My son is having a huge problem in the 1st grade. He is has the worst grades possible. My husband and I have tried to help the teacher at home, but with no luck. He does not have a learning disability or ADD. In class, he is very disruptive and misbehaves on a daily basis, mostly because he has no clue what to do. At this point in the school year, his writing and math skills are unchanged. He can read at grade level. He cannot count past 12 independently and has trouble with finding number patterns. I want to know if putting him back in kindergarten is an option or is there another solution? I have 2 other school age children who are doing fine in school and when they hit a rough patch we were there to help them learn and get through it. I don't know if I'm giving up on him or if I've just run out of ideas to help him. His teacher has no clue what to do either. Please help us.
2007-01-31 16:15:44 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
Please do not put him back in kindergarten. If he can read on 1st grade level, putting him back would only discourage him and compound the issues at hand. Your options are to get a tutor for him, summer school/intersession, or possibly have him retained in 1st grade. If he does not master the first grade curriculum, he will always be a step behind since 1st grade is a transitional grade.
You're not giving up on your son. You are frustrated and that is understandable. He's lucky to have a parent who notices he is having trouble and is seeking help for him.
The teacher is the gateway for assistance. Ask the teacher what type of interventions have they tried in the classroom to assist your son. Ask to see documentation of the interventions and modifications. By this time of the school year, the teacher should have submitted your son's name to the Student Study Team. In many schools, this is a group of education professionals (teacher, special education teacher, administrator, etc.) that looks at each case to see if all avenues of assistance have been addressed. The parent is invited to this meeting. See if your school has this.
2007-01-31 17:12:19 · answer #1 · answered by Katherine 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Placing your child in a lower grade is possible under certain circumstances, your son qualifies under those circumstances. However, it is also up to the school, his teacher and principal really, to decide and agree with your actions. This late in the year, though, it might be a little difficult for you to place him back into a kindergarten class. It would probably help if he continued the rest of first grade and was just held back a year and repeated the first grade with some tutoring help.
Worst case scenario would be to take him out of school for the remaining semester and re-enroll him after he has had some tutoring, maybe from the Sylvan learning center. They have several wonderful programs to aid you and your son.
By the way, It doesn't seem like you're giving up on him but rather running out of ideas. You seem like a smart person and you know you have a few more ideas. Have a meeting with the teacher and come up with a game plan soon to solve this problem before it becomes too huge to handle at all.
I hope I could be of some help to you.
2007-02-01 06:49:29 · answer #2 · answered by nmk9543 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At this point in the year you cannot send him back to kindergarten. You can have him repeat first grade though. Have you had him tested for any disabilities or delays? Just seems strange that he can read on grade level yet he cannot count past 12 which is something he should have been able to do in kindergarten. Did his kindergarten teacher consider holding him back? Sounds like she should have. I would talk to your doctor/ teacher and ask that he be tested. I don't think you are giving up on him it is just really frustrating when a nothing you do helps. Hang in there, utilize all of the resources your school has to offer, your paying for them.
2007-01-31 16:24:11 · answer #3 · answered by Mom of 3 under 6 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
If he CAN read at grade level but is struggling in math, then it's possible that he DOES have a learning disability- in math. Have you actually had him tested through the school for this? Is it possible that he may have some other sort of disability (like a form of autism)? If his teacher has no clue what to do, have her (or have you) talk to OTHER people in the school, particularly in the EC department for strategies and ideas on how to help him. Look into tutoring. If he's showing no signs of growth in math, I wonder if holding him back or placing him BACK in kindergarten will actually do any good. Have you had his IQ tested? Keep researching, and good luck!
2007-02-01 05:57:42 · answer #4 · answered by elizabeth_ashley44 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The same situation happened to my Daughter last school yr. We were living in Wisconsin, when she went through Kindergarten & then started 1st grade. Mid Year...Oct 2005, we moved back to TX., we put her into 1st grade...since she was in that grade. By Nov. her teacher had told me that she wasnt up to the level when it came to her peers...she was struggling...with patterns, with her math, & her reading & writing....They tested her & found she wasn't on 1st grade level.
We did put her back in Kindergarten. Apperantly, what she learned in Kindergarten & 1st Grade in Wisconsin....they had already taught that in Pre K & Kindergarten....
The kids went to Christmas break, & when they came back, my Daughter was placed in Kindergarten....she hated the idea at first, but her Teacher is the most amazing woman....she made my Daughter feel VERY important, welcome, & smart....my Daughter soared through the class & by the end of the yr. she was completely caught up.
The school wanted to test her, to see if she was able to go into 1st grade or on to the 2nd grade.....I figured since she was caught up to the 1st grade level it was best to leave her with the peers she made in her Kindergarten class.
My Daughter now, is one of the top 4 in her class, she is on a 3 rd grade reading level, & is doing 2 nd grade math now....she has fourished with going back a grade.
I may not recommend it for everyone, but for my Daughter, it was the best thing I could have done for her.
I hope things work out for your son. Make the decision that you would feel more comfortable with....I knew it would have been the best move for my daughter....
Good Luck....
2007-01-31 19:37:48 · answer #5 · answered by mysticfairy74 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Don't put him back in kindergarten. You guys just have to work to find a way that he learns because not all kids learn alike. Maybe he is more of a vocal learner. Or maybe you guys should find a way that he is up and moving while learning, maybe try different learning stations. Also, it's going to take a lot of work at home, more than school.
2007-01-31 16:20:48 · answer #6 · answered by tell it like it is 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'd suggest working with him at home a bit first. Some schools have what they call a transitional first grade. It's for kids like this who have difficulty with 1st grade work but aren't quite needing kindergarten again. See if your school has this. Working with him at home can help though. I work with my middle child cause she struggles too.
2007-02-02 14:43:12 · answer #7 · answered by Melanie A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask the teacher but as a teacher I would not put him back but maybe have him retained in 1st grade. Boys mature later than girls and maybe he just is not ready. Wish you the best sweetie with whatever you decide. God Bless!!!
2007-01-31 16:22:14 · answer #8 · answered by craftylady 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Talk to his school and see if they have a class with learning disabiltys,most schools have them it may help him to have the one on one.It may help him enough to where next year he could go on into 2nd grade.
2007-02-01 02:17:49 · answer #9 · answered by Lacie A 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
DEAR YES YOU CAN JUST GO TAKE TO THE PRINCIPAL'S SCHOOL BOARD TEACHERS AND HAVE A MEETINGS ON THIS ISSUE YOU CAN HAVE IT SET UP THAT OK TAKE CARE
2007-01-31 16:49:10 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋