importance of learning

[SKay]

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get it through our 1st graders' head, that he needs to learn? He is failing math and just doesn't seem to care. My DH tries to work with him, but the kid just wants to goof off or change the subject. Sometimes when we ask him a question, he just says "I don't know" or says the first thing that comes to his head. Maybe he is just giving up before he really tries (sorry to say I'm pretty bad about that myself).

[swmom]

Has he been tested for learning disabilities?

[Madison]

Hi,
My child does ALOT of that! It seems like she DOESN'T care or doesn't want to care about school or grades in 1st grade and kindergarden. She's in 2nd grade and is now realizing she can FAIL or summer school if she doesn't get her act together. She's a LITTLE better about caring but school is STILL A STRUGGLE!! She missed questions on a Science test that she STUDIED for and they were COMMON sence questions...nothing HARD! She didn't read it or she didn't put through the best effort??? Wish I knew the answer??? She knows MONEY doesn't come from CLOUDS!! What transportation travels in water...HER ANSWER...CAR! She knows it's a boat!!!! UGGGGGG...Stuff like that drives me UP THE WALL!!! She marked Natural Resource...CAR!!! Just not thinking at all or NOT CARING!! Ask me HOW you can improve this attitude I DON'T KNOW??? Someone told me "LET HER FAIL...Stop helping her with everything and then she'll find out it's not FUN being held back nor summer school isn't fun!" There's alot of truth to that statement but as a parent it's hard to GIVE UP?? I've found MONEY or special treats work well for good grades. Friends being able to spend the nite too is nice for good grades. Well, take care and good luck...Madison

[ohmama]

I don't know that it's possible to reason with a 1st grader on the level of the importance of learning. They are children and want to have fun. Learning can be fun if you make it so.

Kids that have ADD/ADHD can pay attention and thereby learn if an activity is new or exciting, stimulating... all of this activates the brain functions that help focus and concentrate. Kids with these disorders need adrenaline in order to focus. The routine that goes along with school is terrible for them and not by choice. They need that adrenaline to stimulat the underactive brain area (prefrontal cortex) that is associated with ADD/ADHD.

I was just reading about this in "Healing ADD".... it refers to one study where researchers found a deficiency of adrenaline (the hormone frequently associated with stress or excitement) in the urine samples of ADD children. ADD has been called the "adrenaline deficit disorder" because perple with this can focus with exciitement and interest, but not without it. Think what it must be like for them.

[dansmommy]

I like trying to make it interesting to them. DS did computer games for math, but unfortunately the actual drill isn't that interesting. I believe in rewards and praise for work too. AND especially if your husband is working with him I think that says to a boy that it's really important if dad takes time to go over it. Anyway. I stood over ds while he was writing in first grade and it was awful, but he started to stop writing at the end of the line, and for a kid with handwriting struggles, it's really pretty good. I think your commitment to his learning will pay off eventually. Keep trying different things and it will click eventually. Christie

[catseye]

For sd her name was a big problem last year.... I didnt really try to express the importance of learning to write her name per say, but what I did do was I made her write her name 5 times (copying from my original at that point) before she could play a computer game... Then if she wanted to change computer games (which children with adhd frequently want to change things they are doing) she would have to write her name 5 times again...

This did 2 things it discouraged her from wanting to change "subject" (games) on a whim, and she got ALOT of practice.... Maybe something you would try with math problems?? Just a thought... Good luck

cat

[SKay]

Thank you all for your posts. SWMOM, no, he hasn't been tested for LDs yet. His dr is changing his practice from pediatrician to ped. with emphasis on ADHD kids so I'm still waiting for him to get set up.

I was thinking about this some more and remembered that he does do a lot better when we "play school" or when he plays a computer math game. Rewards sometimes help too. His problems come mostly when we try to go over his school papers with him. So I think you all are right; we need to make it fun, exciting, and rewarding for him. We'll keep trying.

[Jorgy]

Learning by rote is soo boring and as we all know our kids live for exciting. A challange is what gets my guy. It has to be fun and it has to be a challange. In math he pits himself against someone else. But the sure way to get homework done is to hang playstation over his head. Works every time! 1st grade is a hard adjustment for any kid. 2cd grade was better as he was more mature and knew the expectations of homework. Good luck and hang in there, Sue

[SKay]

YESSS!!! After getting mostly F's with a few D's all year, DS got a B on his last math test! This is a direct answer to prayer. For some reason I hadn't started praying about this specifically until almost 2 weeks ago.

[rosyred45]

Skay,
Pray for me then. The teacher sent a note home yesterday saying Mikey has been struggling to get his work done. When we go over his papers, he knows all of the answers, but I don't get why, ok, boring. I GET IT. But does he know what it is.
Basic Stuff.(BS ;D)

He reads everything under the sun. He's started to pick up the magazines while we are in line at the store waiting to check out and read through them. We go past displays and he tells me how everything works, Even for locks. He just can't seem to get it fom his brain to his finger.

I would ask why me, but I know that my mom would be the first in line saying...PAYBACK
Kaiti

[camismom]

ohmama said:

ADD has been called the "adrenaline deficit disorder" because people with this can focus with exciitement and interest, but not without it. Think what it must be like for them.

I think you touched on something here. My dd12 sometimes does her homework in her room with her radio on or one of her favorite cds. I wonder ow she concentrates but she tells me it actually helps her to concentrate. She told me the music is something that breaks the silence and boredom of focusing solelyon the work, and she feels that is why she sometimes has trouble finishing work at school because it is "so boring".

[rosyred45]

Camismom, I was the same way. Although it was quite funny when I was 14, I got a Janis Joplin Greatest hits tape.

It's a little hard to concentrate when your DAD is singing in the bathroom right next to your room to Me and Bobby Magee.

Thought I'd die
Kaiti