jsfowler
02-28-2008, 06:40 AM
Well, I don't know if we can call him "little"...he is 16 and in the 8th grade. When he was in the 4th grade, his father died and apparently he was never the same. He was retained in the 4th grade and again in the 7th grade. He never wants to participate in class and forget getting a homework assignment from him. I have always tried to make it a special point to include a project option that I thought he would like....it never happened.
His parents finally came in because they wanted him referred for special education - he doesn't need it, just some encouragement and motivation. We tested him and sure enouugh he did not qualify...but some good things did come out of this...
1. He realized he wasn't "low" (his word, not mine)
2. I realized that his step-dad owns a coal trucking business and "Johnny" thinks he will simply go to work for step-dad and then get the business when he is older.
We explained to "Johnny" that in Kentcuky you can't get your licence until you are 18 if you are not in school. His step-dad also said that he did not hire people without a high school degree and he would make no exceptions.
"Johnny was determined to try harder and he did...for a while. He soon realized that it was really too late to pass all his classes (if he didn't he would be in the alternative school). I spoke with the rest of the team and we made a deal with "Johnny" that if he passed the last two 9-weeks, we would make arrangements...but they would not do this for him next year in high school.
He has worked his butt off. I am excited because we are doing a coal fair at our school and "Johnny" is working with his dad on a math project - the financial responsibility of owning a coal trucking business!
I pray that this all works out for him...he has good parents, he's a cute kid the girls adore, and he is street smart. Now if we can only get him through the next 4 years. I will definatly be at that graduation to see him walk across the stage.
You can't give up on these kids...keep digging until you find the answers.
His parents finally came in because they wanted him referred for special education - he doesn't need it, just some encouragement and motivation. We tested him and sure enouugh he did not qualify...but some good things did come out of this...
1. He realized he wasn't "low" (his word, not mine)
2. I realized that his step-dad owns a coal trucking business and "Johnny" thinks he will simply go to work for step-dad and then get the business when he is older.
We explained to "Johnny" that in Kentcuky you can't get your licence until you are 18 if you are not in school. His step-dad also said that he did not hire people without a high school degree and he would make no exceptions.
"Johnny was determined to try harder and he did...for a while. He soon realized that it was really too late to pass all his classes (if he didn't he would be in the alternative school). I spoke with the rest of the team and we made a deal with "Johnny" that if he passed the last two 9-weeks, we would make arrangements...but they would not do this for him next year in high school.
He has worked his butt off. I am excited because we are doing a coal fair at our school and "Johnny" is working with his dad on a math project - the financial responsibility of owning a coal trucking business!
I pray that this all works out for him...he has good parents, he's a cute kid the girls adore, and he is street smart. Now if we can only get him through the next 4 years. I will definatly be at that graduation to see him walk across the stage.
You can't give up on these kids...keep digging until you find the answers.