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