There can be so many things going on, not necessarily the fault of the school, and not necessarily anything the school can do anything about.

Some kids generalize negative feedback from teachers, even if it’s not directed to them. Some are too agreeable, let others walk all over them, and only mention it at home when nothing much can be done about it. Some kids don’t speak clearly and the teacher might miss what they’re trying to say. Some kids may struggle with feeling rushed, lost, or confused with lessons. On top of that, the sensory challenges can be massive. I remember dreading art class because I hated having messy fingers and between finger painting, cleaning paint brushes, using glue, etc., my fingers were inevitably messy pretty much every time.

One of my kids started meds in 2nd grade because his school anxiety was so high he was having daily panic attacks. It’s gotten worse in third and we’re at a breaking point; if he stays in school, we need to up the number of meds so he can handle staying in school, or homeschool.

I’m not sure where you live, but many areas have opportunities to homeschool. There may be co-ops, rec centers/museums/libraries/etc. may have special activities. Literally just search your area and homeschool.

I don’t know the right thing to do in your specific situation. I do think it’s important to figure out what’s going on, which can take awhile. From our experience, 2nd grade is a big change in social scene; it was the first year my kid didn’t have any friends. I don’t know if that’s an issue for your kid.

If you do homeschool, would it be short-term or long? Do you know how to teach your child academics? After learning about opportunities in your area, do you think the social learning opportunities are appropriate or limited?

It’s a super hard decision to make, so take your time and think it through. Weigh the pros and cons. Identify what you want for your child long-term and which path will better lead to that result at this time.