7th grade DS is going to be the death of me.....

[live4christp1]

.......

Oct. 22nd was parent/teacher conferences. We went in order to get an idea of how DS was adjusting, thoughts from the teachers, etc. We had already received his report card for the first 9 weeks and grades were okay.....A's, B's with one low grade in a tech class....he just really doesn't get it at all.

Teachers said he was doing really well. They had noticed improvement in his organization and maturity. Impressed by all the reading he does, etc. So we praised him for the good job he was doing etc.

Fast forward to yesterday.....progress reports come home for first half of 2nd 9 week term.......only 3 short weeks and 5 days since parent teacher conference.......it was horrible!!!!!!! His grades had fallen to a 64, 75, 20, 32, & 79......with no grade for the tech class as he is missing 11 out of 16 assignments. Each class he had at least one zero for missing assignments. What has happened??????? We haven't changed our routine at home or anything.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

The teachers should have called you when the drastic change started and sorry but you should have been checking also. I am sure many won't agree with me, but a 7th. grade boy is still very immature and needs to be guided and checked with his work. I would be at that school "now" getting it fixed and while I was at the school, DH would be stripping my son's room down to nothing but a bed, desk, calculator, paper, and pens.

 

[ckay87]

Girls. Has he recently discovered girls? Once that happens, nothing else matters.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I share your pain with my 7th grade dd. No flunking, however we had a bump with being absent and then things started to slide.

Everything is online so you can keep track when you need to.

Today it is cramps. You don't have any worries there.

 

[Leenk]

Sounds like my little brother in his 6th/7th grade years. He would make straight A's on one report card, then it crashes on the next with half the assignments missing. Turns out the grade cycle coincides with which ever new online game he has discovered/addicted, but he burns out from the obsessions in a few weeks and starts doing his homework again. After he fessed up, he did make an effort to stay away from them, though it was hard for him at that age to have that much self control. He did get better and by freshman year of high school, it's not an issue anymore. He's a junior now and is making straight As even with 5 AP courses, so we're very proud that he has overcome his problems.

Talk to your son, or have someone he's willing to talk to find out why he's having problems. My parents couldn't get anything out of him, but they asked me to talk to him and he opened up to his big sister much better than with mom and dad. So find out why before you start implementing new routines or hand out punishments. We did take away internet access for awhile to help him stay away from temptations. Of course, he wanted the good grades and was willing to go along with the interventions. But in the end, no one can make him do well in school unless HE wants to.

 

[live4christp1]

We do stay on top of him. The first 9 weeks all he ever had for homework was math. So when it proceeded to be the same this next few weeks I never thought to question. The teachers have all said (other than math) that they try to give the kids ample time to do the work in class. The science teacher (we have a sub - regular teacher had surgery) noted that he puts very little effort to work done in class.

Girls and Facebook........that's what I think. So he was told yesterday.....no more facebook.....no video games.....no TV.

He has been asking for a cell phone and while I don't think he needs one DH was ready to cave and get him one as a Christmas gift......I told him he definately proved he was not mature enough for a cell phone.

We also are now requiring him to bring home one subject notebook a night plus whatever else he needs for homework. We will be checking those notebooks.

Also he has not been good about bringing his agenda home but that is a must now.

 

[live4christp1]

Talk to your son, or have someone he's willing to talk to find out why he's having problems. My parents couldn't get anything out of him, but they asked me to talk to him and he opened up to his big sister much better than with mom and dad. So find out why before you start implementing new routines or hand out punishments. We did take away internet access for awhile to help him stay away from temptations. Of course, he wanted the good grades and was willing to go along with the interventions. But in the end, no one can make him do well in school unless HE wants to.

That sounds like DS. He wouldn't say much at all. We all sit down together each evening and talk at dinner. He only brings up the things that interest him.....for instance.......he didn't tell us until last night that one of the missing grades in the tech class was because he broke the small engine for one of his projects and couldn't get another until he paid for it. That's the first time he has ever mentioned it. He's the oldest......I have a very dear friend that he is very close to though.....maybe I'll see if she will talk to him and see if he will open up to her.

His obsession has been My Zoo and FarmTown on Facebook. He isn't allowed to go on until his homework is finished.......he just hasn't been honest with what homework he needed to take care of.

 

[live4christp1]

I share your pain with my 7th grade dd. No flunking, however we had a bump with being absent and then things started to slide.

Everything is online so you can keep track when you need to.

Today it is cramps. You don't have any worries there.

DD is just 6 and she is moody beyond moody......I don't even want to think about what fun that's going to be!!!!! They might have to send me to the funny farm.

 

[mamamary]

I also have a DS in 7th gr. His school has what they call Edline. Everyday homework is posted and teachers will also talk about what is coming up - for ex. a test in two days, a quiz in 3 days etc. Also about once a week current grades are posted. This really helps keep me on top of things.

 

[live4christp1]

I also have a DS in 7th gr. His school has what they call Edline. Everyday homework is posted and teachers will also talk about what is coming up - for ex. a test in two days, a quiz in 3 days etc. Also about once a week current grades are posted. This really helps keep me on top of things.

I wish our school would do that. I just found out the science class has a webpage. Will check with the other teachers to see if they have an area where these are posted. But for the most part I think they are trying to get the kids to be responsible enough to write down the assignments in the agenda and then make sure they are done. Some teachers will give them what's due a week at a time and others day by day.

 

[a1tinkfans]

.......

Oct. 22nd was parent/teacher conferences. We went in order to get an idea of how DS was adjusting, thoughts from the teachers, etc. We had already received his report card for the first 9 weeks and grades were okay.....A's, B's with one low grade in a tech class....he just really doesn't get it at all.

Teachers said he was doing really well. They had noticed improvement in his organization and maturity. Impressed by all the reading he does, etc. So we praised him for the good job he was doing etc.

Fast forward to yesterday.....progress reports come home for first half of 2nd 9 week term.......only 3 short weeks and 5 days since parent teacher conference.......it was horrible!!!!!!! His grades had fallen to a 64, 75, 20, 32, & 79......with no grade for the tech class as he is missing 11 out of 16 assignments. Each class he had at least one zero for missing assignments. What has happened??????? We haven't changed our routine at home or anything.

Looks like time to sit that child down. Doing poorly but trying your best is one thing...NOT handing in work is entirely something different in my mind....Its our only House rule regarding school....do your very best and we'll be okay with the grade....but Not being prepared/trying is not acceptable.
Good Luck...BY the way, surprised that teacher did not drop you a note...I'd call/email and request (just for future)......

 

[NotUrsula]

I also have a DS in 7th gr. His school has what they call Edline. Everyday homework is posted and teachers will also talk about what is coming up - for ex. a test in two days, a quiz in 3 days etc. Also about once a week current grades are posted. This really helps keep me on top of things.

We have a similar program, but it doesn't help when kids decide to blow off homework. DS did just what the OP's son did; he blew off 5 homework assignments the day before we went on an out of town long weekend trip (extra day for a teacher's workshop.)

Our teachers usually post grades about once per week, though they post homework assignments every night. We ride DS like harpies to get that homework done most of the time, but that particular day we were busy packing and forgot, and he took advantage big-time. His school will still accept homework one day late with an automatic 10% dock, but if we don't find out that it is missing until 3 days after it is due, that save won't work. (He also has issues of forgetting his homework in homeroom. Then he forgets it the next day, too, making all that work totally useless.)

Blowing off one day's homework knocked him down two letter grades in the course of one week, and it will be nearly impossible to recover. He has now pretty much blown any chance of getting into a selective high school. Honestly, I'm about ready to wring his neck.