What do I do with my 11 year-old?

amother

Tue, Oct 24 2023, 10:21 am

My 11-year-old is a super bright but "lazy" learner. He doesn't want to do any more than the bare minimum--at least in chol subjects, and he doesn't like his teacher this year--who is new to teaching in a frum-boys' class and my son is getting into trouble by venting his frustration and saying stupid things. He doesn't mean anything by these things but his principals are taking a no-nonsense approach to this class--which if it would nip it in the bud I wouldn't have a problem with it, but I don't know. My son has a very low filter, he's not Aspergers but he does have anxiety and when he's nervous/excited/anxious he talks and talks and talks. He just says what's on his mind. We've talked about how not every thought that comes to his mind needs to come out of his mouth (especially during playing board games he talks out his strategy and I'm like "shhh"). Consequences of his actions are not a motivating factor because he will say "I'll take the consequence, but I'm not changing". I just don't want him to get disenfranchised because he's really a good-natured kid. He's my 2nd child and his brother is only 18 months older than him so we have to balance the two of them who are very different learners. The elder is preparing for his bar mitzvah now so naturally he's our focus, but I'm trying not to ignore my 2nd.