Kiddo's first "Sad Face" from school

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: Kiddo's first "Sad Face" from school

I wouldn't punish him. He felt bad enough for the sad face.
I'd save punishment for something major - like Lisa said.
Let us know how it goes with Teacher.

[cmcole]

Re: Kiddo's first "Sad Face" from school

And what, pray tell, does "off task" really mean?

It's a shame that your initial reaction was disappointment in front of him, causing him to think he needs to apologize to you, but that's history.

Reinforce to him that you love him as he is, and that you know he will try his best. Those are only silly little tokens of one person's opinion. There must be other people in his life who have a more positive opinion of him. Stress those values and facts.

Let him know tomorrow is another day, and that as long as he continues to do his best, that is all you expect - not perfection.

[La_La]

Not listening during story time!

I might have worded it incorrectly - Chris was off washing his teeth after he came home from school when I looked at his folder he wasn't around-and yes i felt a little disappointment ( i feel bad about saying that it was just my first reaction) ... He didn't see me, when I said hey bud what happened at school today? he said sorry mommy i'll get a happy face tomorrow...I took everyone advice and reassured him that we all have a few bad days he's going great and made a huge deal for bring home his first paper where he has done his A's...

Ok, so I spoke with his teacher....
During their story time yesterday morning Chris wouldn't sit still - he asked him to sit down and listen while she read a story...he kept wandering off - staring at the ceiling - looking at other books...hence off task..



She suggested me reading to him for 5 minutes at a time.. which I do read to hime I have for years he just always as input in the story so i just let him talk and go along with what ever he notices in the book it takes us a good 20 minutes to read a 3 minute story...it's going to be a challange to read to him and just have him be quiet and listen....

[Lisa M]

Re: Kiddo's first "Sad Face" from school

Aaaaah...is that the 1st day of school picture? They're so cute!

It sounds like you have a dreamer on your hands. See! We knew he wasn't eating glue or swinging from the chandeliers

Repetition is one thing this age level is learning.

I love the suggestion the teacher gave to you about reading to him for 5 minutes at a time wish she would have said that in a note to you instead of the other, but that's heinesight for all teachers I'm sure.

I wonder if you can set a timer and explain to Chris that you will read to him for 5 minutes (he may not understand time but he'll get the idea)... and then he can tell you his "version" after that. Always making sure he gets the idea that you go first because you're mom and he still has control because he gets to tell his version when he's done listening.

Oh, and stickers!! If he likes stickers...seeing how the teacher is a fan of them as well, maybe make a sticker chart for home on the fridge to for him to visually see how many times he sits for you and the teacher to read. In the end it sounds like a bribe, but maybe take him to the dollar store for a new book that he likes.

The Kindergarten teacher I worked for this past Winter uses stickers to reward kids who bring their homework back all week long and in the end they get to choose from the prize box. Bribes are great sometimes. LOL.

Best wishes on the challenge of reading...it does get better

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: Kiddo's first "Sad Face" from school

I read to my son every night when he was little too - 5 books a night - it was wind down time before bed - he had trouble with what the teacher's were reading in school too. I remember he came home in 1st grade very upset by his teachers choice in reading material. Chase said "Mommy the book she read was about grass being green. I can look outside and see that for myself. I wish she'd read books on The Titanic or something interesting. Grass being green geesh!" Chase wasn't interested in what was being read so he looked around too.

Your son will be fine. I love that you discuss the books you read with him and he gives his point of few.....you are an awesome Mom!

[2big4mysize]

Re: Kiddo's first "Sad Face" from school

ROL sorry had to laugh. When my foster kiddie started first grade she came home and informed me this was homework reading so no funny voices nor boy and girl voices for diferent folk, no discussing during the reading about why the character did anything or said anything. Need less to say I was propperly chastized LOL and we had school reading and fun reading done from different books and two different sets of rules.

you could set up practice "school" reading and do 5 min with him sitting quitely until after the reading was over and then having discussion about it and only read from that book at those times and then read other books with discussion during the reading and make sure he knows when you start it is which type. if he interups during scholl reading then you need to remind him about school reading rules now that he is a big boy. Boy do they love big boy reading feeling all grown up reading like grown up kids do.

And a sticker board for 5 min of big boy reading no interuptions would reinforce it too. if he interupted no sticker that day. just be ready when he cuts you off when you are having fun reading and tells you in his big boy voice mommy that kind of reading is for babies.

[La_La]

Re: Kiddo's first "Sad Face" from school

Thanks 2Big & Lisa...

Chart - Great IDEA! we are starting tonite....
I put this together I will stop at walgreens on the way home and get some stickers, we will see how our first try goes...



thanks guys..

[2big4mysize]

Re: Kiddo's first "Sad Face" from school

looks good just remember to explain to him the difference in the way reading is done in scholl and home practice time so he doesn't get confused if you want to keep the old style too.

And make it a did it sticker or no sticker no bad stickers then he can total up his stickers for week one and compare how much better he is getting at school reading after the second week.

once he gets through a whole week ask him if he wants to read like that longer too. I was amazed at how much mine wanted to keep reading even without the funny voices, sound effects, and discussion during the reading. Boy did they surprize me with what stuck out to themin our after reading discussions too.

[La_La]

Re: Kiddo's first "Sad Face" from school

Got it Ms.2B !
again thanks so much for the advice it's very much appreciated!

[La_La]

Re: Kiddo's first "Sad Face" from school

Hey 2B, Lisa and all I just wanted to thank again, the chart above is working like a charm.... I got this rug and we call that our reading stop he sits on his rug and I read to him he went a whole 10 minutes paying attention and not interrupting me once, he got his first sticker he was so proud...... he is getting used to the listening phase J thank you guys again ya’ll are full of great ideas.