My very self conscious 7 year old is getting himself upset because he is getting into trouble for not answering the register like a pirate!

[pinkchampagne]

His class are learning about pirates atm & DS (who is a very self conscious child) is getting really upset because his teacher wants them to answer the register with some pirate phrase & DS just can't bring himself to do it.
He wouldn't even tell me what the phrase was because he was too embarrassed, but he says he is getting threatened with having his name put on the board for not taking part.
I told him that so long as he answers the register it doesn't matter if he can't bring himself to do it like a pirate, but he says his teacher is getting very cross with him for not answering like a pirate.
He finds this kind of thing almost physically impossible (he is being assessed next week to see if he has extra special needs) & I think it's unfair he is being pushed into doing this.
I was an anxious child & know how impossible silly little things like this can feel.
I want to have a word with his teacher, but do you think I'm being over protective here?

Yuck. Not just bad memories of schooldays. It's like those dreadful Christmas parties at the office where colleagues insist you put glitter spray in your hair and wear those antennae thing with baubles on the end. You WILL have a good time. Cringe. I'm shivering on behalf of your son here (and sadly not through my timbers).

I will definitely have a word tomorrow. He seems pretty petrified about this & I don't want him getting uptight. I was just telling his teacher today that he has been having lots of nightmares recently, I don't want him having pirate nightmares on top of everything!

Did you have a word ?

oh pc poor you and poor ds. I hqve not read all thread but I dont think you are being over protective at all. I woudl speak to the school..

Unbelievable - I admire your self-control Never heard of such rubbish.My DS2 would have burst inot tears in that situation - well done to our DS for coming to you and explaining - you should deffo go and see the crazy %*(&%$

Managed to talk to DS's teacher & explained that DS is getting himself in quite a state about this pirate register.
She said that she jokingly said she would make them walk the plank if they didn't answer in pirate voices & when I said that DS was worried about having his name on the board, she said that it was because he wasn't answering at all (which I suspected may have been the case)
He is apparantly now starting to join in with this & she said he did it today with a smile on his face!

Think my DS is just not coping with school at all right now.

what's happened?

How's the last couple of days been, pinkchampagne? Is it still the pirate thing or is there other stuff going on?

I spoke to his teacher today because I saw him sitting alone in playground with his head down today (I work in same school), and she says that for the last week he has been very lathargic, spaced out, resting his head on the tables & not appearing to listen.
We are moving this time next week, and it will be a big change for DS because his daddy isn't moving with us.
I fear that he is just not coping with everything & I feel so guilty.

Don't feel guilty. There might be a lot going on but he's got a mother who clearly loves and cares for him and that's a very good thing. Can't offer any practical advice I'm afraid, but am sure someone here will be able to. [weak grin]

Thanks, peaches.
I know it's a heavy one, but just thought I would update the thread & explain that a lot of it may be DS himself & how he is maybe just not coping with everything right now.

Does he talk to you about his feelings ?

Sometimes he does, but othertimes he won't talk at all. I tried talking to him yesterday, but didn't get much out of him.