Can I ask our advice re my DS?

[hackingandhewing]

Last parent consultation in Feb, teacher says that DS seems to have lost interest in everything but going outside.

He is almost 6 in Y1.

Teacher wonders if it is half term fatigue type thing. Says he works hard, finishes what is asked of him, is making good progress and is reaching expected levels in most areas.

He has always been a reluctant reader at home so I made a huge effort during half term to engage him in some reading/writing activities and he did seem to enjoy it.

Today I asked her if there had been any improvement since half term. She said there was for the first few weeks but this week he is back to no enthusiasm. She says that during carpet time he just looks bored. She was being assessed today by the HT and even she commented that DS didn't seem that engaged. Again, he is completing his work, there are no concerns about his progress. It is just his lack of enthusiasm. He does not misbehave generally (according to school).

At home he can be stroppy. He is my precious last born, my DD is 12.5. I am aware that in the past I have tended to baby him a bit but I have tried hard to stop.

I'm not sure how concerned to be? If he's making progress then that's great but I would hate for him to go through school life like this.

He doesn't often complain about going to school although equally he isn't racing out of the door to get there. As far as I have been able to get from him, he isn't having problems with any of the other children and he has freinds.

Sorry it's long but WWYD?

[smee]

I'd say it's up to the teacher to find things to inspire him. Is she any good?! Also I'd maybe ask her other questions, so is he happy with his friends? Does he mix well? Does he answer questions and join in at all? At not quite 6, I'd say that's all far more important than his reading levels and academic achievement.

[hackingandhewing]

Thanks smee. i had sort of though it was up to her to engage him but I don't want to be thekind of parent that blames the school for everything.

The teacher is ok, trouble is, his reception teacher was totally rubbish so anyone would have been an improvement. She is young, it's her first job out of uni. She seems competent, the kids love her and she seems to have good control of the class generally.

I will ask her about the other stuff. He has always been quite shy with adults but she has said that he does talk to her and LSAs confidently.

[hackingandhewing]

bumping

[Jezabelle]

Is there anything on his mind? Maybe that's preoccupying him? Just a thought. Probably not that otherwise his progress would be effected. I would let the teacher know you are very concerned and ask whether there is any subject that he is enthusiastic about.

[verybored]

I have the same problem with DS 3. He loved reception but is not engaged with year 1. However we do know some of the reasons - he dislikes his teacher intensley (with good reason IMO) and there are some very badly behaved children which he finds unsettling and he cannot relax. He finds the work they do boring, it just doesn't inspire him at all, and I don't mean that in a 'my child's so intelligent' way, but the reading scheme books are bring and they wrote about things that don't interest him. If he could write about footall and monsters all day he would be much more engaged.

He is also finding the lack of stickers and praise, compared to reception difficult I think. He is a child that needs to be told he is doing it right and doing well.

I don't know what the answer is to be honest, but I am very glad that it is out in the open in our house and we are talking about it. Has your DS told you why he's not interested?