I have a tiny little peanut sized boy in my class.  I am having problems with him.  He is the most immature student I have had since I had a seven year old gifted girl in my class.  In fact, I think she was more mature than he is.

Peanut has been home schooled for most of his educational career.  They used Virtual Education at home.  Mom is now going to college and with FOUR kids in school and one still in diapers, she was too tired to get the kids to do their work anymore.  So, she put them back in public school.  Peanut is having trouble handling it.  He goes home and tells his mom all kinds of things that are not true.  (Like I don't let him go to the bathroom- an outright lie because he goes every 30 minutes all day and I let him!) 

Peanut is very far behind in his learning.  The hardest for him is math.  Mom says we move too fast for him.  He is already a year behind in math and I should slow down.  Not gonna happen.  If I slow down for one student, what happens to the rest of the class who are all doing well?  I would lose them in a heart beat.

I tried to talk to mom about it.  This peanut should probably be in 3rd grade.  That appears to be where his academic level is.  He read well, but doesn't comprehend what he is reading.  The words are too hard for him most of the time.  When I have to pronounce a word for him he then skips the word and I have to make him go back and make him do it.  It wastes time.

He is not a self starter.  I have to tell him over and over to get started on his work.  He piddles around, talks to people, sharpens his pencil 90 times, and never completes an assignment.  I remind them to take their folders home and his never makes it.  His Mom wants me to check to make sure he has it.  I don't do that for 4th graders.  They need to be held responsible sometime and now is the time. 

Mom blames me.  I am accused of not liking him.  I do like him.  I think he is a cute little peanut.  But, he is a fourth grader and I expect him to behave like one.  He laughs at really odd things and makes fun of kids who pass gas or burp or make a mistake.  He is very very immature.

Sometimes I get tired of taking the blame for the parents and kids not fulfilling their responsibilities.  It is time for parents to stand up and take charge of their kids and hold themselves and their kids responsible.