Hi all, I think Krison mentioned she will be out of town a few days.
I saw this scenario happening with DD8 in first grade. I observed for awhile and let it go, but then stepped in. I did not want her school identity to be the girl who: Always knows every answer, is a good influence on the others ie: manages behavior issues in other kids, already knows everything so she can spend her classroom time helping the ones who are behind.
In fact, I was not nice about it because it makes me pretty mad.
I understand this has been a different experience for your son and he has grown to like and appreciate helping the other kids in class.
But, if it is becoming a problem, perhaps you could meet with the principal and express your concerns. You have the right to insist that excessive aiding in class stop, especially since he is being negatively affected by it now.
Sounds like you have a great relationship with the school. Maybe you can lead in with: "In the past DS has felt honored and developed leadership skills and great self esteem by helping out other students in the class. We feel, though, that this leadership postion has developed in a way that has begun to infringe on his own learning needs a little bit. He has expressed discomfort lately and would like to make a change........
You could propose this as a solution to him and if it doesn't work then offer homeschool? I've found that you can never predict how the school will respond when you bring up these issues. Sometimes they really come through and do what they should for the kids.
Good luck!
Neato
