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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I teach writing and I’m a teacher in my twenties. I was also taught writing from elementary school through college. I attended public school. I don’t know why you don’t think your child hasn’t received any instruction in writing. I think it’s more likely that your child doesn’t enjoy it and doesn’t pay attention. At a fifth grade level he should be able to write a paragraph, yes. It seems like he needs some additional scaffolds, like a [b]graphic organizer[/b]. Some kids get overwhelmed and need help organizing their ideas. I would reach out to his teacher with some specific questions about his needs and possible supports (ex I noticed he has trouble coming up with a topic sentence, he doesn’t know how to maintain parallel structure, he doesn’t consistently write full sentences, etc). [/quote]
With all due respect, I am sick and tired of teachers throwing graphic organizers at him saying that's all he needs.  You should know as a teacher that [b]a graphic organizer will do nothing for him if he doesn't know basic sentence structure[/b] and spelling.  You are right that he doesn't enjoy it, but [b]one reason for that that he is really unsure of himself and doesn't know what to do.  Who would enjoy it in that case?  He is a hard worker, above-average reader, and great in math.  [/b]By all means, he should be able to write.  The school has failed him.[/quote]
+1  Former teacher here and PP is spot on.  I have seen this so many times.  Especially with boys, though not exclusively. Writing teacher in your twenties, when over half the class needs the supports you describe, it's a sign that the curriculum needed to do more explicit teaching in these areas.  [/quote]
I teach special education so of course they need supports-you don’t need to be snarky about it. It does sound like your son has some kind of issue if he’s so unsure that he can’t even write a sentence as a fifth grader. I wasn’t aware it was that much of a problem from your original post. Perhaps you should have him evaluated for dysgraphia. I thought you were saying he has trouble organizing ideas in a longer piece of writing. Writing a single word or sentence should not be such a labor at that age, to be frank. 
I gave you honest advice-there’s a reason teachers roll their eyes at you when you ask for something. You should probably teach him to ask for help instead of being rude to other people. A little respect goes a long way. [/quote]

What are you even talking about?  I suggest you listen to the parents when they are telling you things are not working.  Do you think this is the first time I'm asking for help for him?  I have been offered graphic organizers for him since 2nd grade. Quite frankly, giving him a sheet of paper and saying "good luck" is a lot easier than teaching him.   Do you not think I've been brushed off by many 20-year olds who just started to teach and think they have the answers to everything.  Let me know when you gain some experience teaching and then we can have a real conversation.

[b]I am stating the facts.  Schools are failing our children.[/b] I'm not saying it's your fault as a teacher.  You do what your district tells you to do. You follow the rules.  I get it.  I also know what I got as a child at school and what my child is not getting today.  [/quote]

NP here, but no. School may be failing YOUR child, but my DCPS public school have been teaching my kids how to spell and write since K. They even learned copy-editing marks, which I love.

I also think you may need to speak to the teacher- are you sure what he turned in was a final copy? [/quote]

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