what does repeating grade level effect on the kids?

Question

my son is in 5th grade and they want him to repeat the grade next year

Answer 1

The effect will be that he learns the stuff he should have, this year.

Answer 2

I would never do this. If there is any way you can afford a tutor, I would go that route. Perhaps you can also review at home by having your son complete summer packets. His teacher should have these, or be able to put some together for you.

I believe that when a child has to repeat a grade, it has a profound effect on their self esteem and sense of self. It is one thing to have a child go through another year of preschool when they aren't aware of what is going on. When children are older, the already compare themselves with their peers. Imagine all of your peers moving on without you.

What does your son's teacher say? I would find out what he needs to work on specifically. I am assuming that there is no learning disability involved. Even so, I feel the same. By the way, I am a Social Worker.

Answer 3

I'd check the reason they insist on repeating the grade. After moving during the middle of a school year , The school my second son was attending, wanted him to repeat 1st grade because He didn't know his " Letter people". He knew his alphabet . We refused and he graduated high School with Honors.
Holding a child back can damage there self esteem. He or she think they are a dummy. But at times it is necessary to hold a child back. I would talk to the teacher and the child. Make sure the child knows why this might occur. and asked how he or she feel about it.Good Luck.

Answer 4

I think 5th grade is too late to be repeating a grade because there will be a stigma placed on your child and he will probably be teased by his former classmates. It should have been done much earlier like the 1st or 2nd grade, because children that young probably would not paid that much attention. I know you have to weigh what is best for your child, academically you definitely what your children to be successful but at the same time you don't want him to be the target of teasing. If you have to do it then it might be better to change schools. Whatever you decide, good luck.

Answer 5

I had my youngest son held back in the first grade due to an illness. He lost instructional time that I felt he needed to be successful in the next grade. His grades were passing some A's, B's and one C.
Have you talked with the teacher and or counselor at the school to see what YOU might be able to do to bring him up to grade level?
Always work on the worst subjects and review the best subjects with your child. Thirty minutes a day will pay off for a lifetime of proper education.

Please remember to acknowledge your child's accomplishments. Let the child know that his/her hard work is noticed by those who love and care about them.

Answer 6

The effect will be on how it will be explained to him. He should understand why he needs to repeat this grade. Does he really know why? Let him express himself about this? Repeating a grade is often a sign of something else...something is going inside of him, he is not happy, not motivated anymore, dont let this one go. Talk with him, show him you care. If he understands this, it will not be a failure to him but a way for him to learn even more and maybe to even help the new 5th graders....there is always a positive side to everything.

Answer 7

From my experience it is determental to them. It did not help my oldest son at all and now he will be 19 when he graduates next year. They insisted he was just imature for his age (he repeated 1st grade) but he is actually deslexic. He still turns everything around backwards and cannot spell very well at all.
What is the reason they want him to repeat? If he is having trouble with a certain subject, or more than one, have him tested. If you request him to be tested, they have to by law test him.
Maybe in some cases repeating may be okay, but over all, it isn't.

Answer 8

As a teacher I find that repeating a grade level is necessary at times for a child. The effects this could have on you child are both positive and some negative. Positives: He will not feel like he is always falling behind/not smart, he will grasp the concepts being taught to him, not just kind of understand. Negatives: he may feel embarrassed because he is not longer with his friends, etc. It is best to keep back at a younger age, the older they get the harder it is on their self-esteem to get kept back.

Answer 9

You don't say why he's is being held back, most kids can catch up over the summer and perform fine in the next grade. I would discourage the "hold back" tactic, it is very painful for the child and may cause more harm than good. See if there is an option to help your child catch up to his peers. Most young boys are more interested in playing so make sure he gets some exercise in to keep his focus when it comes time to study. There is a good artilce from Boston on this very topic. Good Luck!

Answer 10

Repeating a grade level can make the child feel "slower" than the other kids. It can also have an effect on the kid feeling larger or more developed than the other kids.

Answer 11

Each child is different. If he is repeating because he tried but just had too much trouble then it just may give him a boost next year. If its because he just didnt feel liking doing his work he will learn that there are consequences. My brother had to repeat 4th grade and he is now superintendent of schools in a large school district. Each child has his own personality and reacts in his own unique way..