Hi guys.
My 6 year old DS is a visual learner and I am just so completely frustrated with the public school system. I had met with his teacher at the beginning of the year to explain this. Ryan is very capable but he needs to be shown not just told how to do things. I could tell at the time that she just didn't get it and I was right! He just got his report card back yesterday and I was really disappointed. He is so very bright! All of the work that he has brought home since September has been incredible. Lots of comments on it like *wow!* and *Awesome*. But his report card did not reflect this.
They use the number system here.
It goes something like this.
5. Student is consistently work above grade level.
4. Student meets requirements and is sometimes above Grade level.
3. Student is meeting Grade level.
2. Student sometimes meets or is close to meeting Grade level.
1. Student is consistently below Grade level.

Anyway, DS got 3s in math, music and 4 in gym. 2s in Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Health.

I just feel terrible about this. I can't stress enough how bright and hard working this child is. He is constantly making little books at home. He reads quite well and is always challenging himself to do better. For example my oldest is just learning to write (he's in Grade 3 and mostly all 4s on his report card) and my youngest is constantly writing out words as well. But he is very particular (even more so then my oldest) they have to be just right.

I am just truly devastated here. I don't know what my next step should be. Parent teacher is tomorrow night and I honestly don't know how to handle this.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Joey

By Mommymindy on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 - 12:10 pm:

Can you afford to send him to a private school, or would you want to? In our state there are programs available that offer scholarships to children in public school, if they are not doing too well, to go to private school of the parents choice. The requirements here are only that they go to a public school the year before the scholarship is issued. My kids are not school aged yet, but my son will be next year & I am trying with all my might to get him into private school. We cannot afford it right now though!! The public schools don't pay well & unfortunately, the teachers don't take as much personal interest in the children as they did when I was younger!

By Lauram on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 - 12:35 pm:

I am a teacher- public school- and actually take a LOT of personal interest in children. There are many teachers who are not looking for a big pay check- that's not a reason to go into teaching!

What is "parent teacher?" Is it an individual conference? If not, I would schedule a meeting with the teacher to discuss the report card. Ask specific questions about what she means but sometimes meets criteria. Ask her to show you specific work samples that demonstrate this (you might want to give her a heads up when you schedule the mtg so she can prepare these materials for you). If he's not meeting grade level expectations and you feel he is very bright, you may need to rule out a learning disability. Let me know if you want me to go into more further detail about that after you meet with her.

By Kolbysmom on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 - 01:00 pm:

You said he is very bright, maybe he's not being challenged enough at school. I've seen many kids who are VERY bright do awful in school just because they felt like it was too easy. Maybe you could see if your school system offers an apptitude test to see what level he is at.

By Feona on Thursday, December 4, 2003 - 07:43 am:

If he is a visual learner he should get sitting in the first row next to the teacher so he won't be visually distracted.

My son is a visual learner too. (Visual Distrated too.)

Some times auditory distration goes with the visual learner. You wouldn't see this at home only in a classroom setting with tons of distrations and kids.

I am beginning to understand why parents home school.
Just remember you aren't alone and you can take the stress. This too will pass.

By Missy3 on Thursday, January 1, 2004 - 11:41 pm:

Have you tried a Developmental Optomologist? Just a suggestion, they are great and give the kids new ways to learn and strenghten their weaknesses.

By Feona on Friday, January 2, 2004 - 08:33 am:

Thanks for the recommendation Missy! I think I will look into it.

By Kaye on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 01:00 am:

okay well one thing to take into consideration is on this type of grading scale it is subjective. By the end of the year you want to see progress in your child. So chances are most of her children were considered on grade level. Really you need to not worry so much about the grades and look at the big picture, is he liking school, do you feel like he is learning stuff, do you think the teacher likes him? All children have a prefered way to learn, some teachers are great about teaching in all ways, some just aren't. make sure for next year you request a teacher than can work with his learning style.