Teacher won't let son write about his favorite thing

[Guest guest]

My son is really upset! The district has a writing contest and everyone

has to enter, whether they want to or not. My first grader hates

writing and it's a chore to get him to write. He had to write an

expository essay last week and she wouldn't let him explain what

Nintendo was. She handed him a stuffed frog and asked him to write

about it. He did it, even though he doesn't know a whole lot about

frogs. She told us about it in our parent-teacher conference and we

just kept our mouths shut.

Now, today was the " creative writing " assignment. He very creatively

wrote a whole page about his favorite Pokemon characters and how they

evolve. He knows not to write about the " battles " because no fighting

is allowed at school. AFTER he was done, he was told that he couldn't

enter it and had to write another story. She said the judges wouldn't

know what Pokemon are and wouldn't understand his story. Tough luck!

Creative writing should be fun, not forced. Writing takes him forever,

as I'm sure most of you can imagine. He was cooperative at school, but

was not happy about it once he got home. He ended up writing his story

about a wizard. I'm sorry, what is the difference in Pokemon and

wizards??? One kid wrote about the dairy fairy. WHat the heck is that?

I guess the message is that we are ok with creative stories, as long as

we think inside the box. I don't care if he wins or not. I'm really

proud that he gave it his best, because it's hard for him. My DD, on

the other hand, has a tendency to excel in writing and has won this

contest a few times in the past. I suspect that her poem that took her

about 2 seconds to write will win this time too. But winning isn't the

most important thing, and that's what it seems like the teacher is

focusing on.

So, do I just wait for this whole stupid writing contest to be over, or

complain to the teacher? I like her for the most part. I don't think

she really " gets " him though.

I have one article about incorporating special interests into

curriculum. I might give it to her.

What would you do?

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your support and advice! A friend who is a local teacher told me to pursue having it entered in the contest.> >> > So, do I just wait for this whole stupid writing contest to be over, or> > complain to the teacher? I like her for the most part. I don't think> > she really "gets" him though.> > > > I have one article about incorporating special interests into> > curriculum. I might give it to her.> > > > What would you do?> > Hi, mom to 14yo AS son here. Since you've already talked to the teacher, like her, but can tell she doesn't understand everything, it might be more productive to call up the principal discuss your concerns and ask her to help. After all, she is the teacher's boss and part of her job is to help out when the teacher gets stuck. Send the principal your article, ask her what she thinks, ask her if she thinks it is appropriate for the teacher to incorporate this more into the curriculum, and ask for her help to get this implemented. Something you might discuss with her is getting whatever she decides is appropriate incorporated into your son's 504/IEP, so you don't have to keep having this battle with teacher after teacher.> > As the years go on, with something complex and hard to understand like AS, you will find you get to know your school administrators very well!> > Ruth>

[Guest guest]

I don't what her problem is. I would definitely ask her why she keeps trying to

pick his subjects. She might think she's being " helpful " by pushing him to think

about something that he wouldn't normally choose himself. Perhaps she doesn't

realize how much she is sucking what little fun there is in this right out of

the assignments..

On another note, any children's writing judge worth their salt will either know

what Pokemon are or going to find out soon enough. They have been popular for at

least 12 years here in the US and a little longer in Japan. Geesh.. she needs to

stop living under a rock. I am sure a lot of the other kids in the district

wrote about Pokemon.

Good luck,

Dory

>

> My son is really upset! The district has a writing contest and everyone

> has to enter, whether they want to or not. My first grader hates

> writing and it's a chore to get him to write. He had to write an

> expository essay last week and she wouldn't let him explain what

> Nintendo was. She handed him a stuffed frog and asked him to write

> about it. He did it, even though he doesn't know a whole lot about

> frogs. She told us about it in our parent-teacher conference and we

> just kept our mouths shut.

>

> Now, today was the " creative writing " assignment. He very creatively

> wrote a whole page about his favorite Pokemon characters and how they

> evolve. He knows not to write about the " battles " because no fighting

> is allowed at school. AFTER he was done, he was told that he couldn't

> enter it and had to write another story. She said the judges wouldn't

> know what Pokemon are and wouldn't understand his story. Tough luck!

> Creative writing should be fun, not forced. Writing takes him forever,

> as I'm sure most of you can imagine. He was cooperative at school, but

> was not happy about it once he got home. He ended up writing his story

> about a wizard. I'm sorry, what is the difference in Pokemon and

> wizards??? One kid wrote about the dairy fairy. WHat the heck is that?

>

> I guess the message is that we are ok with creative stories, as long as

> we think inside the box. I don't care if he wins or not. I'm really

> proud that he gave it his best, because it's hard for him. My DD, on

> the other hand, has a tendency to excel in writing and has won this

> contest a few times in the past. I suspect that her poem that took her

> about 2 seconds to write will win this time too. But winning isn't the

> most important thing, and that's what it seems like the teacher is

> focusing on.

>

> So, do I just wait for this whole stupid writing contest to be over, or

> complain to the teacher? I like her for the most part. I don't think

> she really " gets " him though.

>

> I have one article about incorporating special interests into

> curriculum. I might give it to her.

>

> What would you do?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would meet with the teacher first and establish what the assignment was exactly. Were kids allowed to write about "anything they wanted?" or did she have specific rules listed or topics listed? Find out! Then I would ask her to explain why the pokemon was not acceptable. This will let you know what her problem is exactly. If she doesn't really have a reason but she just doesn't like pokemon, I would argue that since the assignment was open for any topic (if it was), then your ds is not going to write a new paper. If she has a logical reason/explanation, then you'll be glad to hear it!

Remember that sometimes our kids perceive things differently. So he may have not understood the directions. But, if he did understand, then you need to speak to teacher and see about having her change how she is dealing with him. She might be wanting to get the kids to write about different things than what they "always write about." And if she has a good reason, it might be that she is just not going about it that well with your ds. It's hard to tell until you speak with her and find out what is going on!

RoxannaYou're UniqueJust like everyone else...

( ) Teacher won't let son write about his favorite thing

My son is really upset! The district has a writing contest and everyonehas to enter, whether they want to or not. My first grader hateswriting and it's a chore to get him to write. He had to write anexpository essay last week and she wouldn't let him explain whatNintendo was. She handed him a stuffed frog and asked him to writeabout it. He did it, even though he doesn't know a whole lot aboutfrogs. She told us about it in our parent-teacher conference and wejust kept our mouths shut.Now, today was the "creative writing" assignment. He very creativelywrote a whole page about his favorite Pokemon characters and how theyevolve. He knows not to write about the "battles" because no fightingis allowed at school. AFTER he was done, he was told that he couldn'tenter it and had to write another story. She said the judges wouldn'tknow what Pokemon are and wouldn't understand his story. Tough luck! Creative writing should be fun, not forced. Writing takes him forever,as I'm sure most of you can imagine. He was cooperative at school, butwas not happy about it once he got home. He ended up writing his storyabout a wizard. I'm sorry, what is the difference in Pokemon andwizards??? One kid wrote about the dairy fairy. WHat the heck is that?I guess the message is that we are ok with creative stories, as long aswe think inside the box. I don't care if he wins or not. I'm reallyproud that he gave it his best, because it's hard for him. My DD, onthe other hand, has a tendency to excel in writing and has won thiscontest a few times in the past. I suspect that her poem that took herabout 2 seconds to write will win this time too. But winning isn't themost important thing, and that's what it seems like the teacher isfocusing on.So, do I just wait for this whole stupid writing contest to be over, orcomplain to the teacher? I like her for the most part. I don't thinkshe really "gets" him though.I have one article about incorporating special interests intocurriculum. I might give it to her.What would you do?

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