7 Yearold in First Grade.

D.,
If he is bored, ask the teacher for an outline of what you WILL be studying and do some advance planning. Organize weekend fieldtrips to museums and think up craft projects or other activities to do at home to enrich his learning that way.

I have 2 precocious children who enjoy saying "hey - this is like what I did in school!" or "that is the same way the ancient so-and so's did so-and so!" HOWEVER, if we ask them "how was school" they reply with "boring -- we didn't do anything"

If we open dialogue a different way, we have much better success WHILE reinforcing their classroom instruction. GOOD LUCK!
~M.

Hi D., Your son sounds like a wonderful little boy. sometimes teachers don't see everything or hear everything, is there a possibility that he is getting teased in one form or another? When I was a child, this happened to me. It made me not concentrate on the work I was doing, I only concentrated on what the kids were saying or doing to me. Of course the teachers were oblivious to the situation and later on I found out I was teased because my family had money and they were considered low income. At the time, I didn't know my family was considered wealthy (I was nine). I was new to the school and a new target. I didn't want to tell my parents because I just thought of what the kids would do to me if they got in trouble. I am not saying this is what is happening to your son, but it is a thought as I was a good student as well, but my classwork didn't show it due to this reason. Good luck and I would ask the teacher to listen and watch a little more closely during classtime and recess time. Maybe you can hold conferences weekly with both the teacher and your son. I feel he will probably speak up sooner or later as to what is going on with him. Maybe if he talks to someone other than you or the teacher he will explain what is going on during classtime. It wasn't until my high school years did I tell my parents what was going on and then by that time I learned how to handle the situation and it stopped. I believe if your child reads at that grade level than encourage him to keep going. Both of my kids in first grade read at a much higher grade level than the other kids, and I never pushed, in fact I had teachers tell me along the way to keep encouraging my kids because they have a gift and they are smart. My kids were always 3 grades ahead of their peers. Don't let that teacher make you feel like you are doing something wrong, your not!Good luck.

i AM GOING TO TAKE A SHOT AT THIS!

I AM A MOTHER OF A 6 YR OLD DAUGHTER AND A 6 MONTH OLD BABYBOY. YOU SAID THE TEACHER DOES NOT SEE A PROBLEM. WHEN HE COMES HOME FROM SCHOOL HOW IS HE AT HOME? MEANING IS HE LISTENING, FOLLOWING DIRCTION. DOES HE TALK TO YOU? MEANING DO YOU OPEN THE DOOR FOR HIM TO EXPRESS HIS FEELINGS?

IF NOT. INSTEAD OF TALKING HOW ABOUT ASKING HIM IF HE NEEDS TO TALK. IF HE ASK ABOUT WHAT SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

SAY TO HIM FEELING TALK... LET HIM NO THAT A FEELING TALK MEANS THERE IS NO WRONG NOR RIGHT. AND THAT IF HE TELLS YOU SOMETHING THAT MAY UPSET YOU OR GET YOU MAD. JUST REMEMBER THIS IS A FEELING TALK..

AND THEN AFTER HE EXPRESS'S HOW HE FEELS SAY OKAY NOW WE NEED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM...

IF THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM...

EXAMPLE SAY HE EXPRESS'S THAT MOM AND DAD YELL AT HIM ALL TIME, OR MOM AND DAD ARE FIGHTING TO MUCH. AND HE EXPRESS'S TO YOU HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THIS ISSUE...

TAKE A LONG LOOK AND LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS. THEN AFTER HE EXPRESS'S HISMSELF. YOU AND HIM SIT A TALK ABOUT HOW HE WOULD LIKE TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES...

ASK HIM. IF HE SAYS YOU AND DAD ARE FIGHTING TO MUCH. SAY OKAY HOW ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. ME AND YOU NEED TO TALK AND FIND A PROBLEM SOLVING SITUATION...

I JUST TOOK A SWING AT THIS. REMEMBER FEELINGS ARE WHAT KIDS GO ON.. THEY ARE STILL UNSURE OF HOW THEY ARE TO FEEL...

LET ME KNOW HOW ALL GOES WITH THE PROBLEMS SOLVING...

THERE MAY BE MORE TO THE PROBLEM SO BE PRAPARED FOR WHATEVER HE MAY SAY... IT MAY BE A KEY...

Hi D.,
I was going through the same thing with my daughter who is 7 in the second grade. She is in an advanced second grade class they are doing 3rd and 4th grade work. He was coming home also with low test grades and writing her homework down correctly and neatly. It was so frustrating trying to do homework with her at night. I called the school and left a message for the teacher to call me. I spoke with the teacher and learned that she was not paying attention in class, she sits with a group of girls who are her friends and she is easily distracted by them. Needless to say I had her seat moved she sit closer to the teacher now and I have not had anymore problems from her. It may be something in the class that's distracting him from doing his work. Also he could just be bored. Even though my daughter is in an advanced class some of the students are not on the same level she is so when the teacher is going over something that she already knows she tends not to pay as much attention. Her teacher has since learned to give her something else to do to challenge her, or she asks her to help her around the classroom to keep her busy. I also hsd to sit down with my daughter and tell her you need to pay attention. Even if you already know the work there is nothing wrong with reviewing it again it will make you even better at it. I don't think your expecting too much from him. First grade is a transition year where they bridge the gap between what they learned in kindergarden and what they need to know for second grade. Good luck and hang in there!!!!!!

Hello (as a teacher I would investigate) - Are the 60's due to incomplete or not right answers? That would be my first question - Imcompletes can mean he is distracted - not right could mean a difficulty transfering whats in his head to paper. Our son had a very hard time in first grade - he and the teacher butted heads - At the end of the school year when she was convinced he had a learning disability because he was so high strung and didnt sit still - he was tested and found to have a 130 iq - highest the school had in recorded history. The next year, second grade, he is going fantastic because this teacher knows he needs structure and challenge and she is assisting him in not being frustrated when others dont think they way he does. C.

Hi~He is a smart kid, and he may be bored at school. He knows what he can do in school, and maybe that is not enough structure for him. He may need more.Does he like school?If the teacher sees no problem, is it because she sees him as a visual child. Some kids are very hands on and visual, but when it comes to papers....that is a different story...

If your son's teacher is not worried about him getting 60s and below on his school work, there is a problem. And I beleive it may be with the teacher.
You should inquire at your son's school the possibility of changing his class or enrolling him in a basic skills class.
The less improvement he has this year, the further behind he will be next year. Once a child falls behind, it is very difficult for them to catch-up and very fustrating!
Your sons needs you to go to all lenghts to help him. If he has a problem at school or else where - it will most likely affect his grades. Children are sometimes too afraid or just don't know how - to tell his problems or fears.
Blessing to you and your son.

I also have a seven year old in first grade and an 8 year old in 3 grade. You might want to talk to the guidance conselor at the school because there may be some underlying cause. My first grader did absolutely horrible in kindergarden only to find out he wasn't being stimulated enough and he was extremely bored. I wish you the best of luck!