he's having fun and more latitude on World of Warcraft

Comments

[bellanna]

Don't schools have SENCO's there? Here any kid with any kind of recognised special need will get extra help. ADHD is a recognised special need. Kid's with special needs here have a classroom assistant who will help with the stuff they need help with. I think it is 50/50, would Nick keep a dairy or use a personal organiser of some sort if you got him one, he could then write/set reminders. But I'd definitely have a word with the teacher, they need to keep you informed.

[taxqueen]

We have IEPs (Individual Education Plan) that is the same...designed to help kids with learning issues have the extra help they need. Nick is entitled to one because of the ADHD, but it's never been needed before this. He's always had wonderful grades and he's been lucky not to have any learning disabilities that sometimes go hand-in-hand with ADHD.

He was homeschooled last year due to our moves, and it seems to be an issue of organization on his part. He has a homework reminder that he fills out each day, and always does the homework. There just seems to be a missing link between the homework getting into his backpack, and getting into the hands of the teacher. So far, his participation in class and tests are all on the high end.

Thanks for thoughts, I appreciate them!

[mokie_sassafras]

I don't think you're wrong to be peeved, since you specifically asked him how Nick was doing. And I don't get the grading system either, if that one thing could bring his grade down so much.
It doesn't necessarily sound like an ADHD thing to me, either, esp. if the teacher just asked him twice over a month to bring it in.

[taxqueen]

I think the student teacher was wiling to work with me after she realized that she and the head teacher obviously had a huge communication problem.

I'm not sure if it's the ADHD issue or the fact that he had less structure last year and is just getting back into the flow of things. In Math, Science and now Health, his instructors have all said that he's bright, participates in class and does well on tests. He's just struggling in organizing his work and turning it in. I'll keep working with him on it, and hopefully there will be an improvement next trimester. To be honest, I wasn't expecting him to do as well as he did (does that sound bad?) since all the other kids started middle-school last year and he's just now getting into it. I figured he'd need awhile to get up to speed.

See you soon!!!

[taxqueen]

Thank you! I think I gave her a verbal version of the rubber hose on the phone, and then as soon as I was off gave Nick a little bit of it as well. I do feel for her, since she's a student teacher and obviously doesn't have great communication with the teacher she's working under.

Thank you for your insight!

[princessgeek]

I wouldn't tell a parent that he had an A without looking at the gradebook.

Stupid teacher. I think he's learned his lesson and a 50% should suffice.

[taxqueen]

Thank you, as a teacher I value your opinion here tons!!

[mba500]

You definitely need a face to face as I will not accept a note that is telling me that my kid is doing well then get the grade of F.