Comments on: Read This If Your Child is Unhappy at School

By: Devon

Devon — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 22:54:54 +0000

In reply to Melissa Taylor. That’s helpful! I think I was looking at it like a permanent decision. Thank you!

By: Melissa Taylor

Melissa Taylor — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 23:57:12 +0000

In reply to Devon. Devon, I wish parenting had an instruction manual sometimes! There often isn't a clear "right" answer and we just try to do the best we can with what we know. Everything you said about his school experience suggests that it might be worth trying to homeschool. Whatever you decide, remember that you're trying to do the next right thing and if it doesn't work, you can always pivot. Cheering you on!

By: Devon

Devon — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 06:15:09 +0000

So my son is about to turn 8, highly sensitive, has Generalized anxiety disorder, sensory processing disorder and hates school. He says he wishes we were all born smart (born with all knowledge needed for life) so we don’t have to go to school to learn anything. He says he is bored. He is also a slow learner and the public school timeline doesn’t allow him the time he needs to process a concept and retain it. His response is to shutdown. He goes to the learning center on a regular basis. I constantly think about homeschooling. Distance learning was horrible for him, but even though homeschooling isn’t the same format, I fear it would be horrible as well. His teacher suggested that home is a safe place for him and homeschooling could change that. I don’t know what to do. He is always anxious about going to school, like a cloud hanging over his head.

By: April

April — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:34:45 +0000

My 2nd grade daughter is going through this now. She loves learning but is miserable and bored in school. She thrives on participation and likes attention. Her class has 33 children with 0 help. Due to “student confidentiality” parents may not volunteer with children in the classroom so her teachers attention must be evenly spread between 33 little ones. I have an education background and give my daughter enrichment homework at home and we love going to museums together. She cries every night that she wants to be homeschooled because she can learn new, more challenging material with me. The school has also replaced recess/free play with structured games in an effort to “combat bullying.” My daughter hates it and would prefer to do cartwheels on the grass or play tag. I do think we should move schools but don’t know if it should be mid-year or to a hybrid homeschool program. I’d prefer full time school but cannot afford private. What should I do?

By: Catherine Gruener

Catherine Gruener — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 15:23:00 +0000

Natalie,

By: Natalie F

Natalie F — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:11:00 +0000

In reply to Sarah Holzer. This is a really tough situation, and it's not a good sign that they "have never dealt with a child like him before". We also have a color system in our school, and I don't like it for similar reasons. How is your son doing on academics? I've seen kids who spend too much time out of the classroom falling behind, and this is another reason why something has to change. Is there any chance you could be present more in the classroom as a volunteer, at least once a week, to evaluate situation with your own eyes?

By: Natalie F

Natalie F — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:06:00 +0000

In reply to iGameMom. Beth, thanks for commenting! All things considered, we would really like to stay and work things out. Our meeting with a principal earlier this week was very positive, and she said that she would give a lot more thought to the placement for the third grade. In fact, she offered us to skip her, but we really don't want to do it at this point of school year.

By: Tara Green

Tara Green — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 12:11:00 +0000

Such a useful post. I’m going to pop it on Pinterest for when I need it or to share with parents I work with if they need it. Nice to have a structure to get thoughts together when emotions can run high. Very much agree with comments below that talk about how very different one year and teacher at a school can be compared to another and what different levels of care and support this leads to. Thank you for the post.