What do I have to do....

[camismom]

to instill the value of education and the importance of studying in my child?

In my mail box last night (to end off a good day) was a notice from Cami's school that she again (just like last nine weeks) has unsatisfactory grades in three of her four core subjects.

She has a 70 in Social Studies and Math and a 68 in Science. Reasons listed for these grades are as followed:

Low test/quiz grades --- listed by all three teachers
Does not stay on task and pay attention in class --- listed by Pre Alg teacher
Does not complete/turn in classwork--- Science teacher
Does not complete/turn in homework ---Science & PreAlg


I know for Science she rec'd a zero on one of her homework assignments that she tried to use a homework pass on... but found out she could only use one per nine weeks.

As far as everything else.... it's the same ol story. Esp. the test grades. She ALWAYS has poor test grades but admittedly NEVER studies. What can I do to make this child see that this is the only way she is going to learn it? I tell her over and over that studying and "drilling it in her head" is the only way she will be able to remember it on test day.

There is two weeks left in this grading period to get these grades up.

Why does everything have to be so hard with our kids?

[finnmom]

I know it´s hard Christy

I try to get my ds to understand that he HAS to start paying attention to his english lesson´s, otherwice he´ll notice very soon that he has a serious lack on his basic knowligde in english

But, how to do that Who ever get´s some answer´s, please tell me too

I guess I was quite like that as a child too. I never really read on test´s, not even for my "high school" graduation test´s.... could have done better, but did all right still

I bet Cami is going to get it someday, you´ll see, she has such a great mom that she has to get it someday I hope mine does too Too much pushing will be the countereffect, I think

[camismom]

I hope so Marja! In Georgia we have a new thing.... students in high school have to take the "High School Graduation Test" if they don't pass it... they don't graduate!! It's scary to think that's coming for her one day!!

[tridlette]

I have been trying the psychology of "it's the only time in your life that you can learn for free. Take advantage of these fools that are crazy enough to give away free knowledge. When you get to college, they are going to demand thousands of dollars to tell you anything at all, so USE the system for free as best as you can now. The more you suck out of them now, the less you will have to pay for later in life."

They are starting to think about it, and I have seen a 5 point improvement in Michael's grades since I came up with this idea.

[Linda]

I have been there Christy...the only thing I can tell you is cami will have to find her own way She still has time to "get it in gear" but she is going to WANT to do it!!

Paul started out his 7th grade year the same way and then picked up the last half of the year. I also told him he would be going to summer school if he didn't get it together!!!!

In his H.S. kids are required to go to saturday school if there grades are lousy....that is an incentive in it self to get the kids studying

[camismom]

I reminded her last night about the Georgia high school graduation test last night. Her eyes got kind of big. Then I told her that now was the time to start learning those study skills so she could apply them then when the time comes. I believe they are given four chances to pass and after that... they just don't graduate.

[sweety]

I have the same problems even for 5th grade. dd "forgot" to write down that she was having a science test last week. She didn't study over the week-end. She got a 68 on the test. She is having a math test today. We went over everything several times this weekend. I hope and pray she gets better than a 75.

I have talked to the teacher and the teacher said she puts all the notes on the overhead. I've seen dd's notes. 2 or 3 lines for a whole topic doesn't cover it.

Iwish there was a way I could sit with her and show her what notes to take and how to do it. I did 4 years of nursing school on no meds and graduated with a B average. Sometimes I feel like banging my head against the wall.

[camismom]

sweety said:

Sometimes I feel like banging my head against the wall.

I hear ya!! The worst thing is the "devil may care" attititude. In her district they do not have D's. It's A, B, C, then F. A 70 is a C for her, and she says this, "well, at least I'm passing". ARGH!!!

[Sorka]

Does your school offer any type of study skills group or class for the kids.. if not suggest it!

Also.. how are you trying to get her to study.. the traditional sitting at the table drilling the facts?

Mabye ask her what her ideal study situation is.. is it laying on the floor? is it quiet, is it with loud music? is it with a snack or munchies? Is it walking around the house with the book or notes in hand ?

Some times they need a little different environment to get it done than WE would think.

Make an agreement on how she will study at home, stick to it for 2 weeks and tell her that if her grades stay at a certain level.. (you pick) that she can continue the study her way. If not it is your way..

Also it is known that when you study just before bed you retain more of what you studied.. also if you do it in 10-15 minute intervals as well.. that seems to help

A little food for thought!!

Denise

[Linda]

Very interesting Denise....Paul always studies just before bed...I always thought he was just putting it off untill the last minute but he always told me he could study better at night....hmmmm

[camismom]

Good ideas Denise... I will definitely try them. Thanks!!!

[tridlette]

yup, Michael starts his studying at 11 p.m. with the head phones on and a blanket over his head. He got a 85 for first quarter in Algebra. It seems to work for him. I always did my studying then too.

I liked to have a photocopy of the notes, that I could read and highlight as I went. I actually used 6 different color highlighters, and used a different color for each idea. I could "see" the notes when I took the test, because I just skimmed my brain for "orange" notes or "green" notes.

It was great when I had my own set of college texts, and then I could highlight the book itself.

[mskris]

This is very interesting. I never studied in grade school or high school, and was an A-B student. I finally taught myself in college, and I used to do all the things mentioned, study before bed, used highlighter(s), etc. I didn't have background noise, though; never could study with tv or radio. I'd study until 11 p.m., get a good night's sleep, then get up one hour earlier than normal and go over my highlighted notes again. Worked well for me - I graduated with honors.

HOWEVER, my ds (9) has the "good enough" attitude and it shows. He's so smart, but he's a C student. I don't know if I should pressure him at this point, since he's doing okay and he's happy, but the way he's going he's going to have trouble in middle school and high school. I used to be the same way, but I didn't have adhd to complicate matters, so my grades were better (I wonder what they would have been if I'd actually studied??).

He does have anxiety issues, so I don't like to push him too much, but I also don't want him to get into bad habits, which I fear have already begun. He avoids anything he isn't good at, which involves anything requiring reading! He's fine at math, and always does his math homework first. Reading he puts off until we get mad...

So, any ideas would be great. BTW, can Cami's teacher make her a copy of the overhead notes? That way, she'd have notes on whatever she "missed" in class... doesn't seem like too big a request.

Kris

[mothercat]

At the highschool where I live they have a different way of dealing with some of the educational problems . My nephew whom was Add was in his third year and due to his problems with getting things accomplished he had yet to really pass any classes. (he still classed as a freshman credit wise) It had something to do with his add and not studying combined. ( he couldn't stay on track long enough or something like that)
They have what they call "alternative" schooling on the high school campus here. It is set up for kids who are like this and doomed to fail for no real good reason other than lack of concentration. It seems to be that they take all their classes on computer at their own pace. There are no teachers persay except the one in charge of the computer lab. There was no homework or anything like that and it held his attention so well that he pulled it together and graduated on time.

[Sorka]

Hey here is another idea.. Leap Frog.. or some other company like them have that electronic study gadget.. they have it so you can put in what text book company, grade and chapter you are on and it will bring up questions for that particular one your child is using..

I was looking at getting their spelling turbo twist for my son because you can hook it up to the computer and input their spelling words for the week for practice.

I think there might just be one under the tree this year.. especially with all the trouble he has been having..


the leap pad thing is called the iQuest.. it's for grades 6-up and they even have on that has pda capabilities.. there is a list on their site of the textbooks they support..
It's not too bad in the price range.. especially with the PDA stuff added on..

You might want to check it out
www.leapfrog.com/do/browseproducts?ageGroupKey=middlehigh&skillKey=skill_testprep&x=13&y=8

Just a thought!!

(from a girl who likes gadgets too!!)
Denise