My DS is finding the whole step into Year 8 quite a trial. It's not so much the actual work, but the expectations, quantity of work and so on. It has come to a head today, he is home, fraught and tearful, says he has no time of his own anymore. He finds it difficult too because he is one of those helpful types teachers like and then get to do things for them, which he doesn't mind but suddenly he feels he has no break or lunchtime with his mates.
Just when I thought we'd got secondary school cracked! He found the beginning of Year 7 a shock to his system but in a way this seems harder 
I don't really think school will ever be his favourite thing, although he loves the social side with all his mates.
He is also so tired and can't seem to get enough sleep.
Is anyone else finding this? He is our second and DD breezed through so it is a whole new thing.
People have said Year 8 is a funny year. I think I'm seeing it.
Sorry a bit long but feeling rather despondent. I think I need reassurance that it will be ok!
Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.
Secondary education
Step up to Year 8. Is anyone else's child struggling? Would love reassurance!
RatherBeOnThePiste · 28/09/2011 16:21
Thank you both - I got in a bit of a pickle with this earlier!
He doesn't get much more HW than last year, I think I maybe need to rethink the time he does it, as sometimes it feels like it has gone on too long, and he has to do it on the right night, rather than on the night before it's due in. He had a dreadful night last week when he ended up with 6 pieces and a test to revise for, because he'd hung some over, and then it was 11pm+ which is ridiculous. I have a copy of his HW planner and I know I need to just make sure this doesn't happen again.
It's weird, because this time last year I felt I had to jolly him along, make sure he had the right stuff on the right days etc, but by the summer term I had nothing really to do with any of it any more except talking to him about it in a more general way. I feel HW is something they really should be doing independently not like some of his mates where the parents do it for them 
He does see friends out of school, they are always doing something. I suspect he has just got rather fed up being asked to help with things in breaks and lunchtimes, and of course, it is very difficult to say no!
I think there is a lot in the fact that they now have to fend for themselves, they're not the youngest anymore, and that they don't get away with anything, and this certainly added to his decline today. And it's such a shame because he is an easy going boy who doesn't tend to be a worrier
I need to think on a bit, but thank you.
Kritur - much appreciated.
I know he needs to start HW earlier, he was having time off first.
I think I need to be really tight on Meal times and bedtime routines, like you say from when he was tiny. We've always been strict about bedtimes during term time, but these haven't been easy to maintain with HW. But I can sort that. But at the moment I can't seem to give him enough sleep to stop being tired. It's like when they start reception all over!
Yes - we insist on phones being left in the kitchen overnight. And you are right about Internet use and being easily distracted. Sometimes I might be doing some work on the computer with a FB/MN window open 
I know how distracting it is!
And hormones don't help!
We've had more tears about it all this evening. Him not me! He thinks some of his teachers are fierce and mean. It's all change and they've not been long back. But frustrating because I thought we'd cracked it.
Bloomin Year 8
RatherBe I agree with you about sleep. My DDs are in Year 9 now (young in year). One was so tired I took her to the GP about six weeks ago. His attitude was "that's normal for a teenager" and I felt a fool
But I feel she does seem more tired than other kids. Her twin sister isn't as tired so what is it with some kids? Is it genetic? She is hopeless in the mornings and cannot get to bed at night because of fiddling around, tv, reading etc etc... Bag packing is a nightmare. Won't do it the night before!
You can take a horse to water ...
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