Retentions (long)

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Home : 2004 : January : 29

Retentions (long)
By CWH

Like you, I have two children in my first grade class that I am considering retaining. But in my district, we must have parental permission to retain students in first grade, so we have to really convince the parents about
retaining their child.
I try to document as much as I can. If a parent refuses to come in, I write comments on the report card (I might write something like the student continues to work hard but turns in poor work product and performs below grade level expectations - please call for a conference) as well as send home progress reports every three weeks with the same kind of comments

written on there. If I can't get the parent to call me back, I ask the principal or counselor to call and get the parents on the phone.

If you can get the parents to come in, show the parents what their children are doing now as compared to what the typical first grader should be doing now and then at the end of the year. You might for example show the level of book the student is reading (say, a DRA 3) and then show what the average child should be reading now (in my district, a DRA 10) and then at the end of the year (DRA 16).

Point out the depth of ground that they must cover to be on grade level at the end of the year. These children will have to work their fannies off the rest of the year and the summer vacation time too if they are to be ready for second grade. Mom or Dad or Grandpa or Sister or Babysitter or whoever is going to have to sit down and really work hard for a couple of hours a day on a regular basis. Ask the parents if they are committed to this. However, if they decided to go ahead and retain their child, the kid could relax the rest of the year and have a fun summer.

You might also talk about the differences between first grade and second grade. There is a big step between first grade and second. In our school, second graders are expected to read the directions independently, stay in their seats for extended periods of time, and complete tasks quickly. I try to incorporate a lot of movement and transitions in my class, and I tell my parents that it may not be that way in second grade.

Whatever you choose to do, don't wait until the end of the year to bring up the discussion. Have an honest talk with the parents now. Sometimes it sparks them to work harder with their child. Plant the seed in their mind now that maybe their child needs an extra year. Perhaps you could ask a colleague to sit in with you when you conference with the parents or practice a phone conversation with you. And remember, be confident. I wish you luck.