I think dd was 'left behind'....

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
I think dd was 'left behind'....
5
Sun, 11-04-2007 - 3:04pm

DD has not done well in school since she started high school....

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
Sun, 11-04-2007 - 4:07pm
Hi Cheryl - I think you need to talk to the guidance office at the high school where your dd goes.
Pam
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 11-04-2007 - 4:30pm

I find there are many tutoring opportunities at school but the kids arent always anxious to tell you. It might be best to contact each teacher and see what dd can do to better her grades

Here, the math teachers team up to have a before and after school session each day(maybe not Fri)It might be the algebra teacher one day but she will help you with whatever you bring to her. Blake did some of this last year and preferred to go when his own teacher was in session which was fine

There are often simple ways to get points. Lots of teachers here do spot checks of the binder system they have set up. Often tests can be retaken-thats one they REALLY dont like to tell you about!

Blake is LD and has an IEP although all that is in there at this time is that he is in a team taught English class. So he has to make it through with the classroom teachers.

He gets Ds and Fs on all tests(memory sucks-I swear it falls out his ear when he sleeps) but so far he has not gone below a C overall grade because of the homework points, spot check points, etc. He KNOWS(because I tell him over and over)that he HAS to take advantage of everything, even 5 pts for bringing in kleenex!

Also, when I called the Algebra teacher last year and told him his homework was taking 90-120 min, she simply said "thats too long-from now on have him do every other one". That is all it took!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2006
Sun, 11-04-2007 - 10:28pm

If I were you I'd start by talking with your dd's teachers. They can tell you how she appears in class, and sometimes they can even tell you about a student's school social life--things our kids might never tell us parents. You might hear from them that she appears apathetic, or you might hear that she seems to pay close attention but just struggles. What you hear from one teacher could be totally different than what you hear from another. It's good to listen to what each teacher has to say. You can even ask them if they think you should speak with a counselor, or what they would recommend.

Last year DS18 was taking calculus as a senior. Never before did he have any problem with math, but he was not doing great in fall. When I spoke with his teacher at conferences, he told me that DS and his friend never took notes in class. (All his other teachers said he was doing fine in their classes.) That gave me something to discuss with DS, even though I'm not sure that was the reason he wasn't doing well. I wanted DS to know that he should not be slacking off at all, and that when he never took notes, it made him look lazy. As the year progressed, I realized that the calc teacher was not the greatest teacher, and in the past DS had some super math teachers. I'm sure that's another reason he wasn't doing great, but I didn't want DS to use that as an excuse for not putting forth the effort.

How has your DD been feeling about her social and family life? Has she changed emotionally? Sometimes a student develops "temporary ADD" because she worries about things outside of school, and that makes it hard for her to concentrate on her studies. Finding someone to talk with about anything that's bothering her could help. If she feels uncomfortable talking with you about it, then maybe a therapist could help. Or, as Pam suggested, an evaluation by a psych for LDs may uncover these mind clutterers even if it is found she does not have a LD.

I wish you luck in getting your DD back on track. If she's done well through the 8th grade, once the source of her problem is found and remedies are worked out, her schoolwork should improve. Accomodations, both in school and for college entrance/placement exams, need to be made if an LD is found

-----------------------------------------------
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-14-2006
Mon, 11-05-2007 - 7:10am

I agree with what's already been posted, but I also have one other idea. See if you can coach your DD in how to advocate for herself with her teachers. I've really pushed my DD over the past year or so to go to her teachers herself - not to beg for grades, that doesn't work, but to say "what can I do differently?" Most teachers will respond to that - may recommend an older student as tutor, may give hints. My DD was VERY RELUCTANT to do this at first, but I kept bringing it up. Eventually she did go to a teacher, who showed her what she needed to do for his class. Once she saw that it worked - and shows the teacher that you're motivated - she's been more willing to do it, and has initiated it some on her own this quarter.

The reason why I did this for L (16 in 11th grade) was that in college she'll have to be her own representative to the the teachers, and I wanted her to start experiencing that. Rather than going to the teachers for her, help her pick a teacher who she thinks will be receptive, or a class where she's close to what she wants, but not perfect yet. Have her ask a specific question - like "I feel like I studied the wrong material for this test. Is there a way to look at the material that will help me more on the next one?" or "I was trying to say XX in my paper, but you didn't see that. How could I have said it clearer."

You may have to help your DD see beyond the notion that "only nerds do that" LOL, I know I did. But I said "maybe, but they also have figured out what this teacher is looking for and it works."

Sue, mom to Leah and Seth


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Mon, 11-05-2007 - 7:31am

Sue, Sue, SUE!!!!

Photobucket