Moms with elementary age kids

el_twirpo

Need some help for a project I'm doing at work, and most of the moms I know have really young kids so this doesn't apply yet.

For those of you with 6-12 year olds, what are your top concerns for your kid's success in school? Is there anything they're struggling with (socially, academically?) or that you're worried about?

And then secondly, where do you go for help, advice or information? Why do you trust those resources? 

TIA!!! 

ali-1411

We are most concerned with his behavior in school.  Academically, he does awesome.  Socially, he has friends.  We don't have any concerns there.  But he likes to be the class clown.

Help?  Ha!  We've found more dead ends that anything.  His teachers say its fine, don't worry about it.  The principal is more concerned with TAKS scores.  The school counselor doesn't return phone calls or show up to scheduled meetings.  Even the counselor we found on our own didn't know what to make of the kid.  The doctor just wants to give him medications.  We're on our own here.

Sorry, that probably doesn't help your research much!  Can you say that we trust our friends with older kids to say they've been through it too, don't worry, it will work out just fine?

el_twirpo

ali-1411:

We are most concerned with his behavior in school.  Academically, he does awesome.  Socially, he has friends.  We don't have any concerns there.  But he likes to be the class clown.

Help?  Ha!  We've found more dead ends that anything.  His teachers say its fine, don't worry about it.  The principal is more concerned with TAKS scores.  The school counselor doesn't return phone calls or show up to scheduled meetings.  Even the counselor we found on our own didn't know what to make of the kid.  The doctor just wants to give him medications.  We're on our own here.

Sorry, that probably doesn't help your research much!  Can you say that we trust our friends with older kids to say they've been through it too, don't worry, it will work out just fine?

wow. i had no idea how unhelpful the teachers, principals, counselors and doctors are!

a little biased question since we clearly all come online to the bump and get advice from each other, but are there any web resources that you've found are helpful? 

ali-1411

No, no web resources.  We've found some books helpful, though

1 2 3 Magic

The Angry Child

 Your Defiant Child

Try the School Age board.  Its moves pretty slow but you might get some responses.

el_twirpo

ali-1411:

No, no web resources.  We've found some books helpful, though

1 2 3 Magic

The Angry Child

 Your Defiant Child

Try the School Age board.  Its moves pretty slow but you might get some responses.

thanks! 

mcurban

el_twirpo:

wow. i had no idea how unhelpful the teachers, principals, counselors and doctors are!

I'm going to assume that you *meant* to say how unhelpful teacher, principals, etc, can be (not "are"). The family specialist at my school made many the home visit, even waaaay after her hours (like 8-9pm after starting work at 7:30am). I've worked w/ five different principals over the years and not one was more concerned w/ end of year tests than the growth (socially, emotionally and academically) of the children in that school.  And, just today, I heard/read wonderful stories of the pediatrician that we see and how invested he is in his patients and their families.

All this to say, it is unfortunate (REALLY unfortunate) that the folks in Ali's case haven't been more resourceful and forthcoming w/ advice, updates, and potential solutions, but that is not true across the board. 

ali-1411

mcurban:

el_twirpo:

wow. i had no idea how unhelpful the teachers, principals, counselors and doctors are!

I'm going to assume that you *meant* to say how unhelpful teacher, principals, etc, can be (not "are"). The family specialist at my school made many the home visit, even waaaay after her hours (like 8-9pm after starting work at 7:30am). I've worked w/ five different principals over the years and not one was more concerned w/ end of year tests than the growth (socially, emotionally and academically) of the children in that school.  And, just today, I heard/read wonderful stories of the pediatrician that we see and how invested he is in his patients and their families.

All this to say, it is unfortunate (REALLY unfortunate) that the folks in Ali's case haven't been more resourceful and forthcoming w/ advice, updates, and potential solutions, but that is not true across the board. 

Sure, its definitely not like this everywhere.  And even in our situation...the school can get so busy with the kids who have serious problems that they just aren't overly concerned with a kid that talks too much.  Another family in our school might have a completely different experience with the same people.  My kid just isn't on their radar, which we should take as a good sign.  There's nothing wrong, he's not a problem, he's just a typical energetic kid who doesn't like to sit in class.  

HSartteach

mcurban:

el_twirpo:

wow. i had no idea how unhelpful the teachers, principals, counselors and doctors are!

I'm going to assume that you *meant* to say how unhelpful teacher, principals, etc, can be (not "are"). The family specialist at my school made many the home visit, even waaaay after her hours (like 8-9pm after starting work at 7:30am). I've worked w/ five different principals over the years and not one was more concerned w/ end of year tests than the growth (socially, emotionally and academically) of the children in that school.  And, just today, I heard/read wonderful stories of the pediatrician that we see and how invested he is in his patients and their families.

All this to say, it is unfortunate (REALLY unfortunate) that the folks in Ali's case haven't been more resourceful and forthcoming w/ advice, updates, and potential solutions, but that is not true across the board. 

I'm glad you said this.  I opened this post our of curiosity.  As a teacher, I was a little offended with the "are".  I know lots of teachers that make house calls.  Our counselors are on top of everything.  Our principal helped to house a homeless boy so he could graduate.  Every teacher, counselor, and principal are not the same.

el_twirpo

mcurban:

I'm going to assume that you *meant* to say how unhelpful teacher, principals, etc, can be (not "are"). 

oh yes. i meant can be and not are. one of my sisters and SILs are teachers, and i see how much they care about their students and go above and beyond. bad word choice! sorry...