My son is going to flunk 1st grade

[33girl]

I understand where Craig is coming from - a lot of times people would sooner slap the special ed label on the kid, get the extra funding and be done rather than try to figure out the problem. It happens a lot and especially with boys.

Wendi - this sounds so elementary, but what is he interested in? What are they reading in class? Do the two have ANYTHING in common? I always think about this kid I grew up with who got held back - his classwork wasn't up to par, but meanwhile, he was reading these 2 inch thick books on World War II that had to be far above his grade level. He could have probably rattled off every battle fought in the European theater. He wasn't stupid, he just had home life issues and didn't feel secure enough to say "I don't want to read about Jane and the lemonade stand. That isht is stupid."

If what they are reading in class and reading recovery isn't something he's interested in, he's probably not going to make progress because he could care less. That's not to say he's not motivated - many adults are the same way.