How do I help my 15yoss who is failing 10th grade?

Question

He failed two clases last year, Math and English. He completed summer school for English and is now retaking the math class this semester. He is failing English II and possibly French I, as well. I need suggestions to gethim motivated.

As far as I can tell, it gets to be too long (the semester). He started out very well, doing reat in all of his classes. Then, just recently, I started finding reports from teachers saying that he was failing. I have to search for them, b/c he doesn't show them to us.
Now, as to other things distracting him, I'm sure there are. I just learned today that his Math Teacher committed suicide LAST NIGHT! Very distracting. Poor man. So, I will definitely be talking to the guidance counciler next week.

Answer 1

Hi, im 15, too. My mom motivates me by asking if I need help, giving me space, and rewarding me. She knows that I am a bit of a material girl so when I get a good grade, she buys me a CD or I get my curfew pushed back an hour any day i chose (within reasoning) or I can invite a friend to sleepover. Once, I worked soo hard on a world history project that took me all week to complete and she took me to get Manicures along with my best friend because she said I chewed my nails raw worring about my grade.

I also get punished at times. My ipod is taken away, I can't listen to the radio, which is really hard for me becasue I have to have it on all the time or I feel wierd or can't sleep. Once, she made me do all my homeork right when I got home with her sitting right across from me staring and commenting everthing I did for a week and I hated it becasue I felt like I was in 1st grade again.

Well, I hope this gave you some ideas.
Just, don't pressure him too much becasue some people do great under pressure while others just stop or freeze and don't want to do anything because they are afriad they might fail...happends to me sometimes.

Hopefully I helped..and the semester isn't over yet...He still has time to bring his grade up...GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 2

Talk to a counselor. You need to find out why he is having so much trouble in the first place. Is he dyslexic or does he have ADHD? Is there some social issues with his peers or at home? Is he having a hard time adjusting to high school? Is there a bully or a girlfriend occupying his mind? Does he not have boundries that you have set up for him and does what he wants (video games & friends) and not what he needs to do (homework & chores)? Could be lots of things, but if you don't identify and correct the root cause then he will always have a hard time.

Answer 3

Why is he doing so poorly in school? Does the class move to fast for him? Does he have problems with other students or does he get distracted easily? Does he get enough sleep at night?

Talk with the teachers in the classes he is having trouble. Perhaps some one on one time will help and any teacher from my high school would have been more than happy to assist a student. Get his school counselor involved as well - perhaps he may need testing for learning difficulties (such as dyslexia). His counselor should also have some good suggestions. Don't be afraid to ask his instructors and counselor for one on one help.

Positive reinforcement at home - don't make him feel like failure or he will pull himself away and do worse. You'll get through it.

Answer 4

I'm 16 years old, a Sophomore and have a 4.0+ GPA (on 4 point scale.) I'm involved in many extra-curricular activities including Student Council (president), FFA (VP), FBLA (VP), and many others. I'm a Christian and I'm going to college after I graduate.

Okay, all that having been said... I need to ask YOU a question... simply make an addition to the question to answer my questions. First, is your son actually STRUGGLING with the work? Is it difficult for him? Or does he just not care about school? Is he an otherwise "good kid" or does he also get into trouble?

I deal with this kind of thing alot... As StuCo president, I'm always "here" to consult with anyone in the student body who needs me. This is VERY important for your son to get figured out. If he waits too long, he will have lost too many credits to graduate, and nobody, including himself, really wants that to happen.

-Jordan

Answer 5

First, have you talked to the guidance counselor? Does he have low test scores especially in reading. I don't want to sound flippant ,but if he can't pass English, why is he in French? What level English is he in===general, academic? Perhaps he could change levels. I would also recommend a tutor. How does he feel about this? Is he really trying? There are so many questions to ponder. Good luck.

Answer 6

Explain (calmly) to your child that he needs these classes and to pass them with at least a C average to even be considered for any college, and that college is an important step in life. Explain that while he may have plans to be a musician/photographer/artist/whatever that it is always good to have a back up plan and college is a good root for that.

Answer 7

try motivate him with money :P that's how my parents did it. With every test that i got an A on i got 10 dollars, cut off his money source. Every teen needs money to hang out, by paying him to achieve a goal it will improve his marks and teach him how the real world works.

Answer 8

have you considered a tutor, sometimes schools have free tutors, or even his teachers may agree to stay afterschool to help him out. Also, see if something is bothering him, he might be upset and not being able to concentrate.

if thats not the case and hes just being a lazy azz then beat the heck out of him and deprive him of his belongings. Dicipline his ***!

Answer 9

Tell him that if he wants to be rich, and have anything he wants, it's gotta start with studying, effort, and paying attention in class.Tell him it's only for a few more years. then for the rest of his life he can live in a mansion and have whatever he wants. that is, if he does well in school. Good Luck! :-)

Answer 10

Let it be.