Conflicting Reports...

I checked on Alex's grades yesterday and found he's getting a D+ in Health.
Nice.
I emailed his teacher and besides one missing assignment - that's he's turning in today - I got this:

I can tell you that he talks way to much in class.  I have spoken to him about being disruptive in class twice already.  His behavior will keep him from doing his best work if not controlled.  We discussed him in Team Meeting yesterday....many teachers are concerned about his success.

Yet, in English -he is getting an A - I got this:

I'm glad to hear Alex is liking junior high!  He really is doing well in English; he struggled at first with raising his hand to ask questions, staying in his seat, not blurting out, etc., but he's really improved with those behaviors in the last couple weeks.  He's such a smart kid!

Hum....so is the TEAM really concerned about his success? Or is it something more with the Health teacher? According to Alex, she's boring. (He does a fabulous impersonation of her nasally whining voice. Which, I know isn't nice but it's so accurate that it's hard not to laugh.) My older three - who have all had the same teacher - side with Alex but he does need to stop talking in class.

However, despite the fact that talking and blurting out answers is wrong, isn't it a little great that he has enough confidence to do so? That at least he's listening enough to blurt out answers? I don't know. I have to give him a little credit there. 

As for the staying in his seat.....he is a wiggly kid. At dinner on Sunday he was kneeling on the bench with his bum in the air and I had to ask him to sit on his behind. "Why, I am not on a date?" I explained that he can't just miraculously have great manners on a date if he doesn't practice it at home. I don't think he agrees with me. I also made him take his elbows off the table. Such a mean mom, I know.
I sent the following email to all his teachers:


I got the following email from one of Alex's teachers:
"...I can tell you that he talks way to much in class.  I have spoken to him about being disruptive in class twice already.  His behavior will keep him from doing his best work if not controlled.  We discussed him in Team Meeting yesterday....many teachers are concerned about his success."
I  have found with Alex that direct and straight forward is the best way to handle every situation, that he does not learn by example, or subtleness. Needless to say we'll be discussing his behavior tonight. Could you please let me know if he is being disruptive in your class and/or if there are any behavior issues we should address at well?
He is a good boy but he takes social cues from those around him and doesn't always make the best choices with his behavior if he has the chance to be funny or the center of attention. 
Any input or feedback you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
~Wendy Richhart

So, I guess well see what the other five teachers have to say.

He started making a "video" journal as one of his days of journal-ling. It was short lived because yesterdays video was 6 minutes and 48 seconds of him trying to add up the money he's going to make mowing lawns this month and the cost of  a cell phone. He's determined at the end of the month he can buy a crappy Cricket phone and pay for service for two months. 6:48 minutes of him adding and subtracting and wiggling around without him really talking in full sentences proved that "video" journal-ling is not working.

However, here is last weeks journal video. The sound's not so good but the kid sure is cute.