Lack of motivation?

[anon4now]

So I had a meeting with my son's 4th grade teacher. (and many other people from the school) and she said that he is definately above grade level in all of his studies, but that he occasionally gets a bad grade on some assignments. We're all aware that he may not be feeling well (between the bipolar and the diabetes) and that is why he tested poorly. Looking at the tests that he got a D on, it was like he stopped paying attention halfway through and wasn't answering the questions correctly.

The teacher is willing to retest him. Because she knows he can get it right. I'm just wondering what you all think? I don't want the teacher to feel she has to accomodate him if he's just being lazy. This is new territory for us. Just thought I would check with you guys and your experiences.

Sorry if this didn't make sense, I'll come back and proof read it when I get a min to sort my thoughts.

Anon

[charliegirl]

I'd let her retest him or at least give him the portion of the test he seemed to have quit trying on. I have a hard time believing he just decided to give up without a reason.

[jj]

I agree with CG. He should be given the second chance to do the test. I don't think it is related to a lack of motivation unless you think he knows this stuff so well he just got bored answering things that weren't challenging enough.

[anon4now]

That's what he says...that he's bored with the material. I noticed it was a reading assignment, and then answer the questions. She said that he took one of the questions very literal.

It was worded like: Why did people have to go through Ellis Island when they came to America? And his answer was, because it was on the way to the harbor if you were coming west.



But if he had read the piece, he would have found a different answer. He did it with homework once two. He had to read two pieces and answer questions. The first one he read and got them all right. The second one he didn't read and guessed at the answers. I made him read it out loud and answer the questions out loud.

His reading out loud is horrible. He speed reads when he reads to himself (something I could never do, so I can't explain how he does it) I told him in college, that will be awesome, but he can't do it in 4th grade. lol.

I think the teacher is going to retest the areas he got wrong, in bits and pieces so he doesn't have to sit through another test. I just thought it was awfully generous of her to offer. And I don't want to take advantage of it, nor do I want DS to.

Anon

[katiekat]

I just want to let you know that this sounds a lot like my son. And I don't mean Sean I mean Joe. Who is your average typical kid. His answer to the question sounded like something Joe would write-especially if it was toward the end of the questions. I have looked at his homework and the more questions he answers the shorter the answers get. (Answers like---Yes. Because they wanted to.) It sounds like your son is just getting bored.

[jill]

Let her re-test and if it is a motivation thing set up a small reward for hard work. I love the dollar store for I can promise her a trip there and let her get 1-2 things and she loves it.