Update on my 14yo boy issues and many thanks

[johnandtinagilbert]

Well, let me first say thank you a million times over. The encouragement was wonderful and the ideas fantastic. I have spent time reading ...That Crumbled Paper.... and have been reminded of the things ya'll told me, what I already knew, and reassured that we're all normal over here...just growing up!

 

I have initiated some changes and we're seeing improvements already. Here is what I did:

 

1. dropped spanish - he continues w/ Latin but after meeting with him, getting his input on school, he said he was confused doing 2 languages at once; which was not surprising, he's a math kid.

 

2. he finally finished the science he was catching up on, so now, no more double science. we're both happy about that! AND he appreciates the new science we're doing much better than the old one, so that makes his dread go flee a bit.

 

3. I took his desk out of his room and put it in a separate spot where I can see him, he still is set apart from the noisy Little League, and he has all of his materials on his desk now. No more walking about to gather materials.

 

4. We updated his checklist and mine, and I am following up daily instead of weekly. What a difference. I gave him more freedom than he was ready for....my poor judgement.

 

5. We dropped some of our reading load and got him some books on CD and more visual materials. Even though he is really taking more time b/c the videos take longer, he feels more balanced and enjoys the visual stimulation. He's still reading a ton, but feels like the videos are for fun....so long as he thinks so!

 

6. I took away his school hour chores --- just for now, I'll do them, until he sees with focus he has the time, he just has to stay motivated.

 

7. Dropped journaling...not necessary and it saves him 20min a day.

 

8. Dropped typing, but require all his papers to by typed from a written copy...plenty of practice.

 

9. We're going to work on serious planner usage from now on....creating that now and looking forward to it!

 

Overall, I have also tried to encourage more, instead of sharing my frustration with him. He has earned back all of his electronics, a camping trip, and his guitar since we started all of this. 6 weeks of diligence and what a world of difference.

 

Thank you all for your help and encouragement. I finally feel like I know what we need to work on a bit harder so we can confidently tackle high school I know he can do it! I know I can too...and for the most part, I don't feel sick about it anymore...for the most part :001_huh:

[Guest]

That is so terrific!! Hip hip hooray to both of you.

 

You have inspired me to go search after The Crumpled Paper. I've read The Organized Student, which didn't help much.

[C_l_e_0..Q_c]

johnandtinagilbert >

 

it sounds like we're sharing the same problems! And we've both implemented the same kind of solutions! Right now, DS is back in his room, after a stint in the kitchen, but I follow him a tad more carefully than before. I'm going to look for that "Crumpled Paper". It sounds so much like him

 

Oh, just for fun, if it comes to that, Ds will be dropping Latin, instead of Spanish. Just the opposite. :)