I have an 8 year old daughter who is in the 3rd grade. Here lately she has been bring F's home from school. mostly in reading. When the first F came home. I did't know what to do. Dh and I talked to her the common questions(are you having problems understanding it,what can we do ect) Well yesturday she came home with another F mainly in reading. So I told her that I was going to set up a parent teacher meeting to see what was going on. My daughter got upset and told me no. I went in this morning and her teacher said she was doing really good. We looked throught her grades and this is her second F in reading. She said not to worry about it. The only thing is she is getting F's on her tests. Her teacher said that she is just trying to hurry up and get done and not doing it right. They read there story Tuesday and they take the test Tuesday right after they read the story. So she's eather not listing or she is having a hard time remembering what was read.
I don't know what to do? just let it go or What
,anyone having this problem or anyone with advice

By Tonya on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 02:33 pm:

8 is old enough to know that an "F" is not acceptable. That is not something to just let go. In my house growing up that would mean a punishment like losing TV or after school activities for at least a week until they saw that the grades were back where they belonged. My parents didn't mess with school it was no playing around with them. They knew we were smart and didn't let us do under what they knew we could.

I say bite it in the butt now before she trys it in another subject. If they are reading and testing the same day it sound slike she is just not paying attention during the reading and needs to focus herself and not goof in class.

By Lauram on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 10:24 am:

You need to meet with her teacher.... Do you have any sense of whether it is ability or attitude?

By Momoffour on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 10:29 am:

I spoke with her teacher yesterday and she said that she is doing really good. she thinks she is just not paying attention and she is in a rush to finish her work. My consern is I had alot of problems in school. and I struggled and no teacher noticed or helped until my Mom stepped in so I may be over doing it because I don't want that to happen with my Children. She is smart and can read anything I just think she is just in a hurry. Her teacher said that they will really watch her over the next few weeks and if she feels she is having problems they will check into it or get her a tutor.

By Momsmyteacher on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 12:18 pm:

Like Tonya said, take a very early course on this and stay with it. Don't leave it up to her teacher to watch her on her own because with all of the other kids sometimes they lose track. I have a website with some great short stories with questions, print out one or two and read them to her and then ask her the questions, see how she does.
As a homeschooler I do this alot naturally. My daughter will get on this PC and gab with her friends and I watch her... she spells everything right. When I ask her to make sentences using her word list for the week, sometimes i can barely read them or the spelling is so bad it's almost impossible to figure out what she's saying. She's rushing because she isn't interested.
Losing something they enjoy until some kind of report comes home from the teacher saying her grades have gone up is a great idea.
T.V., a gameboy or maybe the phone or radio are good things to take away. My DD irritates the heck out of me because when i take something away sometimes it doesn't phase her at all and I end up getting punished LOL
Showing her you mean business is the way to go. You aren't going to stand for listless days in school and expect her to come up to snuff. Set the pattern now and it will be followed later as well.
I've seen so many kids go from straight A students at young ages only to become straighline F's in teen years and the parents let it go, so the child continues it.
I'm glad to see you going in and talking to the teacher, so many don't. I've had the school tell me not to worry about things and I've had them over react to things that's why I happily homeschool now.
Keep tabs on her like you are. Make sure the teacher knows you aren't going to let this slip. Also consider rewards for her grades coming up Like a pizza for dinner or maybe a movie or even just a lot of enthusiastic hugs and kisses when she brings home those better grades.

By Momoffour on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 04:22 pm:

mommyteacher were can I find your websight.
Thanks

By Mommymindy on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 10:40 am:

Listen, I don't have kids that old, but my best friend does & for a teacher to tell you not to worry about the 'F'??? That doesn't sound right to me. It seems that the teacher would want to help you help her! Just a thought!

By Vicki on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 08:14 pm:

I have an 8 year old that is in 3rd grade also and I would be livid if she was bringing home F's in something that I knew she could do but wasn't! To me, that is not acceptable and I would be even more upset that the teacher was blowing it off. What exactly are the other grades in reading for? My dd has a weekly story. They read it in class on Tuesday and every Wednesday she brings her reading book home and we have to read it again for homework. The reading test in on Friday. I have always told dd that I would not be upset with any grade as long as she did the best she could do. Right now, she is a great student!! Just a little Mommy brag here, but she got the principals award for the first 9 weeks which is all A's on her report card!! We all were very excited. But anyway, back to the subject. There is no way that I would let this go. I feel it is up to us (partents and teachers) to stress that you need to do your best. It sounds like she is being lazy or something and an F is not her best by a long shot. I am just really amazed that the teacher days not to worry about it!!

By Paulas on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 10:39 am:

As a teacher I am surprised that the teacher would not be at all concerned about this. Even if it is a matter of paying attention and not ability, I would certainly be telling a parent that something has to change.

Momsmyteacher mentioned a website that you can go to where you read and then answer questions. I don't know her website but you can also go to: bookadventure.com

There, they have a selection of books at a specific grade level (you have to go to the library or something to get the books) then there are questions to answer. The child gets points for each correct answer and later can buy things with the points.

I would be more angry, both as a teacher and parent, if the Fs are due to lack of effort than ability. If your child is not doing well but are trying her best that's a totally different story. If they have the ability and are not putting in their best effort...that is not acceptable.

Talk to the teacher again and make sure it's an attention thing and then get it under control now by using some of the suggestions above.

Good luck and keep us updated.

By Momoffour on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 05:54 pm:

I got her report last week and she made all A's. She brought all her grades up and made superintendents honor roll. I am very proud of her. also found out today at her eye appointment that she has a stigmatisum and she has to wear glassed full time now. We were told by her last eye doctor that she was far sided but the new doctor today said that she couldn't see any farsidedness but she difently had a stigmatisum. But her appointment was today and we got her glasses this afternoon.

By Trisa on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 09:22 pm:

That is great news! Its gone from bad to wonderful! You should both be proud!!

By Melanie on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 09:36 pm:

That is wonderful news!! Thank you for taking the time to keep us posted. Do you know what made the difference for her?

Tell her all her cyber aunts are very proud of her.

By Annie2 on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 09:50 pm:

Yeah! Thanks for the update

By Missy3 on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 09:52 am:

I was going to mention eye testing. That is when I got mine. There is SO much that our eyes do for us, if things change again, hopefully they wont, but see a developmental optomologist! YOu will be shocked at how we all learn and can correct ways we dont learn

Congrats!!!