The Parent Teacher Conference
@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
Rupert, Idaho
October 9, 2021 1:51am CST
Last night we went to Eli's Parent Teacher Conference. There is a lot of good news, and a little bad.
Good news is
- he is well behaved.
- he is very smart, above average his teacher says
-he is quiet/doesn't talk too much
The bad:
- he is quiet
The teacher says that Eli does not talk AT ALL! Not to her, other teachers, the other students...etc.
He needs to talk enough to be tested on his reading fluency (a 1 minute reading test) and to do group discussions. I understand him not wanting to do the second thing - I always hated group discussions, dreaded them.
Not sure what to do to get him to be able to speak up at school. I don't want him getting held back because he won't speak. He's too smart for that.
13 people like this
10 responses
@cherigucchi (15934)
• Philippines
9 Oct 21
There is a perfect time for that. He is going to come out of his shell soon.
2 people like this
@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
10 Oct 21
He needs to at least talk enough for the testing (1 minute per week) right now lol
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Oct 21
@cherigucchi I don't see that happening
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
9 Oct 21
That's excellent. Similar to what teachers always said about my boys. The most impressive thing I was consistently told was that they were "a pleasure to teach". Some teacher friends of mine said that "could contribute more in class" was one of their 'go to' phrases when they genuinely had nothing negative to say about a child.
Of course, they do need to talk a little. I'm sure your son would understand that he needs to talk enough that his ability is noticed. Other than that, though, it's OK to be quiet. And well done to your son for all the other great things (and to you for raising him that way).
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
10 Oct 21
That's good your kids were good and the teachers said those good things too.
Yes, talking a little bit is required....I am glad he is not one of the rowdy ones that act up...but I hate that he doesn't talk at all. He won't say hi to any of the teachers when they say hi to him. The teacher says he don't even talk to his friends.
I am just at a loss...
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
10 Oct 21
@MommyOfEli2013 If he's not even saying hi when someone speaks to him, that's going to come across as rude. Mine would at least respond to people even if they didn't initiate conversation themselves.
Have you spoken with your son to see if there's a reason for him not talking to people at all? Does he talk to you?
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Oct 21
@pumpkinjam I find it really rude that he won't even talk to some family/family friends. I am the kind that won't initiate convos, but will respond if people talk to me.
We ask him about it and he just says "I don't know".
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
11 Oct 21
@MommyOfEli2013 I hope he starts talking soon.
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
12 Oct 21
@just4him Maybe the older he gets, but not sure it is going to happen this year.
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Oct 21
He never talked last year either....I don't see him changing that anytime soon. But yes, he is really smart....just needs to talk so he can show it lol
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@nela13 (59367)
• Portugal
10 Oct 21
@MommyOfEli2013 I understand you, my daughter is the same.
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Oct 21
@nela13 Oh really? Well I have no idea how to handle him not talking at all at school lol
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
10 Oct 21
No, being quiet is good for the most part...but there is a time when he NEEDS to speak or else he won't be able to be graded on that.
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@LindaOHio (222310)
• United States
9 Oct 21
I don't know what the answer is. I'm assuming he talks a lot when he is home. He needs to read out loud to be tested.
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@LindaOHio (222310)
• United States
10 Oct 21
@MommyOfEli2013 I don't know...It's a tough problem.
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Oct 21
@LindaOHio Some have kids that are rowdy and won't stop talking....Eli is the exact opposite. I am glad he is well behaved....but hate that he won't talk at all
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
10 Oct 21
I have no idea either! He talks nonstop at home....and with his grandparents. But yes, he needs to read out loud for that - it is only 1 minute a week! She said he could record himself on the iPad doing it, or maybe during recess (he'd only miss a couple minutes). He won't agree to anything though
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
9 Oct 21
i already asked but will ask again - is there a person that Eli talks to all the time other than you and his father? Sadly talking in a group can be one of the biggest terrors we face.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
10 Oct 21
He talks to his grandparents all the time, and his 13 year old cousin.
Oh yeah, I know I hated group discussion assignments. I can imagine how things will go when he is in the higher grades and has to stand up in front of class and do presentations! Hopefully by then he is over this enough to do that
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
11 Oct 21
@DocAndersen He doesn't want to read in general...so it's hard enough
He's going to be reading the one minute stories at home out loud from now on.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
10 Oct 21
@MommyOfEli2013 good - so have his grandparents help you. Have them ask Eli to read things and record those to send to them so they can listen when he is not around.
the act of reading and recording will help him!
@allen0187 (59692)
• Philippines
11 Oct 21
@MommyOfEli2013 good to know that the teacher gave solutions. Hope those work.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
10 Oct 21
I don't know that we really will. He doesn't want to talk at school....
and the teacher has given solutions.
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@crossbones27 (52905)
• Mojave, California
9 Oct 21
He is smart because he does not speak. People do not want to hear smart things they want people to agree with them. Sad but true and your kid is paying attention so he will remain quiet until world fixes itself which may be never and that is worlds fault not his. Why he is smart.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135690)
• Marion, Ohio
9 Oct 21
It sounds like what you expected and good. Try explaining to him that he does need to talk when called on and stuff at least
@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
10 Oct 21
We tell him this every single day.
Even told him he could pick out a small treat at the end of the week if he did the things that he needed that involved speaking.
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@DianneN (254926)
• United States
13 Oct 21
Good report!
Sorry he’s too shy to talk, but he will grow out of that in a year or two.
If he was my son, I would discuss the importance of speaking in class and not worrying about being right or wrong.
I’d also have him involved in extracurricular activities such as sports, art, music, etc….and have him socialize with boys from his class by inviting them over to play, go for pizza, etc.
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89581)
• Rupert, Idaho
14 Oct 21
Not sure my son will grow out of that, lol.
We have told him that many times, just guess he has not got it yet.
We want him to do some sports, just haven't yet.
Also don't want to force him to do things he doesn't want to do.
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