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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Get a bunch of books he is interested in and picks out himself and have him read when he finishes his work.

[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.

This. Rather than extra work (aka busy work that isn't graded but is simply to keep the child busy while others finish the real assignment), the child should be given material that is appropriate for his ability and provides the same amount of challenge as other kids have with the work they are given.

First listen, and make sure it isn't one of the other issues such as getting used to the structure, etc. But if it really is that the teacher is not appropriately differentiating instruction and materials, then you can address that.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the books - if he finishes have him bring his own books to read. This “free reading” aspect of school was one of the most rewarding aspects for my kid.

[Anonymous]

Always put a book in your kid's backpack. Supplement at home. It's first grade, OP. Don't be the mom who tells the teachers your child is bored. You will be one of Those Moms, guaranteed, and word gets around between teachers if you push it too hard. It's not all about your kid in a class of 30 kids. The teacher is managing a truckload of kids in a DMV classroom. Let your kid learn how to fill the time in class, and figure it out for himself how to stay busy. Offer him some tips. It all works out in the end. Slow your roll.

Mom of HS senior applying to colleges.

[Anonymous]

Be prepared for the possibility the teacher will tell you that your child rushes through his work and needs to slow down. Also know that school is just boring sometimes. Practicing writing letters is rarely as entertaining as being home setting one's own agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Always put a book in your kid's backpack. Supplement at home. It's first grade, OP. Don't be the mom who tells the teachers your child is bored. You will be one of Those Moms, guaranteed, and word gets around between teachers if you push it too hard. It's not all about your kid in a class of 30 kids. The teacher is managing a truckload of kids in a DMV classroom. Let your kid learn how to fill the time in class, and figure it out for himself how to stay busy. Offer him some tips. It all works out in the end. Slow your roll.

Mom of HS senior applying to colleges.

What first grade class in the DMV has 30 kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Always put a book in your kid's backpack. Supplement at home. It's first grade, OP. Don't be the mom who tells the teachers your child is bored. You will be one of Those Moms, guaranteed, and word gets around between teachers if you push it too hard. It's not all about your kid in a class of 30 kids. The teacher is managing a truckload of kids in a DMV classroom. Let your kid learn how to fill the time in class, and figure it out for himself how to stay busy. Offer him some tips. It all works out in the end. Slow your roll.

Mom of HS senior applying to colleges.

It's not ALL about her child, but her child matters just as much as the other 30.
She should absolutely verify that her child isn't rushing through work, struggling with adapting to school, or anything else before turning to the potential that there is insufficient academic challenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always put a book in your kid's backpack. Supplement at home. It's first grade, OP. Don't be the mom who tells the teachers your child is bored. You will be one of Those Moms, guaranteed, and word gets around between teachers if you push it too hard. It's not all about your kid in a class of 30 kids. The teacher is managing a truckload of kids in a DMV classroom. Let your kid learn how to fill the time in class, and figure it out for himself how to stay busy. Offer him some tips. It all works out in the end. Slow your roll.

Mom of HS senior applying to colleges.

It's not ALL about her child, but her child matters just as much as the other 30.
She should absolutely verify that her child isn't rushing through work, struggling with adapting to school, or anything else before turning to the potential that there is insufficient academic challenge.

I agree with you. OP, as many have alluded to, complaining about being bored at school is frequently a personality thing, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t mention it to the teacher. It lets the teacher know that maybe Larlo needs more structure/extra work/ etc.

[Anonymous]

I had this issue. I just told the teacher my kid was bored and looking for more advanced work. The teacher said she was glad I brought it to her attention. My kid got more advanced work and DD had a much better experience in school. Looking back it’s funny how scared I was. It was a simple, low-drama fix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had this issue. I just told the teacher my kid was bored and looking for more advanced work. The teacher said she was glad I brought it to her attention. My kid got more advanced work and DD had a much better experience in school. Looking back it’s funny how scared I was. It was a simple, low-drama fix.

Oh, and more advanced work didn’t mean more work. She just got harder assignments.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, I remember a colleague telling me that a parent came in for a conference about a child who was not progressing as much as expected. He had an older brother who was a true prodigy and the younger boy was just an average student. Mom walked in and immediately told the teacher that the problem was that he was not being challenged. The teacher was quite experienced and showed her what her son was doing and how he was not at the level the mom expected. This was a very good teacher who was quite experienced. Teacher told me that she was glad the kid was not in my class--I was a young, relatively inexperienced teacher. She said the mom would have tried to eat me alive, but that she had age and experience on the mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+100

They all think it’s a race at that age. That finishing first means you’re the best. You sure that ain’t it?

[Anonymous]

Homeschool. Leave the poor teacher alone.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been bored at points in classes all of my life. And at staff meetings. I think it’s part of life. No one is entertained all of the time.