Report card time...

[BevJ]

DS brought his report card home yesterday. Although most of his grades were high 60's to mid 70's, most of the comments for each subject reflected that his answers are short, not well thought out and lacking in detail. How can I help him to improve in this area? TIA

P.S., he's in grade 7

[AnnW]

Do you have a different grading scale? Here a 60 is failing.

Have you have him tested to see if there is any kind of processing problem? Does he just not care and want to get it over with?

[BevJ]

Ann, he truly just does not care. (I think 65 might be a failed mark...his lowest grade was a 68). He wants to get the answer out, and fast, without effort...he has no problem processing the information, but he wants to get all his work done in school so he doesn't have homework in the evening. He wants to have free time in class even, to do, according to the teacher, unconstructive activities. His speech this year was pathetic. He wrote about Tracy McGrady (plays bball for the Orlando Magic). Any research he did was internet based and he didn't find much. I tried encouraging him to use the library...nope. He wrote about stats and facts that he didn't expand upon...and his main concern was hitting the 3 minute mark. I refused this year to help him if he didn't want to try my helpful hints. This same attitude carries into his written work for English, History, Science. I explained to him last night that I wouldn't be as disappointed in his grades if he actually tried and showed initiative, but plain lazyness I won't condone.

[AnnW]

So he's pretty much making D's in everything? What are the consequences to his not caring? It may not make him care, but it might make him think about blowing stuff off if there are some pretty heavy consequences? My dd tends to rush through stuff so she doesn't have homework, but she is making B's ...it's pretty hard to convince her that she needs to work harder when she is making those grades, but D's are different. One of my friend's sons seemed to have that attitude, but truly didn't know how to organize himself or research papers. She got a tutor to help and it's really made a difference.

[BevJ]

The mark I quoted should be 68 (not six)...darn emoticons interruping my typing, lol. A 68 is not a D. I think his highest grade was a 76 (the report card is at home, I'm at work). Just checked the provincial website and found this

quote..."Level 3 (which corresponds to B- to B+ or 70 per cent to 79 per cent) is the provincial standard. Level 3 is a high level of achievement of the provincial curriculum expectations. Parents of students achieving at level 3 in a particular grade can be confident that their child will be prepared for the next grade."...

Rae is in this category except in the subject (reading/writing sub-category in English) where he received the 68. As much as he's in the 70's for his other classes, the comments still read that he doesn't answer questions to the best of his ability. He said that his teacher commented that some students will find their marks lower than expected because she marks differently than their previous teacher (who is away on maternity leave since November...she's the English teacher).

Ann's quote ..."but she is making B's ...it's pretty hard to convince her that she needs to work harder when she is making those grades,"...

this is exactly the way my ds feels...I'm thinking maybe a tutor might be in order as well. Thanks for your thoughts.

[AnnW]

Ok..that's where the confusion lays..those grades would be failing here! LOL
Good luck.

[littlesista06]

Here too.

[imamama]

Good advice from Ann. Glad to hear the grading scale is different... I was worried about you for a minute there, Bev! LOL
I agree that maybe a tutor is in order or taking away extracurricular activities until he changes his attitude. Even though dd isn't in grade school yet, she has certain things she has to do in order to have privileges. Maybe that would work with your ds?
Good luck!

[bizymum]

A tutor would help and I take away privilages for bad behavoir aand etc...that seems to work.

My DS'S dont get their report cards till the 11th. ANd they dont have letter grades yet. That will come next year for DS#1..