Dylan is beginning to hate going to school already. I mean, crying in the mornings saying he hates school and he really doesn't want to go. I, at first, thought it was just because he didn't want to wake up and I still think that is part of it. But it is definitely more than that.
He has gotten notes home for the past week about him not completing his work due to goofing around and talking. I am in communication with the teacher and she is concerned that he says he is hating school, but can't come up with any reason why.
Well, I think I figured it out this morning when talking to him. Dylan has messy handwriting. He just does and no amount of redoing makes the letters "prettier". They are concentrating on handwriting at school right now. They read a book and then have to create a book of their own concentrating on the beginning, middle, and end of the book they read. Dylan has to write 2-3 sentences for each section (some kids get to write less, some have to write the same as him - it is based on the individual child's ability). They also can draw a picture for each section, but they can't draw the picture until after they finish all their writing. Dylan never gets his sentences "approved" because of his handwriting. It is legible. You do not have to guess what he is trying to write, but it is messy. They have him redo it until he gets it up to what they think is acceptable. I understand that, but . . .
Dylan is getting frustrated and his self-esteem is beginning to suffer because he is never getting finished. Then, he gets a note sent home and he gets in trouble at home for not doing his work. He is such a smart boy and he is beginning to think that he is not smart and that he is somehow isn't good enough. (Well, he won't be getting in trouble at home for this anymore now that I know what his perception of the problem is - we are just going to practice some handwriting skills more.)
Like I said before, I am in contact with the teacher and I know that I can't tell her not to push him to write better because she obviously believes that he can, but I don't want him hating school. I don't want him to think that he isn't smart just because his handwriting isn't the best. I have told him that many smart people have messy handwriting and that they are still smart and successful.
As for the notes about goofing around and talking, Dylan says he doesn't talk anymore (not sure I buy this) and that he isn't goofing around (but they may think he is because he isn't getting finished). He did say that after they tell him to redo his sentences, he works slower and doesn't want to show them to the teacher again because he is afraid they won't be good enough.
UGH!!
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2 comments:
I'm really bad about reading comments on blogs but I couldn't pass this one up. We're having some of the same issues here...it's not that Bronte *hates* school, but she definitely isn't enjoying it and is always wanting to stay home rather than go to school. In her case it's that her teacher just does't *get* her--there's no connection there at all. We got her report card last week and you could tell from her "grades" (you know how they have letter things instead of actual grades) that she'd spent no time with Bronte and had no idea what she was actually doing and capable of. It's sad, but I'm trying to blow it off at this point. Kind of like you I'm just working on what I can and now I have a MUCH better idea of what to ask for next year.
Good luck and lots of hugs for Dylan.
Tell Dylan ALL doctors write horrible, that doesn't make it okay, but does prove smart people write messy. My brother has a genius IQ and I can't read hardly anything he writes. Not sure how to improve on the writing thing - I was lucky to have gone to school when they really only cared about the substance - what is the big deal with messy handwriting anyway???? Whatever!!!
{{hugs}} to all! ~Lisa
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