How do i get my kid to skip a grade?

Question

i have a son that was held back in the 7th grade. he needs to be in 9th grade next year. so when he found out he was in 7th grade he called me to come talk to the school. so the school made a contract with him they put him in 7th/8th grade classes.the contract was for him to do good all year and not miss more than 8 days of school. he totally blew the contract up. so does anyone think he can get into 9th grade through the summer? teaching him 8th grade work through the summer?since he did half 7th half 8th grade. he can still catch up in most 8th grade and go to highschool? he is 15 in the 7th grade. he will still be in grade school at the age of 16. he does not feel confortable with little kids and i think he could do his work better if he was in his normal grade. is there any way he can learn ALOT of 8th grade work during the 2 1/2 months of summer break so he can get into 9th grade? if so please give me a solution! thanks

Answer 1

It sounds like he was held back due to truancy.  In that case, I don't see how he would be able to do all the work you think he can do over the summer.  If he can't "cut it" in 7th grade, how's he going to handle that much load of work in three months, let alone handle high school courses?

Didn't you both see this coming?  Why in the world is there a "contract"????  Are you talking about a special education IEP (Individualized Education Plan)???

How is it that he's 15 and repeating 7th grade?  That would have made him 14 his first year of 7th grade.  Most 7th graders are 12 or 13.  7th grade is no "grade school" - it's middle school or junior high.  That is unless his school is a K-8 school.

I don't understand how he did half of 8th grade if he spent two years in 7th grade.

If the school wants him in 7th, and they have to make a contract (that he seemed to ignore), then I don't think you're going to have much luck getting him into 9th grade.  Who is going to teach him all he needs over the summer?  Would he be eligible for summer school through his school?  Would you hire a private tutor?  Are you thinking of homeschooling him, since you posted in the homeschool forum?

There's just so many red flags here, that I don't know where to begin to help.

Answer 2

I would home school him this summer and next year and he may get ahead. School system doesn't sound to be working out for him. You may be able to have the school set up an independent study during the summer. Honestly if the school isn't working for him you may want to look into other options. Does he want to be in high school, what does he think of a vocational school or other alternative to school? I'll edit this when I find a program. Look at time4learning. I may be able to find more if I knew why school isn't working for him.

http://www.flvsgs.net/index.php/e_soluti...

http://www.kaplancollegepreparatory.com/...

It may just be easier to test him into a different school

Answer 3

It sounds like the school was trying to work something out that would be beneficial to him, but he didn't like that idea. You must teach him the lesson he has to work for what he wants. He can't just say I want to be in 9th grade and expect them to place him there. If he took some 8th grade work through the year my suggestion would be to go back over where he had trouble for the summer and have him take a 8th grade achievement test. If he tests in the average range with other 8th graders they may place him in 9th grade, but this could be a long process and won't get him there by the start of the school year.  Could you take him out and let him do an oline school through the next year completeing what he is behind on to try and move him ahead?

Answer 4

You can 'probably' catch your son up this summer, BUT he will have to be really eager to do so.  It sounds to me like your son is not willing to work, and homeschooling a rebellious kid does NOT work, whether they are 5 or 15.  You have a number of choices, and I don't think forcing him to get through a grade this summer is a real option.  1) Let him reap what he's sown.  One problem with this is that it is my guess that he will continue to do poorly academically, and will end up dropping out of school when he is 16.  2) Try to arrange for him to attend an alternate school that will help him work towards getting a GED, and/or will teach him a trade.  3) Have a long, serious talk with him, in a non-accusatory way, about his future.  Explain how bleak it looks to you if he continues on his present course of behavior.  Ask him about his future plans.  Help him write out what his goals in life are, then ask him what he can do to work towards those goals, and what you can do to help him.  There is a chance here that he will want you to help him through 8th grade this summer if he can be honest enough to admit that he needs help and he needs to change his behavior.  4) Try tough love.  Your son does not have good life prospects if he can't even graduate from high school, which looks unlikely if he continues his present course.  You could consider taking away everything he holds dear and return the privileges if he behaves in a certain way, namely, goes to school and does the work.  He also needs to do chores at home; usually if teens are having the types of probs you describe at school,they are doing no work at home, either.

I would probably try #3 first, and if he doesn't respond, I'd get tough with #4. If you don't correct this problem now, in ten years you will very much wish you had.

If he is willing to let you help him, then you need to check with his school SOON and find out what he needs to do; find out if you can 'borrow' the books he needs to complete the work.  One way to speed things up is to let him answer orally rather than writing things out; yes, students need to learn to write well, but in this case the issue is that he needs to be ready for ninth grade in the fall, so SPEED is desireable.  If you have more questions or want to chat, please email me.  I would like to see you be able to help your son...it's what caring parents do!