Any teachers out there

Oldernotwiser

jackie_w wrote: »

Well me and his dad take an interest in him (obviously) if this is what your meaning. We are the ones thats always on at him to tidy his room, shower himself, clean his teeth, make sure he isnt putting on dirty clothes because if im honest he wouldnt do any of these things if we didnt tell him to .

is that what you mean?

But do you do educational things with him like taking him on visits: are there lots of books in the house (or regular library visits): does he see you and his father reading for pleasure?

Keeping_Motivated

Is he good at other subjects? Sometimes we can't be good at all subjects and maybe maths is never going to be his forte?

If he is generally struggling across the board could he not be tested for such things as dyslexia or learning difficulties?

As I am sure you know, if he does have learning difficulties then you trying so hard to help/push him will be crushing his confidence. That is not a criticism because I can read your concern and anxiety in your post so I know you are and will do your best.

Speak to the teacher, if you get no joy go higher, this may not be his fault.

Good luck

Keeping_Motivated

How is his 'general' behaviour at home and at school?

jackie_w

hieveryone wrote: »

Jackie,

You sound like you are trying hard to help him, which sounds fantastic, but what are the school doing? Level C in primary 7 in fairly late on to be achieving that, what levels is he on for other subjects like reading/language?

I would definetely be enquiring about what the school are doing to further him, and whether they have any extra support in place that he can attend.

He is worse for his reading/language, and again he only passed grade C in these last year too. ive bought him books ie Horrid Henry to read, but, I cant get him interested in reading at all. ive tried reading to him, and ive tried reading a page and then getting him to read a page and it still doesnt work.

As far as im aware the school are going to give him all the help he can get, but what that will be I dont know. he has been given a "buddy" at high school (which he wasnt very pleased about). We also had a meeting with the head of the 1st and 2nd years in february of this year, there was also a support for learning teacher there, his last primary school teacher, and a child phsycologist (sp) who asked if he had been diagnosed with anything but he hasnt.

Are you a high school teacher or a primary school teacher and are you in scotland?

whitewing

I was going to suggest testing him for dyslexia and/or dyscalculia.

Also, I wonder if the glue ear did cause problems initially, and then there has always been a perception that there is a worrying on-going problem. Maybe he doesn't expect himself to be good at anything. What is he like with out-of-school activities; does he go to Scouts or anything similar?

Oldernotwiser

Do you think he's unsettled at the possibility of the family moving abroad?

DVardysShadow

jackie_w wrote: »

Well me and his dad take an interest in him (obviously) if this is what your meaning. We are the ones thats always on at him to tidy his room, shower himself, clean his teeth, make sure he isnt putting on dirty clothes because if im honest he wouldnt do any of these things if we didnt tell him to .

is that what you mean?

Thanks. Obviously you care for him at least in terms of externals, but I am concerned more about an interest in the things which interest him. Your response here talks volumes.

Most children will want to tell you things and talk about things and if they have a real problem in that area it will be seen by about the age of 6, I imagine. But you are only talking about 'always on at him'. On his behalf, I have to say damn you, you are only interested in your agenda of clean teeth, doing homework and tidying his room, you have nearly killed any spark of interest he has in anything. At risk of making you angry with him, I think he is sticking 2 fingers up at you, for always being wrapped up in your own agenda and not letting him have an agenda of his own interests.

Watch out, I think you have very little time [2 or 3 months?] to fix this, or you are going to have a permanently unhappy and unfulfilled child who will drift as an adult with no concept of what it means to be fulfilled.

Gingham_Ribbon

Hiya

It's worth asking for an appointment with his form tutor/head of year and explain your concerns. In my experience, most children are not naturally lazy. They sometimes give up if things are too hard or too easy or they may lack confidence, but laziness is usually a symptom rather than a disease, if you see what I mean.

If school turns him off and he's not showing any desire to be clean, what does get him energised? What does he enjoy? What do you do together that he likes? Does he have friends?

Naturally 'getting on to him' will be something you have to do sometimes, but have a think a think about what you do to encourage and praise as well as criticise. (I'm not suggesting you don't already, but since I don't know you it's obviously worth mentioning.)

Good luck. Try to find things you're proud of him about and really 'big them up' to him as much as you can.

jackie_w

Keeping_Motivated wrote: »

How is his 'general' behaviour at home and at school?

hes okay, talks all the time. Mixes better with adults than children. He doesnt have an awaful lot of friends, infact all of his primary school teachers have said he is very selective of his friends. Has had the same friend all the way through school. he isnt very confident, wont go to any clubs ie football, karate etc.
Hes very kind and loving and great with his little brother, although, i think the hormones are kicking in because he sometimes has an "attitude" on him, but generally good.

wants to sit in playing the PS3 all the time "talking to his friends through it, kind of like msn, but on the playstation". I have to force him to go out.

DVardysShadow

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Hiya

Good luck. Try to find things you're proud of him about and really 'big them up' to him as much as you can.

Nearly, but that actually exacerbates the problem, because jackie_w seems mostly focussed on homework, cleaning teeth and tidying rooms. So: Try to find things HE is proud of and big them up.