DS kind of helped out his own case, because at "back to school night" when we dropped off supplies, the teacher was talking to DS and he launched into a sort of rant. It was highly embarrassing, but he told the teacher how his teacher at X school gave him baby math like 2+2 but that's not the only problem, he also needs hard social studies and science as well. He's just young and cute enough that he was able to get away with having no filter. She did need to have a talk with him, later, though about not referring to things as "baby math", "baby science", etc. because it makes the other kids feel bad. "Babies don't do math"...etc. He also apparently refused to participate during lectures and at first she thought that meant he doesn't understand, but I asked him what that is all about and he said "If I answer those questions, she'll think I'm actually interested in the baby math." I explained that to the teacher and I think she then finally understood, that he has a major attitude and it's something that she needs to deal with by getting him work that's appropriate. So I didn't exactly "coach" DS to do any of these things but I DID tell him he needs to be an advocate for himself, because the teachers don't necessarily believe mom and dad. They are more likely to listen to a student themselves. If a kid isn't complaining and is going along with everything then it's more difficult. DS has always been one of those really quiet, passive, well behaved kids so I was surprised that he was so vocal about it. It did take a little bit of encouragement from me, though, to figure out what he wants from school and stand up for himself. He also now knows that things can be different and he can be given harder work because the last teacher was awesome. So to go from learning long division in school to 8+5 was a real shock for him.
