DD is 5.5 and at an Outstanding primary school which we are very happy with. However, we are all struggling with her. She's a very bright child and has, we are told, outstanding verbal abilities for her age.
One of her teachers asked to have a word with me yesterday. She had done a reading session with DD and she had refused to read at all and told the teacher that she 'didn't like this learning stuff as it wasn't fun and she didn't want to go to school'.
Eventually she was persuaded to read. The teacher said that she did okay, but was still way behind where she was for her ability. Also that she was able to read with intonation, expression and comprehension that was far in advance of her reading level - basically completely the wrong way round.
We struggle at home with convincing her to do any reading, despite a house stuffed full of books - her own bookcase probably rivals the local library in terms of choice and quantity. It's the same with any kind of homework. Utter refusal.
School say that she is not competitive in any way and is a complete perfectionist.
She's a very stubborn and persistent child. Bribes don't work, taking things away don't work, banning TV etc until reading is done doesn't work. School have advised not to go down the threat line. They're going to put her on an intensive schedule with their reading expert and see if that helps.
Suggestions by the school that learning would enable her to do more interesting things were pronounced unconvincing, a suggestion that learning would enable her to get an interesting job in the future was met with the response that she didn't want to get a job, she was going to marry a rich man! (no idea where that comes from - DH and I don't even have a joint account let alone tick the 'rich' box!)
I'm at a complete loss as to how to motivate this child.
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Bright child who doesn't want to learn...
42 replies
elfonshelf · 07/01/2015 13:51
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