Help for my little brother

Parent Cafe
1

<p>hi, i need some advice regarding my younger brother</p>

<p>first off, let me just say i have the best brother in the world, he is so sweet, and kind, and he is one of the nicest people i’ve ever known.
however, ever since elementary school he has had serious organization problems. he is so smart and has been reading novels like Lord Of The Rings since first grade (no joke), but he has been failing school because he never ever hands in homework or puts the extra effort into his schoolwork</p>

<p>now before you jump to a learning disability, let me just point out that he has spectacular social skills and, like i said before, he is very smart. He got a D in math last quarter, but he had a 96% test average; he never handed in his homework. to make matters worse, he DOES the homework, then doesn’t hand it in or it is so sloppy the teacher can’t possibly give him full credit</p>

<p>he is trying, and i’m not just saying that- i at first thought he was being lazy but after years i can see there is something wrong. there is obviously something missing. he doesn’t understand how to hand in assignments on time or do work properly. he actually wants to quit his extracurriculars to concentrate on school, but my parents won’t let him (he needs some exercise), and they know it wouldn’t make a difference if he did. he honestly thinks he is doing his best, there is just something that is keeping him from understanding how to be a good student</p>

<p>my parents are now thinking of sending him to boarding school next year (he’s in eighth grade now), but i’m still scared he will flounder there, even with the extra attention. </p>

<p>if anyone can relate, please, please help me out. i really want my brother to succeed, he is such an amazing person and i hope that whatever is missing just clicks for him eventually.</p>

2

<p>You sound like a wonderful brother or sister, and a very caring person. I would think that your brother should be tested for a learning disability and attention deficit disorder. Being smart, and having wonderful social skills does not mean that there is not a learning disability. Since you brought it up, I assume that somewhere in the back of your mind you suspect it. It would be much better for your brother if a disability was identified if he should have one, rather than sweeping it under the rug. He is struggling, and he obviously wants and is trying to do well. That sends up a red flag, IMO.</p>

3

<p>I agree, it sounds clear to me that your brother has organizational issues - not just being disorganized, but the way his brain organizes information. Testing may reveal a way to help him. Is there a guidance counselor or psychologist at his school that your parents could talk to ? There are also outside testing companies, I’m not sure how finances would come into play but it sounds like it would be worth it. Kudos to you for being such a caring sibling.</p>

4

<p>I have heard about this behavior amongst boys in this age range. I agree with the above posters that he really needs to be tested, especially for something called “Executive Function.”</p>