Keep mouth shut or step in?
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| Wed, 06-06-2007 - 7:53pm |
I've stated many times that dd is by no means considered academic. She just squeaks by and normally it goes like this: She starts out gung-ho in a class, is burnt out in 2 weeks, failing or close to failing at midterm, and somehow pulls it out right before the end of the grading period. She has pretty much set herself up for failure next year and if I say anything I will be making her feel "dumb" (which she's not, she just does not put forth the effort) and if I don't say anything, she's going to more than likely fail badly.
She barely squeaked by Algebra I - she is scheduled for Honors Geometry and Algebra II. At last check she was doing horribly in Regular English 9 (she had to drop Honors 9 when she had the mono) - if she's passing at the moment, it's barely - she is scheduled for Honors English 10. She is kicking butt in Earth Science, but only because she loves the teacher. She is scheduled for AP Astronomy. Dd is the type of kid, if she likes the teacher, she will kick butt to make them proud, if she doesn't it's like she "will show them" and won't do a damn thing. Her boyfriend told me flat out, she and the Astronomy teacher WILL clash. She is scheduled for Journalism II - same anti-war teacher - she'd be taking the class at approximately the time her dad is due to leave for Iraq.
I can't believe the school LET her have a schedule like this!! Do I step in and bring her back to the real world or do I step back and let her push herself and possible let herself down? I would LOVE for her to be able to pull it off - it would do so much to her academic self-esteem, but what's it going to do if it's F's across the board?


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For the most part, I have become numb to her grades. I don't believe her report cards have ever had an F, there have been a minute amount of D's, mostly C's and B's and a few A's. Her progress reports almost ALWAYS have an F and/or D on them... her last one in fact had an A (Science), B (Journalism), C- (Law For Business), F (English 9). Actually, the F was due to a paper not turned in and when I contacted the teacher, he said she had turned the paper in and her grade was now a straight C. So maybe I'm not being fair. She now has extra credit lined up for both Law and English. She was also given extra credit for Science.
I refuse at this point to stay on her about her work, so everything she has done has been completely of her own volition. What annoys me is she is content with C's. The english grade is due to low tests grades. She can keep taking the tests to get higher grades - does she do this? Nope...
Her school does block scheduling, so Honors Geometry and Algebra II aren't in the same semester. I believe her first semester was: Honors Geometry, AP Astronomy, US History and Spanish I (she had to drop that class when she had mono). This will be during a time that she will have cheering 6 days a week - practices until 6. They cheer for both Football and Soccer in the fall - so 3-4 games a week. With away games sometimes they don't get home until 9? Home games around 8?
Her second semester was: Honors English 10, Algebra II (I don't think this was honors), Journalism II, and Gym. This will be around the time her dad is due to deploy, winter cheering will be finishing up, but lacrosse will be starting up.
She always manages to pull through. The last quarter of 8th grade, for example, on the progress reports - she was failing every single class, except for gym. I was dumbfounded. By the time report cards came home - all B's, 1 C (gym - thanks to her mouth). Closest she has ever come to honor roll. This was with an 8 class schedule.... so in 4 weeks, she pulled up 7 F's to all B's.... and her 1 A fell to a C.... *sigh*
She can do it - she just likes to do it the hard way I guess....
Edited 6/7/2007 9:45 am ET by kel7col4
If she is having problems with basic algebra....
AP Astronomy, unless it is so watered down that it is at the level of naming constellations (ie..Asronomy for the Arts), will be a diaster & useless. It is PHYSICS afterall. Astronomy is one of the most math-intensive disciplines of Physics there is. I would never recommend a student to take ANY physics courses unless they are very GOOD in math & enjoy it. Physics is after all APPLIED MATH.
How can she take Algebra II & Honours Geometry if she is barely passing basic algebra?
If she is serious about pursuing those courses, she will need a tutor.
Academic self-estimate comes from not signing up for courses but doing the work. It comes from taking responsibilty for your own learning.
Edited 6/7/2007 10:51 am ET by kel7col4
Yup a serious talk is in the near future - I just have to figure out how to word things so they don't come out as criticism - which here lately, everything I say is.
I thought about saying - sports/social life or that schedule - but I feel like that's letting her choose the social stuff over academics. IDK...
Role play with me guys: How would you word this to a moody, sensitive 15 year old girl?
It sounds like your dd's school is very different from ours. There is basically no extra credit in academic classes - ds was able to get the full 10 points in the fall in social studies; that's all that was offered in any of his classes; not enough to really alter an overall grade. You have a VERY hard time bringing a grade up near the end of the semester if you're already having trouble - ds worked very hard to pull a D+ to a C- at the end, via the final exam - he couldn't have brought it any higher even if he'd aced the final. And homework assignments that are late get half credit at best, even the next day. Maybe mention there are places like that out there, or even fib and say you've heard her school is rumored to be going in that direction, per other schools (like ours) around the country. Maybe have a requirement of where midterms have to be in order to get certain privileges at home. Best of luck.
Sue
ETA - what if she chooses 'sports/social life' per your previously mentioned choice? Would that be ok with you?
Edited 6/7/2007 12:29 pm ET by suzyk2118
LOL That is exactly what her school is supposed to be like, which is where I am going with all the special provisions that teachers make for her. It is my understanding that there is no late work - it's in on time or it's a 0. Apparently that applies to everyone BUT her.... I've always been told extra credit was not offered...
Everytime I hear these rules at the beginning of the year, I secretly let out a yippee - thinking this will be the year she learns.... never happens....
She does awful in tests - so it's not the final tests that are helping her...
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