My son makes straight Fs but is not ADD. Where can I find help for him?

Question

My son is a fantastic kid. He is polite and never causes trouble at home or school. But he has made all Fs in school since he started. He failed 7th grade. He is 13 and want to get him help before it is too late. He is not eligible for extra resources at school because he has been tested for ADD and ADHD at school and at the peditricians office. I do not know where to turn for help. Any ideas from anyone. Thanks

Answer 1

you need to disipline him more, thats why asians are smart

Answer 2

There are several ways to approach this, its up to you which way you want to do it.

1. Your son most likely has a learning disability. Not everyone is ADD (though most people would like to lump anyone with a learning problem into that category). There are several different problems why your child may be having a hard time in school. There are diagnostic tests that he may take that will help develop a plan for how to effectively teach him. A person learns material through one or a combination of 4 different styles. Unfortunately most public school systems teach only one combination (often called 'concrete sequential') Those that do not learn using that style.... fail. Once the problem is found, whatever it is, you may then choose to force the school system to address that problem. Public School Systems are required to make necessary compensation to teach your child. This can be a long process, and at 13 he may live long enough to see the fruits of your labors.

2. Take charge of your son's education. Most people do this by hiring a tutor, or sending their son to a leaning center such as Sylvan. Many work with their children, teaching them at home and then sending them to school where the teachers can pat each other on the back and say, "boy we finally are getting through to this kid".

3. Home school. The ultimate take charge, definitely the most time consuming but ultimately the most effective method of learning the problems your son has and responding to those challenges. You may find after only a year, that you have an effective game plan that will allow your child to return to public school. You may find that holding him at home until he's 18 will allow him to graduate with his old class, or pass them up and enter college a year ahead of them. No matter what, you will know exactly what is going on with his education, because you will be doing the educating.

Answer 3

This is a dispicable tragedy that he has been allowed to fail all through his schooling and his results not set alarm bells ringing.

Have you been approached by the school's authorities about his results? I would be questioning this school's ability to adequately educate your son.

There are other answers here that suggest that he is perhaps dyslexic or maybe he has a learning difficulty. You could try asking his school to set up a test that could determine his learning level and it may also pick up other issues with the way he processes information. You could also try a tutoring centre to provide him with one-to-one attention and this may also be of some assistance.

It's not too late to get him help but you need to do it now otherwise his secondary schooling will put him even further behind.

I hope I have been of some help to you. Good luck to you both.

Answer 4

Even though he is not eligible for extra resources.... although I can't imagine why not, with grades like that, I would investigate all avenues of finding him a suitable tutor. Depending on your finances you will be able to find one. From the learning centers, like Sylvan, to hiring a high schooler there are ways. Check with the guidance office of your local high school. They will be able to give you a name, if not several of a student who tutors. I suggest find a teenage male.... who could be a bit of a mentor.

Another avenue is to ask the teachers at your son's school. Can he stay after school or come in early for extra help from his teacher? Can they make any recommendations.

Take care of this immediately because his self-esteem and motivation is dwindling daily.

I also would get a second opinion on the ADD. I've never known a test that is given at a pediatricians office. I believe the test is given by the psychiatrist. Check with your school districts education co-op. They may be able to test him. Also, check with your schools psychiatrist.....

Answer 5

Have the school test him for some type of learning disability. It is quite possible to have a learning disability without having ADD/ADHD. Get the ball rolling as soon as possible on any sped testing because the process takes forever. He also could have some sort of processing problem (visual, auditory, other) that would not fall under a learning disability. Usually a speech pathologist at school would do the testing for that. Keep searching for what it might be until you find something. I hope you are able to get him some sort of help soon.

Answer 6

You need to be educated about ADHD and ADD. Children with these "disorders" are most often the brightest and best in the class. Just because your son is making bad grades is no reason to have him tested for these. You can have him tested for other problems that he can get help for. If he has no learning or behavior issues then he could have emotional issues get him counseling. If he has no problems yet is still making bad grades it is because he chooses to. Make him do his work check it. If you have to go to class with him one day and see what happens. Bit do not think that ADHD and ADD are the only reasons for bad grades. They are also not excuse for bad grades. My son has ADHD and makes straight A's most of the time. He is not currently getting any special help either.

Answer 7

Well, sometimes you have to act like a teacher, think like a teacher, and behave like a teacher. Start by getting a collections of books he's interested in, find what he's interested in and apply
accordingly, also there are other places where he can get tutored like "Sylvan learning center", "Kummon" or your local
"Boys and Girls Club" where is free and he can still attend because he's not over 18 yet. I know some parents that have tried those places I mention above and now they're straight A's
student. Just remember THINK like a teacher, ACT like a teacher
and TEACH like a teacher, perhaps you both should study together and learn something new. I know I did!
Hope that helps...and remember you can still save this beautiful
child!

Answer 8

Pull him out of traditional school and give him his life back. He's labeled as a failure by you and his school. What chance does he have? Why would you take the word of a test score over your love for your child? Maybe he's great at drawing or with numbers or painting or something else you and everyone else around him fail to recognize. If someone told you could save your son and raise his self esteem to a higher level if all you had to do was to embrace him everyday, tell him you love him and pull him out of tradition school, would you do it. You're looking for a culprit, someone or something to blame for his failure in school. Look no farther than a mirror, you didn't stand up for him when he needed it most. Don't let strangers label your son and doom him to a life of unhappiness. If you tell someone they're stupid long enough, they eventually start to believe it.

Answer 9

Is he being bullied by other boys? Sometimes a child will fail on purpose to be in the "cool" group, however I highly doubt your son is this way. Ask him what is wrong. I do this with my kids when they are having a hard time with something. As in another question I answered, have you had him tested for a disorder called Dyslexia. He might not know how to tell you that he sees numbers and words backwards. I know about this because I had it.

Answer 10

Talk to his doctor he/she may be able to offer suggestions. Talk to his teachers because they may have helpful hints. This way you show them as well as your son that you care about his education, which you obviously do. Also what worked in my house was to limit the TV and video games to weekends only and give rewards for improved grades.
Ask your son why he thinks his grades are low and if there is anything going on at school or home that is affecting his performance.

Answer 11

Look for a tutoring offered by the school district or hire private tutor. Or you can try
http://tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/
http://www.kumon.com/
I think he just having a hard time at school. From 6th grade to 7th grade is a big jump of learning and he just need little help after school.