Tampa Mom Makes Son Stand on Street Corner For Low GPA

[mamacags]

If the subjects were presented in a way that was interesting to him it would probably help.  Like learning math by figuring out where a bomb would land or what kind of ammo you need for a certain shot.  I didn't learn any math until I was out of school and had a real world way to see it.  If I could have figured out a way to make it interesting for myself back then instead of just trying to memorize it would have helped so much!

[seahorse513]

hyper
loves to draw
loves fishing
when he becomes interested in a hobby, he becomes obsessed with it but not in a bad way

only thing his teachers say is he is all over the place and a class clown. 

I think he is lazy, wants us to give him the answers and that is our fault.

I don't think he has anything like autism or asperger's or anything like that and have parent's that do have children with those conditions say he doesn't.

Right now I am having the teachers fill out forms to give to his pedi

My stepson was the same way, liked hands on activities. All I asked is that he tried his best...that's all we can really do as parents, and set a good example. I realized that not all children will be exceptionally scholastic in all subjects. I asked Michael what he wanted to be when he was older. He told me a forest ranger, so i looked it up and told him the courses he needs to be good at, the same with Amanda(stepdaughter) She wanted to be a vet. What does your son want to be when he grows up? I find at age ten, kids like alot of things that have to do with animals. You mention he likes to draw, what kinds of things does he like?? He may be just bored as Thundley mentioned.

[Alpha Mare]

With my son it was plain boredom.  He's a fast learner and had to sit and wait until everyone else 'got it' before they moved on.  Teachers started giving him advanced work to do while he waited. Perfect solution!

Teachers can be quick to diagnose 'problems' for any child who doesn't just sit there.  One year, school got a new, young teacher.  She strongly suggested ADDH testing for damned near every boy in her classes.  Town doc decided to test her; gave some of the kids placebos, with parents permission.  Teacher gushed about their improved behavior. 
The boys didn't change, only her perception of them did.

[AllosaursRus]

I think this approach is awesome!  I am so glad that there are still parents who care enough about their kid to NOT be their friends.

I'm with you Mama, listen to what the mamby pamby counseler types have to say......

"It's such an unfortunate strategy, and of course it's ineffective," a child development expert told the Times. "The key to motivating children is to balance responsibility with support, and balance is the important part."

Ineffective, huh? It's this kind of attitude that got the country into this shape! My Dad woulda kicked my ass! I can tell ya I'd rather have the ass kickin' than stand on a street corner tellin' everyone I was a DUmbass!

We'll see if it's ineffective.

note to mods, don't know if this site is off limits on quotes, but this quote is from the individual. not the paper per se

[formerlurker]

on the poing of attending school, my son has never missed a day of school in his life.  Always gets perfect attendance at the end of the school year.  He just has a problem keeping his mind on the subject instead of goofing off.

Attending = attending in class (showing critical ready and attending skills -- ready to learn, attending to instruction). 

[formerlurker]

With my son it was plain boredom.  He's a fast learner and had to sit and wait until everyone else 'got it' before they moved on.  Teachers started giving him advanced work to do while he waited. Perfect solution!

Teachers can be quick to diagnose 'problems' for any child who doesn't just sit there.  One year, school got a new, young teacher.  She strongly suggested ADDH testing for damned near every boy in her classes.  Town doc decided to test her; gave some of the kids placebos, with parents permission.  Teacher gushed about their improved behavior. 
The boys didn't change, only her perception of them did.

There are absolutely mediocre and just very bad teachers, and getting a classroom of 25 students to attend is not exactly for the weak-skilled instructor.   That said, there are students who have a very difficult time attending to instruction under the best of circumstances and motivation.   Those students need to be taught self-regulation, and that is best taught absent of medication (although that is the parent's decision). 

[seahorse513]

I think it is wonderful that he will be tested, and hopefully between you and the teachers can come up with a solution to help him. The ex and I just kept Michael very active on his off school days, so he could be more focused on his school work when he was in school. Good luck Gina!!

[Gina]

My stepson was the same way, liked hands on activities. All I asked is that he tried his best...that's all we can really do as parents, and set a good example. I realized that not all children will be exceptionally scholastic in all subjects. I asked Michael what he wanted to be when he was older. He told me a forest ranger, so i looked it up and told him the courses he needs to be good at, the same with Amanda(stepdaughter) She wanted to be a vet. What does your son want to be when he grows up? I find at age ten, kids like alot of things that have to do with animals. You mention he likes to draw, what kinds of things does he like?? He may be just bored as Thundley mentioned.

he wants to be a paleontologist or however you spell that

[seahorse513]

he wants to be a paleontologist or however you spell that

Isn't that the study of dinosaurs??

[vesta111]

he wants to be a paleontologist or however you spell that

Not bad for a 10 year old to be interested in dinosaurs, most kids that age think it is cool.

I say check his peers for what the interests of his friends are.  Could be you son has no one his age to get excited about a common interest.  

Just a suggestion, can you put your son in boy scouts?????