| Teenagers fall mainly into two categories | | | | so you can get up to speed to help your |
| when it comes to school. Those who are | | | | child. Most teachers will welcome this as it |
| focused and have a plan that includes good | | | | will help pull up their overall student |
| grades and college, and those who think it's | | | | grades. |
| all a waste of time and are counting off the | | | | |
| days until they're free of classes for good. | | | | Discussion is a great way to make difficult |
| | | | principles clearer because you are able to |
| If your teen is motivated that's great, but | | | | bring it to a level that your child will |
| if you're feeling like it's an uphill | | | | understand. Often in a classroom |
| struggle getting your teenager out of bed and | | | | environment, the teacher doesn't have time to |
| into class every day, there are a few things | | | | ensure that each student fully understands |
| you can try to encourage them to have a | | | | the work, and this leads to confusion when |
| better study ethic. | | | | the student doesn't understand and so is |
| | | | therefore unmotivated to do the work at home. |
| The first is to take a stand with their | | | | |
| teachers. Talk to the teacher and see what | | | | Consider motivation rewards/penalties. Some |
| work your child should be covering. If you | | | | teens are motivated by the thought having |
| know what it is, you have more idea about | | | | privileges increased with the thought of |
| what they should be doing. The fact that you | | | | getting a special item they're wanting, or an |
| are "siding" with the teacher isn't going to | | | | increased curfew for a special night out, |
| go down well at first, so be prepared for | | | | whilst others are more motivated by |
| some confrontation issues, but once your teen | | | | privileges such as computer/TV time being |
| realizes that this is going to be how it is, | | | | restricted until homework complete. You know |
| then you should see some sort of improvement | | | | your child best, but you may need to try both |
| in their study habits. | | | | ways to see which works the fastest! |
| | | | |
| Talk to your teen about their school work. | | | | It may seem like you're being tough on your |
| Is there anything that they need, or would | | | | teen making them do coursework that even you |
| like, that would make their study easier and | | | | may find tedious and unnecessary, but |
| or more enjoyable? Do they have any problems | | | | unfortunately if you want your child to be |
| with their schoolwork that makes study | | | | able to compete for jobs with others their |
| harder? Is there an issue with their | | | | age when they graduate from school they have |
| teachers that you don't know about? What | | | | to jump through the educational hoops. |
| about their peers? | | | | |
| | | | Hopefully if you can support them with their |
| Do you understand the principles being | | | | study habits at home, it will reflect in |
| discussed in your teen's coursework? If so, | | | | their class work. Who knows, with you taking |
| can you talk them through it? If not, then | | | | a more active role in their homework, they |
| see if you can ask the teacher for some notes | | | | may even find they enjoy it more! |