We finally received my soon to be sophmore sons reportcard. He spent two weeks dreading getting it because he knew he only scored a 58 on the math final. Since he felt he did well on the math final and failed he feared what he would get on the rest of them, the good news he passed them all! He scored a C- on the language and intergrated science final (all we know is a C- is between 70-72), he scored a C+ on the Citizenship final (this we know is 79 because the teacher told us), and he scored an A on the reading final (this means he scored a 94 or higher). He received nothing lower then a C for a final grade in any of his classes this second semester, his cumulitive grade point average at this point is 2.7! With the exception of the reading class all his classes were regular ed classes. He received an A in his special ed class and acheived a C- in his regular ed Lit class (1st semester). Ds was very pleased with himself, and know set the goal to get his GPA up to 3.0. I sure would like for the teachers in the past who told him you will never do well in school could see him now. Here is how he faired this year.
Algebra 1A 1st sem B-/ 2nd sem B-
Social issues B-
Citizenship B-
Band 1st sem A/ 2nd sem A
Resource room 1st sem only P
Reading skills (sp ed) A
Introduction to Lit C-
Introduction to Language C
Intergrated science 1st sem B-/ 2nd sem B-
Freshman health B
Freshman Pe A
This summer he is taking sophmore PE and another reading class. Taking these classes freed up a time slot for him to get a study skills class and another reading class during the school year. His goal is to be up to grade level in reading before he graduates high school. All of this from a student who according to his early years teachers would never master the English language and was very unmotiviated. It is amazing what a little bit of support and confidence can do.
Re: Update
How wonderful for both you!
Our son is a soon-to-be sophomore also. Once our son saw that he actually could be successful (which finally happened in 6th grade), he started to work harder at staying successful. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he can hold his own in high school.
Best wishes for the summer. Sounds like you’ve been giving him the support and guidance he needs to continue being successful in high school!
~aj
Re: Update
Congratulations! Way to go for both of you. Success starts at home and you have given him the courage to be successful. I love those goals that he has set for himself.
Awesome job….
I think what is really important is that these are his goals–it is now important to him. I have worked extensively with my son—but because he is younger, they have been my goals for him. I think there is a group of LD students for whom things really get better as they older—combination of maturing neurological systems and own goals. In my circle of friends, I only saw those that got worse–which motivated me to work with my son—but as my experience has broadened I have heard more success stories. One of my son’s therapists has an LD son, he is now earning a master’s degree. Another therapist’s brother is LD, he is now a doctor. Both these men became like your son (motivated for themselves) rather late in high school—about 17, if I recall. Both also did karate—which is integrating. Maybe it would help your son as well.
Beth