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Education

In reply to the discussion: I need some advice on our son. [View all]

Newest Reality

(12,712 posts)
29. It is understandable that you
Sun Feb 15, 2015, 01:45 PM
Feb 2015

want him to do well and excel at school.

However, are you putting a strong emphasis on his achievements and strong points? I mean, he sounds like he is succeeding and there is so much focus on becoming better or improvement that it can make a person feel like nothing they are doing will ever be enough.

So, the struggling with a particular subject is stressful enough, but it might be a good idea to make a feedback sandwich for him by pointing out how well he has and is doing and how you understand that not everyone excels at all subjects, as a matter of fact.

Strong emotional support and sound feedback will at least shore him up and might relieve the tension of not feeling "good enough" with a "low B". Then, from there, maybe you can also help him find more motivation and enthusiasm, as well as a healthy ability to BE rather than just be in a process of becoming.

You might also want to look into his proclivities for learning. It is not always a "one size fits all" activity. I would suggest looking into how he is being taught algebra and see if there are other ways to help him approach it. He is dealing with higher levels of abstraction and not everyone comes to a point where they can deal with it well at the same age. The Internet is your friend in this case.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I need some advice on our son. [View all] RiffRandell Feb 2015 OP
Is the only acceptable grade an A? ret5hd Feb 2015 #1
No. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #3
I was raised with that. It was soul-killing. DeadLetterOffice Feb 2015 #6
I never got above a C in math. fasttense Feb 2015 #23
Yeah, I wasn't the greatest tester. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #35
Does he know and understand the material? DeadLetterOffice Feb 2015 #2
Thanks. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #7
Then I'd let him move on to geometry. DeadLetterOffice Feb 2015 #14
Thank you. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #20
B means good. Take it. roody Feb 2015 #4
I don't expect him to be. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #36
I think you are right. Math isn't like history eridani Mar 2015 #44
If the low B went on his Junior year grade, yeoman6987 Feb 2015 #5
Good advice. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #16
Are you more worried about maintaining high avg grade or furthering math proficiency? Panich52 Feb 2015 #8
Made my decision. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #10
.... handmade34 Feb 2015 #18
Fun? RiffRandell Feb 2015 #38
I may be late to the party so take this for what it's worth. CincyDem Feb 2015 #19
Very nice, thoughtful response. n/t DeadLetterOffice Feb 2015 #21
Thank you. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #26
Post removed Post removed Feb 2015 #9
Jesus, I asked for an opinion! RiffRandell Feb 2015 #11
It could be that the member is expressing a painful memory... NYC_SKP Feb 2015 #24
Thanks! RiffRandell Feb 2015 #31
Dude, chill. DeadLetterOffice Feb 2015 #17
Thank you. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #22
There is a lot going on at that age and that grade level packman Feb 2015 #12
Thank you; I really appreciate it since I got fucking hammered RiffRandell Feb 2015 #13
He is "struggling" with extra help and squeaked by with a low B TexasMommaWithAHat Feb 2015 #15
He's doing better this semester bringing him early RiffRandell Feb 2015 #32
ignore the nasty. mopinko Feb 2015 #25
Thank you! RiffRandell Feb 2015 #34
take the b. put him in all the AP course, in all the rest of subjects and let him do a regular seabeyond Feb 2015 #27
Thanks for the input. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #39
both boys did that with their spanish, also. yes. my oldest graduated with enough course to seabeyond Feb 2015 #42
This is one of the gateway classes... Sancho Feb 2015 #28
He really likes math. RiffRandell Feb 2015 #41
It is understandable that you Newest Reality Feb 2015 #29
What does you son want to do? I'm curious. madamvlb Feb 2015 #30
Isaac Asimov wrote "Realm of Algebra," "Realm of Numbers," etc. raging moderate Feb 2015 #33
The first year I took Algebra, I was struggling Demeter Feb 2015 #37
In FL you can take it over in online class voteearlyvoteoften Feb 2015 #40
Tutor draytontiffanie Feb 2015 #43
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