Parent Teacher Conferences - October 2025
@MommyOfEli2013 (86155)
Rupert, Idaho
October 27, 2025 11:39am CST
Hello everyone, how are you all doing?
I know I haven't really been posting or hanging around here too much lately. Just haven't really had much to share. And when I don't, I usually don't spend more than a few minutes here.
However, I thought I would share how Parent Teacher conferences went for Eli. The first semester is halfway done already - that's crazy to think!
Eli has almost all A's and B's - except for his F in language arts and C in music. He is now done with music though because it was only a 9 week course; the 6th graders are taking half a semester of each of the "fun" classes to see what they want to take in the next 2 years. Now that he's done with music he is starting crafts.
Anyways - about his F in English/language arts. He is smart enough to get an A in the class because he is getting an A on all of his tests. The trouble is he does not know what to write when it comes to doing the reading responses (they are reading a book and then given questions to answer). He's gotten an F on each of those assignments. Now he can redo them, the teacher says they can redo any assignment and he can also do extra credit book reports (sort of). Hopefully he'll bring the paperwork home to do the extra credit.
The rest of his classes he's doing great in - He has an A in Computers, math and social studies. Then he has a B in science which his teacher says she doesn't think he'll get any lower than a B.
His only struggle is the creative writing thing....he just doesn't know what to write. That's been his struggle since he had to start doing any creative writing kind of assignment. Not sure how to help him there...
There is tutoring with high school students but I think he'd just be too shy to talk to them... He may have to retake English but I don't know if that will ever work because he just doesn't know what to write.
Any ideas on that matter? I can't really help myself because my creativity is not much better. I used to be able to write poem after poem and now I can't sit down and write one.
Image is mine
Edit: I have done the math and he would need to do at least 7 extra credit projects to counteract all his F's on assignments (extra credit projects are worth 50 grade points)
9 people like this
7 responses
@kaylachan (81351)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Oct
I can't help much, because that's a struggle for many people. He's over thinking the assignments and the questions. Many kids struggl with free-thinking. The problem is, is you could tell him not to over-think it, and write what comes to mind, but that only works if he's being graded. The questions and answers reflect weather the child has read the material. If tourting is an option, I'd consider looking into it. It's proben that he's smart, but maybe he just needs a perspective from someone closer to being a peer.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (86155)
• Rupert, Idaho
28 Oct
well the current assignment is to write his own ending to the story. It leaves on a cliffhanger because it is continued in a second book in a series.
@celticeagle (183510)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Oct
Maybe his shyness needs to be addressed. This could hurt him as he goes forward in school. Communicating what he thinks is hard but so very important. I was shy too in school and flunked for the same reasons. I was good in English so that wasn't a problem for me. I wonder if it is the way the teacher is teaching the class. Maybe he needs a different class.
As far as creative writing and a writing assignment he needs to ask himself some questions after he reads the piece. How did the story make him feel? Did he like the piece? Why or why not? What did he get out of the piece? What elements/parts did he like best? Which did he not like? Things like that. Then write them down. If the assignment is a piece he has to write himself and not a review of a book or something then he needs to write about something he enjoys. Answering pretty much the same questions.
Creative writing is a good way of helping kids delve into their own heads and find what they do like. Why they like it and so forth.
I hope that is of some help.
@celticeagle (183510)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Oct
@MommyOfEli2013 .......I think he may have some self-confident issues. Sounds like he needs to push forward and let his imagination be his guide. Doesn't sound like he cares about the class. Saying he doesn't know isn't going to get him very far. That excuse won't work forever.
He may end up taking some classes over until he can get past the didn't know thing.
@MommyOfEli2013 (86155)
• Rupert, Idaho
28 Oct
Well I don't know what all the reading response assignments are - but this last one was writing his own ending to a story that was left on a cliff hanger because it led to a follow up story. I had given him some ideas but he didn't know what to write still. and I just don't see my son thinking in those sort of ways that you mentioned. I can tell you he'd say he didn't know to all of them...that's just how he is. So I really don't know how he is going to pass. I don't know why these writing assignments are worth so many points, he gets A's on his tests so he understands the subject well.
and his shyness has been addressed, he was in counseling in elementary school and everything about it.
I get it, I failed a class because of shyness too...a class in my freshman year of high school, I had to retake it as a senior.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (86155)
• Rupert, Idaho
28 Oct
@celticeagle Oh that probably is part of it...though he really shouldn't since he is smart, has friends, etc... He really doesn't care about school...and all that. But he needs to know if he doesn't pass he'll be taking 2 english courses next semester probably...or summer school (though I heard they aren't doing that anymore...but maybe that was only the high school).
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (108622)
• United States
27 Oct
@MommyOfEli2013 He’s a real smarty! He must have gotten that from you. 
@MommyOfEli2013 (86155)
• Rupert, Idaho
27 Oct
@AmbiePam probably more his father lol. Maybe the math from me....cause I did good in math - until Pre calculus anyway haha. But science and social studies nope!
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@JESSY3236 (21274)
• United States
28 Oct
I know being creative can be a struggle with some people. It comes sorta natural to me. What I learned was to write what you know and to start small. He could write about a story about a video game for example. I wasn't good at those reading responses either.
@MommyOfEli2013 (86155)
• Rupert, Idaho
28 Oct
well that is a good idea if it is a fully create whatever you want to write about story....this he has to write his own ending to a book that the class was reading as the story had an open ending. And the video game would be a good idea if he has to just come up with his own story about anything.
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@Dena91 (17030)
• United States
28 Oct
All kids have their strengths and weaknesses in school. Hopefully he'll overcome his shyness and get some help from either the teacher or the high school kids.
@MommyOfEli2013 (86155)
• Rupert, Idaho
28 Oct
Yeah that is true. I hope he will...but he's been this way since preschool.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (209046)
• United States
28 Oct
I think you're either creative or your not. I always excelled at writing; and I started participating in the school paper, etc. in junior high. I don't know what you could do to help Eli in that case. Sorry.
@MommyOfEli2013 (86155)
• Rupert, Idaho
29 Oct
@LindaOHio How to help him? Or for his assignment?
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@MommyOfEli2013 (86155)
• Rupert, Idaho
28 Oct
That is true, but he needs to be creative to pass the class unfortunately! That is good you did and joined the school paper. I don't know how to help Eli either...
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (92111)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Oct
I am not sure how you can motivate him but I found this online
Night Zookeeper makes writing fantastically fun for 6-12 year olds! Our award-winning program improves your child's spelling, punctuation, grammar & vocabulary.
@MommyOfEli2013 (86155)
• Rupert, Idaho
28 Oct
Not sure, I'll look into that...but it is just more that he needs to know what to write about is all because he just always says "I don't know what to write".
1 person likes this
