1st grader bored - what can I ask the teacher?

[Anonymous]

Looking for advice - my first grader says he’s really bored in class and he is always the first one to finish class work. With parent teacher conferences coming up, I am looking for advice on how to work with the teacher to keep him as interested as possible. Anyone navigated this scenario successfully - what should I ask or suggest? (Yes I will start by validating what my son has told me — I am sure there is some first grader flare going on but I believe the underlying premise…)

[Anonymous]

I say to my own kid - what does your teacher tell you to do when you’re done with your work? If you need ideas - you should be able to read, write, color, or draw and make up your own work quietly at your desk.

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing this is your first kid.

My advice is not to "validate" anything before pressing the teacher on how to keep your precious little genius interested, but instead to let the teacher talk and hear what they have to say. Even if your little genius is the first one to hand something in, it doesn't mean the work is good or that he's the most advanced in the class. It could very well be that he can't focus, is anxious, and/or feels compelled to finish before everybody else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing this is your first kid.

My advice is not to "validate" anything before pressing the teacher on how to keep your precious little genius interested, but instead to let the teacher talk and hear what they have to say. Even if your little genius is the first one to hand something in, it doesn't mean the work is good or that he's the most advanced in the class. It could very well be that he can't focus, is anxious, and/or feels compelled to finish before everybody else.

+1

Okay. Everything is relative. First, is "bored" a word frequently used in your house? If so, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. I was a first grade teacher. There are times that every child in the class may be bored. Waiting to get in line can be boring. Waiting to go out on the playground is boring. Waiting to ask a question of the teacher can be boring. And, yes, sometimes, finishing your work before everyone else can be boring if you choose to make it so. And, doing work you don't like can be boring, as well.


Now, for the conference with the teacher. First, let the teacher talk. Listen. Then, if teacher says that your child is doing very well (don't expect teacher to tell you he is the top kid, whether he is or not, but she may say he is doing very well. I cannot tell you how many times parents have tried to get me to say that.) If the teacher says he is doing very well, then is the time to ask if you think he is being challenged=--but tread carefully. If teacher agrees that this is a problem with the child, then discuss what would work.

This may be far from the truth, but it is possible that your child may be at loose ends after finishing his work because he doesn't want to do the next task. He may need more direction from the teacher, and it may be that he just does not like the choices. It is possible, that the teacher is correcting him and he is using "bored" as an excuse.

There are all sorts of possibilities.

And, a piece of advice to parents out there. In my own home, "bored" is considered a dirty word. "Only boring people are bored." Tell your son to find something to do if he has free time: draw a picture, read a book, write a story.

[Anonymous]

Nothing. My observation is that advanced kids always get some extra work. The default after finishing is reading or drawing quietly, as suggested above. Or print out some quizzes or color by number problems where one needs to do addition/multiplication first to get the numbers.
Basically send in whatever you want your kid to do.

[Anonymous]

Make sure he always has a book in his backpack

[Anonymous]

People who love to read are never bored, their problem is there isn't enough time to read all the wonderful books available.

[Anonymous]

Is the work well done or is he rushing it or getting things wrong? Finishing first doesn’t mean much if the work is rushed.
What did the teacher say to do if he is finished?
My friend teaches 1st grade. She recently put out a PSA that lots of parents are reporting their kids are saying this. They aren’t advanced or bored. They’re struggling to get used to school structure and having their time controlled again. This is new for them. I am sure there is a plan when they finish to read or do IXL or whatever.

[Anonymous]

I am going to ditto a lot of what people said. My kid always finishes his work first and has never mentioned being bored. Part of this is because he constantly talks to other kids lol. But we did have a talk about that. Now he reads a book or draws. He can also do learning apps on the ipad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing this is your first kid.

My advice is not to "validate" anything before pressing the teacher on how to keep your precious little genius interested, but instead to let the teacher talk and hear what they have to say. Even if your little genius is the first one to hand something in, it doesn't mean the work is good or that he's the most advanced in the class. It could very well be that he can't focus, is anxious, and/or feels compelled to finish before everybody else.

I think she meant confirming with the teacher that he is actually finishing early.

[Anonymous]

Ask your child what work the Teacher has for kids who finish early. DS Teachers have always had additional work that the kids can do. There is normally a list of things. Some days DS would tell us about the extra books he read. Some days DS would bring home a story he wrote and illustrated. Some days it was word searches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask your child what work the Teacher has for kids who finish early. DS Teachers have always had additional work that the kids can do. There is normally a list of things. Some days DS would tell us about the extra books he read. Some days DS would bring home a story he wrote and illustrated. Some days it was word searches.

Yes, the reward for getting your work done early is always more work. The smart kids figure this out quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask your child what work the Teacher has for kids who finish early. DS Teachers have always had additional work that the kids can do. There is normally a list of things. Some days DS would tell us about the extra books he read. Some days DS would bring home a story he wrote and illustrated. Some days it was word searches.

Yes, the reward for getting your work done early is always more work. The smart kids figure this out quickly.

The extra work is fun and not turned in. we saw more of the extra work then we did the completed work because the Teacher sent the "extra work" home. We got to read DS books and look at his illustrations. He told us about the books he was reading. The extra work was more enjoyable and he wanted to complete his work quickly and properly so he could get to the fun stuff.

[Anonymous]

Pack a chapter books in their backpack. Your 1st grade teacher doesn't have time to create an entire day's worth of special extra assignments for your kid every day. Or, request skipping a grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, the reward for getting your work done early is always more work. The smart kids figure this out quickly.

Ha. This is what I was going to say. My teen is still a little salty about that from early elementary.

There isn't anything you can say to make it better. Like others have said, feel free to send in something interesting and quiet. Hopefully the teacher is okay with that. Some are and some aren't.