I am trying to get help for my 13 yr old son & am getting very frustrated with our school system. He started having problems in 5th grade when they started changing classes for different subjects. He would constantly forget to take his book or his completed work into class with him & would therefore get a detention or lose his recess. He had a very difficult time learning his multiplication tables & seems to forget or not focus on most subjects. He does great @ Spelling & Reading, but is failing most other subjects & most of the time it is for not turning in assignments. Many of these assignments are completed or at least started in the bottom of his locker with a 2nd copy that he requested when he was told he hadn’t turned it in. He is in Jr. High now & loves sports, but has been ineligible for most of football & now all of wrestling. He has detention all the time & most of the time doesn’t even know why. He feels like his teachers just want to get him in trouble & yet when you ask him why they would want to do that, he doesn’t know. We have been working hand in hand with the school in trying to get him on track & have made very little progress. Their answer is he is not trying but won’t request testing because he doesn’t tap his foot or is fidgety in class. His spirti is being deflated & there is no way that this child would choose to go through this. I am taking him for testing on our own, but not sure what to expect from the school. Can anyone offer any advice?
Darla
Re: Help instead of punishment
YOU can request that the school test him. Put a request in writing and give it to the school.
It sounds like he has some executive function issues. This area deals with organizational skills, sequencing, recall, etc. Having one binder for all classes would help. Each class can have a separate section in the binder with a homework folder at the beginning of the section. This may help him to organize the material a bit better. You can also use color coding for the different classes. Does the school use “planners” or “agendas”? These can be helpful to have the weeks assignments written down so they can be checked. Any new assignments or homework can also be written down.
With my dd we go over homework assignments after school every day. In the morning as I’m taking her to school we will go over what needs to be turned in for each class or any teachers she needs to talk to. It doesn’t work perfectly but it does help. :)
Hi Darla,
This seems like sequential thinking difficulties, where he is unable to make a mental check-list that he refers to and follows.
Making written check-lists can be helpful.
Though he will need to remember to check them.
Also organising things in folders, so that related things are all kept together. With a checklist on the front of the folder.
Though you also mentioned that he is unable to participate in sports? Is that a punishment or because of difficulties with the sport?
Geoff.