Seeking Advice on Helping a Child Who Failed 7th Grade
My girlfriend’s 13-year-old son has apparently failed the 7th grade and will have to repeat the year. He attends a charter school in Texas that seems to have a more challenging curriculum than public schools.
My question is, what is the process now? Can he catch up this year and move ahead? Should we consider transferring him back to a public school, even though he might encounter gangs, drugs, and other negative influences there? Is he behind forever now, or can we help him catch up?
We can try to improve his study habits and find him some additional help. Unfortunately, we cannot assist him ourselves because we struggle with understanding algebra and other subjects he’s studying. We are working folks who barely graduated high school. I was in special education my whole school life, so I’m not familiar with how these things work. We are always working and barely have time to get him to and from school. I can usually fix things for him, but I don’t think I can force the school not to hold him back. He clearly didn’t perform well last year, but he is a good and well-behaved kid. I’m worried this failure might negatively impact him.
Failing 7th grade can be stressful, but there are definitely ways to help your girlfriend’s son catch up and move forward. Here are some steps you can take:
Talk to the School:
Schedule a Meeting: Meet with the teachers, counselor, and possibly the principal at his charter school. Discuss the reasons for him not passing 7th grade and explore options.
Retention vs. Summer School: Find out if there’s a chance for him to attend summer school or a program to address his learning gaps and potentially move him to 8th grade. Not all schools offer this, but it’s worth asking.
Support Plan: Work with the school to create a support plan for him. This might include tutoring services, after-school programs, or study skills workshops.
Alternative Options:
Public School with Support: Consider a public school that offers programs for students who need extra help catching up. Many public schools have dedicated resources to support struggling students. Talk to the school district about their programs and options.
Talk to Other Parents: Connect with other parents in your area who might have had similar experiences. They can share insights on schools, resources, and support groups.
Helping Him Catch Up:
Focus on Study Skills: Help him develop better study habits. Techniques like time management, organization, and creating a study schedule can make a big difference.
Tutoring or Online Resources: Explore options for affordable tutoring or online resources that can supplement his learning. Libraries often have free tutoring programs, and there are affordable online resources as well.
Addressing Your Concerns:
Long-Term Impact: Failing a grade doesn’t define him. With support, he can catch up and succeed. Many successful people have faced academic challenges in their youth.
Gangs and Drugs: Public schools have a range of environments. Some offer excellent programs and a safe learning environment. Research your local public-school options and their reputations for safety and academic success.
I’m going to attempt to sit with him for a little while longer and see if I can assist. I don’t want to set a bad example for him by failing that Khan Academy class since I would flunk it. They said that I had a learning handicap at school because I still take a long time to learn new things. But I make it a point to sit down with him and work through things together. I’ll attempt to look into what he’s studying online and see if anything relevant can be found on Khan to assist me.