I don't know if I should post this in the Schooling forum or this one, so I'm going to start here first.
My son is 15, just turned. He is in the 8th grade. He began having trouble in school when he moved in with his father (an hour away from me) in the 5th grade. By the time we got him back at the end of 6th grade, he was failing and hated school. He was so far behind that our only hope of getting him caught up was to pull him out of school and home-school.
So, we did, with the full intention of catching him up to his age-group, meaning he would have re-entered the public school system in the 9th grade. I thought we had everything set up for this, and thought I'd asked all of the right questions, but when it came time to enroll, they advised he had to pass a state test, etc. etc. in order to be admitted to high school...so, he is in the 8th grade now.
The problem is that he is simply not doing well. He is failing or on the verge of failing most of his classes. At the rate he is going, he will not be promoted to 9th grade. Mostly, his problem lies in turning his work in. Even if he gets it done, it never makes it to the teacher.
I'm not sure what to do. I monitor his homework. I help him keep his backpack organized. I am in regular communication with his teachers (via email). There are consequences for his actions (or lack thereof), including being restricted from electronics (computer and video games) and now he's also been restricted from the phone and television.
I've tried talking to him frankly about school. I've tried empathizing. I've tried being hard-nosed. I've tried not caring. I've offered tutors. I've sat with him and studied and helped with homework. I encourage him. I try to be understanding while being firm.
I just don't know what to do, and I'm worried.
I see my kid on a fast track for becoming a dropout...and these days, the military won't even accept a GED (he wants to join, he says). His driver's license will be delayed if he drops out or isn't making passing grades (state law). I mean, this school-thing really is far-reaching, and I just don't know what else to do.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Books? Recommendations?
I'm worried and frustrated.
My son is 15, just turned. He is in the 8th grade. He began having trouble in school when he moved in with his father (an hour away from me) in the 5th grade. By the time we got him back at the end of 6th grade, he was failing and hated school. He was so far behind that our only hope of getting him caught up was to pull him out of school and home-school.
So, we did, with the full intention of catching him up to his age-group, meaning he would have re-entered the public school system in the 9th grade. I thought we had everything set up for this, and thought I'd asked all of the right questions, but when it came time to enroll, they advised he had to pass a state test, etc. etc. in order to be admitted to high school...so, he is in the 8th grade now.
The problem is that he is simply not doing well. He is failing or on the verge of failing most of his classes. At the rate he is going, he will not be promoted to 9th grade. Mostly, his problem lies in turning his work in. Even if he gets it done, it never makes it to the teacher.
I'm not sure what to do. I monitor his homework. I help him keep his backpack organized. I am in regular communication with his teachers (via email). There are consequences for his actions (or lack thereof), including being restricted from electronics (computer and video games) and now he's also been restricted from the phone and television.
I've tried talking to him frankly about school. I've tried empathizing. I've tried being hard-nosed. I've tried not caring. I've offered tutors. I've sat with him and studied and helped with homework. I encourage him. I try to be understanding while being firm.
I just don't know what to do, and I'm worried.
I see my kid on a fast track for becoming a dropout...and these days, the military won't even accept a GED (he wants to join, he says). His driver's license will be delayed if he drops out or isn't making passing grades (state law). I mean, this school-thing really is far-reaching, and I just don't know what else to do.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Books? Recommendations?
I'm worried and frustrated.
