Having a hard time with Katie

**bamamomto4** · 08-24-2005, 10:51 PM

I dont know what her problem is.She wont listen to the teacher,she doesnt pay attention,talks out of turn,gets up without permission,has to go to the bathroom " very often".
I am sooo aggervated at her. Her teacher sent a note home last week and I had a talk with her.I thought we had things straight but her teacher calls this morning and says Katie is still not behaving or paying attention. She moved her up by her desk today and she still would not pay attention.
She does everything slow....classwork (that she never finishes) homework,reading,math.....sloppy handwriting...everything!! I'm not sure what to do. I have talked till I am blue in the face and today I totally lost it with her

She was staring off,not listening to me,reading slow,missing words,licking her lips,moving around,scratching,wiping her nose...you name it!!! I dont know if she is just "slow",testing me,doesn't care...I just dont know!!
It's like she thinks she doesnt have to mind anyone.That she can just do her own thing....???

I asked her teacher did she think Katie could see the chalkboard and she said yes and that she thinks Katie is capable of the work,she just wont do it. We've had this problem every yr (she's in 2nd grade) but never this bad. She is at the age where she should be doing what she is told and MINDING the teacher and showing respect....I am just at a loss on what to do. heck...she wont even listen to me!

I dont expect A honor roll...but she is NOT trying AT ALL!!!!
The grades I have seen so far are 27.....54....17...and 77.....

On last week spelling test she spelled everyone right except for one BUT she wrote them backwards.Like how you number the paper down...

1.
2.
3.
etc....Well she wrote the word on the left of the number like

dneb 1.
elat 2.
gorf 3.

She totally knows better than that and has never even done that before last week!!!!

Should she go back to 1st grade? be tested for ADD...eyes checked...????

I was crying today thinking I was the worst mother there is. I have done everything....someone help me!

**Sara Noel** · 08-24-2005, 10:58 PM

Might want to have an evaluation done. Would put your mind at ease. Maybe start with speech/language and be sure there isn't any type of issues there. Many children don't show any indication of any type of learning/language hinderance until later. I'm not saying that is the case with her, but ruling it out would help give you some direction if it's behavioral or not.

**bamamomto4** · 08-24-2005, 11:03 PM

Would the school do that? or would I have to on my own?

She starts off shy,if someone asks her a question,she'll just say I dont know,rather she knows or not. So I know she would fail any test she was given.

And she is the younest,always has been.She turned 7 August 3rd and started 2nd grade August 11th. All of her teachers have always commented on her being "the baby" of the classroom.
Did she just start school to young...???

**Sara Noel** · 08-24-2005, 11:10 PM

The school provides it freely. Just ask them for it. You don't need to just ask her teacher and rely on her either. Talk to the principal/supervisor of schools or supervisor of special ed services. They'll connect you with the proper evaluations.

Again, I am not saying there's something WRONG and hate to imply there is. I just think you'd feel a lot better ruling it out.

**bamamomto4** · 08-24-2005, 11:18 PM

Oh Sara! I understand what you are saying

no offense taken!

I told Steve today maybe she should go back to 1st grade before she just fails the second....but then her teacher says she is capable. I honestly dont think she is ready for 2nd grade. She forgets so easily. Then again if we spend all week pounding stuff in her and screaming everyday,she'll do good for awhile!

**SewCrafty** · 08-25-2005, 06:54 AM

Tammy maybe it is dyslexia? I think by the sounds of it Katie is smarter than you think and is bored! She is not paying attention or listening because it doesn't interest her or she feels she already knows whatever information the teacher is talking about.

I'd get her tested too, just to rule out any learning problems.

my friend, I'm only an email away if you want to chat.

**Darlene** · 08-25-2005, 07:12 AM

I eccho Sara & Dee's thoughts. Everyone learns in different ways & at different paces, finding out anything you can about where she's coming from can help you help her. Please give her a hug for me.

When you do find out what's going on & you still think she should be held back a grade go with your gut. I should have listened to my gut when a 1st. grade teacher said "don't worry he'll be fine" and kept my son back when we moved to a new school. Instead we let him go on to second and his second grade teacher there agreed with me that he should be held back. We did & it was the best decision, he thrived after that & just graduated & was on the honor roll most of his hs years.

**Michelle** · 08-25-2005, 08:25 AM

Nothing to add to what's already been said, just wanted to give you hugs

**AmyBoz** · 08-25-2005, 08:37 AM

Go ahead and call the school for testing. If nothing else, it may give Katie a wake up call that her behavior (if it can be helped) is serious and it can give you peace of mind. If there is some sort of problem, then you'll know and it can be dealt with correctly.

**KatieInLa2** · 08-25-2005, 10:44 AM

Tammy your Katie sounds alot like my ds. He just makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes.

He is very smart but if it doesn't interest him he doesn't pay attention. His teachers says he "zones out" on them. He is in 2nd grade this year after repeating 1st. The last teacher conference I went to they seemed to want to say he was ADD. I try to get him in bed early and limit his sugar before school and it seems to help his conduct grade. He is really having trouble learning to read and spell.

**SCDowney** · 08-25-2005, 11:00 AM

It sounds like she is very intelligent and bored, if she hardly pays attention, fidgets constantly, then will do the work correctly and backwards! (I think that's funny, actually!)
Getting testing done should help figure out what's going on, then get her the help she needs. Sounds like she needs to be challenged more, maybe even moved ahead?
I have a couple of nieces who've done similar things; one had a teacher that challenged her, and got her to help the other kids in class.
Hang in there!
:hug:

**Kimberlina** · 08-25-2005, 11:16 AM

Tammy, she sounds smart to me, too. I used to do the same kinds of things because I was bored.

But I do think she should be evaluated. Not everybody learns the same way, and the school/teacher may just not know/be meeting her needs.

**bamamomto4** · 08-25-2005, 05:45 PM

Thanks everyone

I'm sending a note to her teacher tomorrow.I would have today,but I just didnt know what to say,or I knew what I wanted to say,I just couldn't get it all out lastnight lol

I think she is smart. (of course I do lol)...Seriously...I think she is,but I also think she should've been held back.Maybe her age has something to do with it. She is very tiny for her age.she's always been at least a foot shorter than everyyone. She's 7 and wears between and 3 and 5t...so she doesn't weigh much either (just to give you an idea of how small she is) I dont her size makes her smart or not smart though huh....

I asked her when she came in if she was good today and she said yes,but she still got a red mark,because she didn't know the teacher said to change the red crayon...?????? I have no idea what all that means.
Her spelling test was today but the teacher doesnt send home any papers till Monday.

You know...when shes here playing.I hear her and Jackson back there and she'll read to him,and not miss a word....if she's doing reading for school,she'll miss easy words like you,me,to,from,frog,she...etc....

Maybe she won't act right because I'm telling her she has to lol
She may be just testing me.

She did bring some papers home they did in class,but dont get graded for....she got everyone of the math problems right

If she's not being graded,she does good,if it's for a grade...she misses everyone of them

I'll let you all know what the teacher says when she writes back or calls....Thanks again everyone!

**pip** · 08-25-2005, 06:32 PM

Good luck. It's hard to consider that there may be a deeper problem to be dealt with, but it's better in the long run to get the help early. It will help her self esteem, too, and you'll feel like a better mom, also.

I have some older kids now, and I know how frustrating it can be when it looks like they are just not trying. We finally found out that my son really can't help it much of the time.( ADHD). If we had really understood things earlier, it would have maybe stopped a lot of blaming and punishing for things that could be handled in a different way, know what I mean?

**forestdale** · 08-25-2005, 06:43 PM

I think that writing words backwards is sometimes a sign of dyslexia. I'm glad you're getting her tested. They might come up with a solution, or at least a reason, for her behaviour. Good luck.