Courtney Said:

Help I have a meeting tommorow with son's teacher and vice principal they want to hold him back?

We Answered:

wow...i think i can help shed a little light on this one. i'm an elementary teacher in texas, so i know how the retentions are handled according to TAKS testing (more or less...i'm not exactly an expert).

anyway....the big state-testing (TAKS) is first given in the 3rd grade. IF your son takes the test and fails, he will automatically be retained. his teacher may be considering that right now as far as retaining him in 2nd grade instead. i assume she is looking at it one of two ways...

one - repeat 2nd grade so that he is even MORE ready for the standardized testing the following year.

two - pass him now, even though he may not be prepared for the TAKS test in the 3rd grade...and he'll end up repeating then IF he isn't quite "there yet"

i know both of those SOUND like the teacher doesn't have your son's best interest at heart, but i'm sure that is not the case. the TAKS tests really have steadfast rules as far as pass/fail.

here is my opinion. if you feel that your son can show considerable growth over the summer, i'd say work with him and get him where he needs to be for the 3rd grade. the worst case scenario is that he repeats the 3rd grade if/when you find out he really wasn't ready to move on.

but at the same time.......... having your son repeat 2nd grade may boost his conifdence more than you know. i realize i dont know your son, but his self esteem and academics may both rise when he realizes that he is "ahead" of the new kids in his class because he will have already heard some of the new things because he's been in that grade before. he may just need that extra boost to get him going and therefore ready for 3rd grade the following year. ???

the opposite of that of course would ge that he may go on to the 3rd grade and find himself struggling the entire year. this could really serve as a detriment to his education. his self esteem may weaken when/if he starts falling further and further behind.

it comes down to this........(in a very round about way - sorry)..... if you genuinely feel that your son will benefit from an extra year of 2nd grade, then let him stay at that level. BUT, if you feel that reapeating the 2nd grade is a waist of his time and abilities, then i['d say you should push for the 3rd grade.

i sure hope that made some sense. its a hard decision. i hope your meeting goes well, and that the school is receptive to your concerns and issues.

Jason Said:

Is anyone else disappointed with teenagers' lack of reading?

We Answered:

Oh my, AMEN. I'm in the same boat, and my class is rather daft, to be honest. The only thing the girls read is Twilight, and that doesn't count. I've been reading since then, too, and kids in my class despise reading. Consequentially, it probably means that they won't do as good in school and that they will become rather idiotic. The latter has already occurred, I'm afraid.
My science teacher exploded on us one day, saying that American kids aren't that smart generally because they don't read. (She later quit because our class drove her crazy.) I considered it for a moment and realized that she was right. American kids sit in front of the TV and fool around on Myspace, refusing to pick up some decent literature.
I, as well, am considered crazy and weird for the same reason as you are. Ridiculous. I finished writing my novel this year and I brought it in as my reading book to edit; my class was shocked that I was capable of writing so much. Well, my ability to write is enhanced by reading; I find that the higher level I read, the more advanced my writing is and the better word choice I develop, even in speaking. Some kid told me I wasted my life writing books and reading them as well; boy, did I slam him!
Assigned reading is painful for most kids as well. So much, in fact, that we do all of the reading in class; which is painful for me and the other readers. Because kids don't read, they don't have an advanced vocabulary, which means every two sentences the class halts to explain something. Pitiful, really.
Just the other day, our class was having a discussion about famous quotes that could very well be used as theme in stories. I offered a quote from Shakespeare - "As soon go kindle fire with snow, as seek to quench the fire of love with words" - and ended up spending a few minutes explaining what it meant. In the end, most of my peers declared Shakespeare pointless and complicated, a writer in which they didn't want to try to comprehend. I was shocked, considering how I did Shakespeare back in fifth grade. How can these students not get him?
More so, they said I was weird for knowing it to begin with, in which I explained that I do know it because I read more than Twilight. They didn't have much to say to that.
I'm glad that there is, at least, some kids who do read and are intelligent and literate when you talk to them. And I'm not saying that if you don't read, you're a blundering fool. Not at all. As mentioned - I reckon this must be common - I have friends that don't really read, but they are still intelligent. One of them is picky, the other is engulfed in sports. It's fine by me, as like as they don't start acting like idiots, I don't care whether or not their nose is in a book.
But, to say the least, I am irritated and disappointed that most teenagers do not read nowadays. The way I see it, the only thing that mankind has going for him is his mind. If he doesn't use it, what will become of him?

Bradley Said:

I want the best for my daughter! Can someone tell me where to look?

We Answered:

it's good she's following a treatment..that will help her a lot
Concerning the reading comprehension, you have to make her practice a lot at home with you
and try to make her read the same thing twice on different days this will improve her reading ability and her memory to a large extent.She will start to build confidence in herself and if God wills, she will be alright again. Don't lose hope :)

Kathryn Said:

I want the best for my daughter, can anyone tell me what the virgina state law is?

We Answered:

I actually live in Va, and yes I have to tell you it is the principals decision. if she is not willing to help in this matter i would contact the superintendent. Usually the scare off of that is enough to make the Principal help you, but if she still refuses to help take the extra step.