Is unschooling what Ryan Needs??

[kimmee]

I just got the mid term grades today - Aimee straight A's~ superintendent's honor roll, Damon straight A's except handwriting B+=( it  is deplorable - he still expresses himself from the body out - ie :immature processing of letters and it is completely illegible - I have worked so hard on this   )  and Ryan - Straight D's. I don't understand  - he just won't do it - he has no pride , no desire - his math and science (logic and reasoning skills are way off the chart) his story telling ability and vocabulary are incredible, He has a fabulous sense of humor, his deductive skills are way out of the box and his creative side - art,spatial, music are way above average - His kindergarten teacher thought he was going to be a rocket scientist and his psychiatrist (we were referred for ADHD said he indicated gifted on all of his tests. I just don't get this and I really need help with it -- His dad just says "whatever" ~ my problem is unchallenged and unmotivated kids turn to "other sources " of entertainment.

[QuilterMom]

The first thing that came to my mind was to give him a learning style survey. It sounds like he's bored at school and not being challenged.

I just did a quick search for some surveys (the one I used on ds a couple of years ago isn't online anymore ) and here's what I came up with...........

http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=younger

http://quizilla.com/users/guiltfree/...%20for%20Kids/

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/c...l?grade=bigkid

http://www.scholastic.com/familymatt...z_learnstyles/

[kimmee]

Thank you - I bookmarked them - I will sit and check them out tonight when I am not doing anything else - when ryan was little I taught him in a very tactile hands on manner - throwing beanbags at alphabet letters, make phonetic sounds with items, using beans for math. I have explained this to his teachers and they always say "oh don't worry we cover all methodology - No child left behind!!" what a crock... all Ryan ever has is worksheets - and Q& A from a reading passage - Teachers rarely even stand in front of their class anymore - I AM SO FRUSTRATED!!

[DaisyLady]

I agree with Kimmee. Schools are not set up for all learning styles despite what they try to say! Also how does he feel about his teacher. That can say a lot about how motivated a child will be.

[guest2]

Kimmee,
Definitely do the learning styles inventory so you can see how he learns best. He is obviously a very bright child and needs to be challenged. Check and see if your schools have classes for gifted children and by all means, if you have Odyssey of the Mind or whatever they are calling it these days, get him involved! He'd positively shine!

[forestdale]

I totally agree with the advice above but I'd like to add something (naturally). He might also be suffering from youngest child syndrome (my terminology). I've seen this often and I think I suffered from it myself - the youngest child pushes the envelope, they know they are smart, but don't see the need to excel like older siblings, who often feel they have something to prove. If you feel this is the case, a change of education syle will probably do the trick and get him wanting to learn again.

Good luck.