Bit of background. Lachlan is my brainiac. Brainiac in the sense that you only have to show him how to do something once and he gets it. This has applied for all of his schooling. Last year and early this year his teacher was having to find him extra work to do as he was finishing the school work given to him well before the other kids in his class.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. I started to get wind that he wasn't playing with anyone in the yard. His teacher then found him upset in the school yard because Kameron his big brother also wouldn't play with him. His teacher then asked the class who would like to play with Lachlan the following day and she said the whole class put up their hand. So for about a week the class as a whole including their teacher played together at recess and lunch, to help the kids get to know each other better.
Since then I know he plays with 2 girls in the yard, but I haven't heard of him playing with any boys. I know he was having issues with a couple of the boys in the yard, but he is a good story teller as well, and the teacher he had apparently reported to knew nothing about it.
Fast forward to today. R-6 assembly. If you talk in assembly you are sent to your teacher to sit at her feet. Guess who got sent to the teacher in assembly today. Yep Lachlan. His teacher looked at me and I mouthed "what the" and she shook her head.
Bell goes for end of day and the assembly breaks up and all the kids head back to their classes. I go in to pick Lachlan up and his teacher says "we need to talk" It turns out over the last couple of weeks Lachlan has not done any school work. For example today they did science, she then asks the kids to bring up their work. Lachlan had not put one mark on his page. Apparently this has been happening for a little while. She has been changing around the classroom i.e who sits with who, in the hopes that Lachlan will go back to being a head down bum up kid when it comes to school work but she said nothing is working. The only time he does his work is when he is sent to time out, which is a table by yourself within the classroom.
We had a bit of a discussion about the other kids in the class and I asked her if I could create a table of kids that I think he might work okay with. She let me. So we are now going to see how that goes. I got him home and asked him what he is going on and why isn't he doing his school work he said "X & Y disturb me" I said "mate, you've only be sitting with X & Y for half the day today"
I said "Why do you do you're work in timeout and not with the rest of the class" he said "No one disturbs me in timeout" so I asked him if he wanted to go to Grade 2, and of course he said he did so I told him that if he didn't start doing his school work again, he won't be allowed to go to Grade 2.
I put on fake waterworks about how his teacher and I were really upset that he isn't doing his school work and he seemed to listen.
Short of moving him into another class which I really don't want to do since he doesn't have many friends as it is. What other options could I try? I am thinking if this current seating situation doesnt' work, I am going to ask if he can sit on a table by himself or with one other good worker.
I really don't know what else to try, and I have no idea why he has suddenly stopped doing the school work which he loved.
You sound like you are doing everything you can and it is great that your DS's teacher is doing the same. Could it be that the children may be picking on him for being so smart? I wish I had some advice on what else you could try. Just want to wish you all the best.
my son is one of these kids that loves ot play with girls over boys but very boyish himself. He just likes their company i think acuse as a bub eh was very mucha mummies boy. As for work he is very articulate in what he does do when its a topic he loves and he gets frustrated with interruptions or if he feels ppl are comparing he gets let down seeing ppl steal ideas or have something that may seem better. It takes him a while to complete things but he does a good job trying his best is your son like this???... I dont think its a problem to work alone if he gets satisfaction out of completing work, as long as he plays with ppl in yard in my opinion.
Often bright children will dumb themselves down to "fit in" with other kids, they don't want to be seen as being different. I think putting him with kids who do work is a good idea, they can motivate each other.
Playing with only girls isn't that much of a problem, at his age they aren't as into gender differences and really as long as he has friends its good. Maybe invite a few other kids over for a play- one at a time to help him mix better? How are his social skills? Some children need more explicit teaching of social skills than others, PM me if you need ideas.
Yeah one little girl he has play dates with after school, has even slept there overnight during the last holidays!! I have tried to get him to another little girls house or vice versa, but the mother keeps fobbing me off. I don't know why cause we get along okay. I have known her since Kindy days. Lachlan gets upset that he can't go to the little girls house but I keep telling him that is up to her Mum as well not just me.
He is great socially, just can't seem to click in the school yard. Alot of the children in the class are just dropped off at the gates, so I never have an opportunity to meet the other kids parents. Today he was upset cause one little boy wouldnt' let him hold his car that he had brought in for show and tell, but alot of other children got to hold it.
Need some input
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Kat. Just wanted to show you my support for trying all the things you have been. I hope you get some resolution soon.
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