I think the regression and forgetfulness comes along when a kid who can do math in his head with no particular thought for the process is suddenly faced with thinking about the process. Do you know the story about the caterpillar tying his shoes? It's like that--you can't stop to think about it or you get confused! There's also the fact that the methods taught often don't correspond to the method that has been working fine in the head, and often the teaching pushes that method as "the right way" and suddenly the other way is "wrong" so they stop it.
I was going to say essentially the same thing. My dd9 has had huge confidence issues since she started school. We've played around with the idea of homeschooling and were intending to do so this year but her school GT coordinator has gone so far out of her way to make accommodations for her that we're giving it another try for now.
In our dd's instance, much like your ds', she doesn't do the intermediary steps in math problems and often solves them in a creative different manner. Hearing that the way you are doing things is wrong over and over does do something to your confidence. In our dd's instance, I don't think that anyone actually told her that she was wrong, but it was implied b/c the way she was doing things and looking at things didn't comport with what they have been taught is correct and she took that to heart. She must be wrong.
Is there any possibility of undoing the retention or skipping him a grade at this point? How about having him work with a computer tutor rather than sit in the back of the classroom for reading? Do you have any other schooling options if not?
