I've got a DayDreamer on my hands...

[JazzyMaxie]

Ahhhh! Langston had such a great Kindergarten year, I thought that this school thing was going to be smooth sailing.

I had noticed that Langston was missing a few items on his homework and classwork assignments, and I immediately contacted the teacher to see if there was a problem in him understanding the language or if he wasn't getting the concepts. She said that he was doing fine, and that there was no need for concerns/tutoring. A few weeks later, we had parent teacher conferences. Langston still continues to miss a few things on his work, but has become exceptionally slow in completing his work. I don't get it...the kid loves to play, so I would think that he would be itching to get his work done.

Based upon our conference, I had a chat with him, and then implemented a few changes right away. 1. Bed time is now 60 - 90 minutes earlier. 2. Homework is now done at home with me (instead of after school care) and we work on Math drills pushing speed (the accuracy is already there). 3. I bought him a computer to review language videos/websites during our commute.

Am I expecting immediate results? Yes. His problem was never that he was just not getting it. I contacted the teacher today to see if she noticed any changes or had any further suggestions. His work is 100% accurate all of the time, but she noticed that he is daydreaming, and does not listen to directions (which he admitted to not listening).

What the heck do I do about this daydreaming?!?! Have you had this happen with your kid? How long does it last?

[laurac]

I still struggle with that with DS#2 and he is 19 and in college away from home! He has always focused when he needed to, but man oh man could that kid drag things out! I'd send him to his room and go up to find him picking his toes or something. He gets distracted and starts to daydream. We call it 'shiney object' syndrome!

I hope someone has good advice! This reminded me of that sweet boy of mine!

[deannemdm]

My DD does that quite a bit. She has been diagnosed with ADD mainly inattentive type. I could see it across several places-- home, school, karate, softball, etc. Unfortunately i don't always have the best follow through or organization to keep the structure that would be most beneficial to her. But maybe see if a little caffeine (soda) makes any changes when he is working on stuff with you at home-- try early in the day just to be safe. Not sure if I can think of anything else-- except to do your best to eliminate and distractions from his study area-- close curtains, no ambient sounds, etc.

[JazzyMaxie]

How much pop should I give him?!?

[supermommy]

ooo that is me! I used a stress ball in school...it helped keep me focused. Part of the problem was boredom, I knew most of the material and didn't care to listen so I went elsewhere in my mind.So stress ball in the left hand and pencil in my right--totally helped for me!

[elizac]

I also wonder if he is a little bored or overtired? Did you ask him. Maybe he knows what is going on. Just a thought.

[deannemdm]

for pop-- start with a little and experimentally increase it? His mind also may wander if he knows the stuff already and is bored like others have suggested-- my DD is now in a gifted magnet program and still has some issues, but the move was a good one for her. for Dd it was a combo of ADD and boredom from not being challenged enough. when does his school start any type of standardized testing--I think for DD it was optional in 1st grade and mandatory in 2nd. just some ideas

[JazzyMaxie]

Upon further review, I don't know that focusing is necessarily his problem. As long as he is stimulated, he can focus as long as need be to complete a task.

I could buy that he was overtired, but I changed that this week. In hindsight, I believe that the slowness began when our schedule slowed down. We were doing Tae Kwon Do two nights a week and Saturday mornings, football two nights a week, and Cub Scouts. Now, we are down to Tae Kwon Do one night a week and occasionally Saturday mornings. I think that is when the slowness started.

We talked about the daydreaming. He said that he is bored. I knew that he would be bored in school, so that is why I put him in a Chinese Immersion Program. I figured that he wouldn't get bored because he would be learning so much language in addition to his content. But, they do things a little bit differently in his classroom. The math is seriously going slow. The teacher's reasoning behind it is that they want to ensure a fast and solid foundation. I get it. But, so does he.

I believe that they will be testing the kids at the end of the school year. But, I would hate to see him struggle through the entire year, and develop negative feelings for school.

[deannemdm]

Is there a way for the teacher to challenge him in math more? or maybe give him free time after he is done? I had a friend that went in the peace corps after college and taught math--she had to learn the language, but explained that it is one of the easier things to do in a foreign language as the numbers don't change--- if they are using our number system (instead of chinese numbers) then it is hard to see why they would have to slow that part down.

[JazzyMaxie]

I gave the kid a Coke this morning. I told him that it was Sweet Tea to help with his sniffles. He insisted that it was Coke or Pepsi. I can't get anything passed him. I am just waiting for my phone to ring...

[JazzyMaxie]

I have yet to hear from the teacher, but Langston said that it did not take him as long to complete his work today. But, he doesn't know why. The teacher didn't have to use the timer with him today. I am interested in hearing back from her tomorrow! I think that I will try it again tomorrow too!

[bumblebee23]

I was going to suggest boredom.....I had the same problem during reading in elementary school. So much so that I ended up getting pulled for a special glass that was more willing to challenge me.

My youngest son is really good in math and at his school they do math & reading power hours. So they break the kids up into groups of the levels they are working at. That way the kids that need help are getting more individualized attention (like my oldest for reading) and the ones that are more advanced get challenged (like my youngest in 1st grade last year was being taken to 2nd grade for math).