mattsmom27
Active Member
Shortly after difficult child moved back home he recieved his report card. First time ever that he had failing grades. He had no behaviour issues at school (first time since grade 1, he is now in grade 8!) which was great. But I was heartbroken to see him at risk to have to repeat grade 8 when he is more than capable of doing the work, in fact KNOWS most of what has been taught. He just hates homework, will do as minimal as possible on a assignment in order to get it over with, won't take after school time to study etc.
So when he moved home we made a committment that he would get his grades up. That he would give no homework outbursts etc. So far so good. He however was very frustrated with a recent essay assignment. The problem wasn't writing the essay, he became overly frustrated trying to find a topic he was interested and then narrowing it down to a particular area of the topic. They were allowed to choose anything at all they wanted as a topic. I think this was too wide of a range for difficult child, for example had it been "write an essay on the habits of a mammal" or something he would have been fine picking just the animal because he would have known to write about the habits of his chosen animal.
So we came closest yet since him moving home to him losing it over school work. I could visibly see him gritting teeth, squeezing eyes shut, clenching his hands in frustation to avoid blowing up.
After several days tip toeing around this, I said how about homework for the topic? You get frustrated by homework and you have often said it is too much for students. Back it up, look up studies on negative effects of homework and ideas on how to minimize homework while not negatively affecting students academics etc.
So he did!!! He did more words than were asked for, broke it down into proper structure and form, and made sure that it flowed properly since half the grade was based on oral presentation to the class.
I worried a bit if the teacher would see the topic as disrespectful. It turned out okay.
I was out when difficult child got home for lunch break today and when I came in, all 5'11 of him was bouncing (ala Tigger from winnie the pooh) and beaming saying "I got 98! I got 98!". I had no clue he would be graded for it today as he only presented this morning, so I grinned and hugged him, said congratulations, then asked 98 on what?
He said that his teacher upon hearing his essay topic started to express some anger at him for his topic choice, I am guessing she figured that difficult child being difficult child, this was going to be a mouthy essay. He said he asked her to wait and listen to his presentation because he had "scientific data to support my opinion". :rofl:
So he presented to the class and at the end, the kids who really don't involve themselves with difficult child (he is a loner this year by choice) all stood up and wildly applauded and hooted and hollered. At which point the class was allowed to give difficult child a grade. Half the grade was from the class, the other half from the teacher. The class gave him 100% of their half of the grade. Then the teacher said she owed him an apology, that although she differs in opinion, he laid out alot of information to support HIS opinion and she shouldn't have been so quick to judge, then she graded him and in total he got 98% !!
So difficult child was a difficult child about his homework. I helped him realize he could be serious in his perspective regarding homework instead of being mouthy and rude about homework, he could put his point accross on the topic to his teachers while also gaining a few popularity points in class with the other students. I am sure there is some laughter in the staff room at the school today :wink:
So .... hooray for difficult child!!! He also made the basketball, full well knowing he is off the team the very instant that he acts out in any manner whatsoever. He is doing great!!!!
Melissa
So when he moved home we made a committment that he would get his grades up. That he would give no homework outbursts etc. So far so good. He however was very frustrated with a recent essay assignment. The problem wasn't writing the essay, he became overly frustrated trying to find a topic he was interested and then narrowing it down to a particular area of the topic. They were allowed to choose anything at all they wanted as a topic. I think this was too wide of a range for difficult child, for example had it been "write an essay on the habits of a mammal" or something he would have been fine picking just the animal because he would have known to write about the habits of his chosen animal.
So we came closest yet since him moving home to him losing it over school work. I could visibly see him gritting teeth, squeezing eyes shut, clenching his hands in frustation to avoid blowing up.
After several days tip toeing around this, I said how about homework for the topic? You get frustrated by homework and you have often said it is too much for students. Back it up, look up studies on negative effects of homework and ideas on how to minimize homework while not negatively affecting students academics etc.
So he did!!! He did more words than were asked for, broke it down into proper structure and form, and made sure that it flowed properly since half the grade was based on oral presentation to the class.
I worried a bit if the teacher would see the topic as disrespectful. It turned out okay.
I was out when difficult child got home for lunch break today and when I came in, all 5'11 of him was bouncing (ala Tigger from winnie the pooh) and beaming saying "I got 98! I got 98!". I had no clue he would be graded for it today as he only presented this morning, so I grinned and hugged him, said congratulations, then asked 98 on what?
He said that his teacher upon hearing his essay topic started to express some anger at him for his topic choice, I am guessing she figured that difficult child being difficult child, this was going to be a mouthy essay. He said he asked her to wait and listen to his presentation because he had "scientific data to support my opinion". :rofl:
So he presented to the class and at the end, the kids who really don't involve themselves with difficult child (he is a loner this year by choice) all stood up and wildly applauded and hooted and hollered. At which point the class was allowed to give difficult child a grade. Half the grade was from the class, the other half from the teacher. The class gave him 100% of their half of the grade. Then the teacher said she owed him an apology, that although she differs in opinion, he laid out alot of information to support HIS opinion and she shouldn't have been so quick to judge, then she graded him and in total he got 98% !!
So difficult child was a difficult child about his homework. I helped him realize he could be serious in his perspective regarding homework instead of being mouthy and rude about homework, he could put his point accross on the topic to his teachers while also gaining a few popularity points in class with the other students. I am sure there is some laughter in the staff room at the school today :wink:
So .... hooray for difficult child!!! He also made the basketball, full well knowing he is off the team the very instant that he acts out in any manner whatsoever. He is doing great!!!!
Melissa
