aargh....

[jay]

James has overall adjusted well to high school... bringing his grades up to A-level in Algebra II, World History, and Literature Survey... everything except in one area. We received today's midterm progress report, and he's in danger of *failing* his Honors Chemistry class. Aargh... it is hard to let go, to let him sink or swim on his own sometimes. I want to dive in and fix it.... but I'm not allowed to do much more for him than help with homework. Although maybe I should investigate whether there are private tutors in chemistry. Any suggestions? His homework and labs have improved, but he is choking on his quizzes and tests.

Unless there's a quick improvement by midterms, he's going to have to drop at least one of his two bands...

Comments

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why it would be a big deal to have one grade 9 failed course on his record. (Either if he sticks with it and fails it, or if he is able to pass a different chemistry course.) If he is the kind of perfectionist kid who would be very upset by this, it would probably be a good thing to let it happen and teach him to move past it, this early in life when it really doesn't matter, or the next potential failure will feel even more dangerous.

Definitely if you intervene (with tutors, with parental protest about the bad advice from the teacher, etc) in order to prevent a failure on his transcript, you are reinforcing whatever ideas he has about the serious consequences of failure.

You mention "not being allowed" to do much - is it James who is preventing you, or Pat, or something else? Also, you mention that he will "have to" drop some music if he doesn't improve - is that a school rule or a family one?