How to help a child to focus in class? and who can actually do this?

Question

I have a 13 year old boy that has been struggling with school since he was a little boy. lack of focus is what teachers keep telling me. I dont know how to help him. I cant be with him in school to help him focus...Is it really the parents job to do this...or is it the teachers job? If it is my job how can I help him?

I am not saying is not my responsability..I just think that the Lack of Focus is something that happens in the clasrroom..How can I control that..How can I help him...
I do think it has to do with not grasping the objectives, so he just looses his focus and gives up...I have spoken to the teachers and We decided to give him tutoring..but it doesnt really work...I am an elementary teacher, and with the little ones you can help them at home with the homeworks and all that stuff...In middle school there arent many things that they do at home...most of the work stays in school inside the locker...I could go and check his locker every week, but is that really OK for a child this age...I really dont want to be the only mother in the whole middle school checking their child's locker...I dont know what to do

Answer 1

Why not be the only mom that checks his locker?

I taught 8th grade. Assuming you have excluded ADD, ADHD, and Language Processing problems - give your son an ultimatum. Pull it together or I will go to school with you and make sure you do.

It works, I had a mom do that once - took the day off and shadowed him (and even made him repay her lost wages from his allowance - ouch!). IT WORKED! But you have to be willing to follow through.

Teachers can only do what they can do. You need to meet w/teachers and counselor and set up a game plan. Find out what interventions they have tried and set up a plan to address this problem.

And if this has been an ongoing problem you certainly can't blame teachers. Perhaps 1 or 2 have managment or teaching styles that your son hasn't connected with - but not all of them.

Ultimately - it is your child. And although teachers want to help - your child isn't their priority - the class as a whole is. They can only do so much - the rest is up to you. Sounds a bit as if you have let this go on too long.

And don't be afraid to be a strong parent.

Good Luck!!

Answer 2

I would think it is both parent and teacher's job and the student too. The parents should look into reasons why their child is having trouble in school. Could be physical reasons like the kids needs glasses or maybe just needs more sleep each night or a bigger breakfast. Could be that he fell behind in that class because he did not grasp some of the basics when they were taught and now the class has moved on to more advanced stuff and he feels lost. In that case, the teacher and the parents have to decide if he needs tutoring and exactly which subjects he needs to work on.

Answer 3

Paisana,it's both.So many parents nowadays just want to dump their little hellions off on the teachers. If possible you should meet with the parents,share your concerns with them,let them do the same.Working as a team,you can find a solution to this boy's problem.