Topic: School
Following are the questions our readers asked on this topic. To view our expert's answer to a question, just click on it.
- With summer coming up, I'm sure my daughter, A.J. (14) is going to stop reading, and it will be harder for her to get into the swing of school in the fall. What do you suggest that would keep her in practice?
- Since we just moved, my son (12) is going to be transferring to a new school in the fall. He's pretty shy and was bullied in his last school, since he's kind of a geek. Do you think we should speak to his teacher before Back-to-School night, and if so, what should we say?
- What makes a middle school child, who does not have any learning disabilities or issues, is well liked by his peers and has the ability to be a very good student, continually not do his homework assignments? Teachers will contact the parents every couple of weeks to tell us our child is not handing in his homework. When we discuss this with our child, he will improve and then the cycle will start again. We've tried to take away the distractions (TV, Nintendo, etc) Any suggestions? Thanks!
- My 14 year old son is having a difficult time in school this year. He's very smart and has proven he can be a good student, but lately he seems to just not care. Refusing to work in class, not turning in homework, etc. If I get on him, he'll buckle down and do well for awhile, but then is right back to slacking off again. I can't figure out why?! It's obvious he CAN do the work, just doesn't feel like he HAS to do it. Any suggestions?
- My daughter will turn 16 in Feb. and is struggling in the 10th grade. We recently moved from WA to NV and she has not taken the move well. So, in that regard; she had some real medical issues but also made up some that caused her to miss a lot of school. Feeling some what guilty for her not liking her new home; I feel that I'm partly to blame for not forcing the importance for school attendance though I have tried! We are in counseling to come to terms with the move, but my question is should she change schools so that she has more chance of understanding her classes? She complains that the teachers aren't that helpful.
- How do you get your kids reading level on track? I have a 16 year old who reads on an 8th grade level. I have just been made aware of this and would like to know what can I do to help advance my childs reading skills? Is there any FREE help out there for my high school student who is behind in reading?
- My daughter was getting an F in Spanish. I told her no Dance class until she got it up. She brought her grade up to a C. Yet, I feel she can do much better than that. Should I be content with the C or push her some more? When are you being too pushy with the grades? Thanks, Amos
- I have a 14 year old daughter that has always loved school and gotten good grades. Lately, though, she has been saying she hates school and her grades have fallen. When asked why she hates it she just says she doesn't like the people. Any suggestions on an approach to this?
- My son is 15 in a boy school. He is well adjusted and plays tennis fixtures but not very athletic. He does pretty well academically. Since young, we have always been told he is a very bright boy and can do very much better if he tries but he doesn't seem to want to do any better. He always says he is doing his best but we know he is not. He breezes along and gets an A if he wants to without much effort. The same with music. He just does not want to advance further and is happy to get a B. Should we keep encouraging him? (he doesn't like it if we say it too many times). We can't understand why he doesn't want to achieve more?
- I have a pre-teen boy, who is simply unmotivated about his grades. To make matters worse, I am a high school teacher who is very pushy about his grades. I do not require A's, but C's and D's are unacceptable, and he just doesn't seem to care. It is not that he does not understand the work, we are available to help him at any time, he just doesn't want to put the effort in. For example; his last book report- he looked for the thinnest book he could find to do the report on, so of course it was the most boring book he could find. I told him to look for something he thinks is the coolest thing ever, then the book is fun to read. Nothing. How do I motivate my kids to put the effort into learning and achieving?
- Our daughter just turned 19, she's at college but I don't see any enthusiasm about education. Her GPA is 2.13. She's very smart and always was an Honor Roll Student. She said that she doesn't like college because she feels that she still need structure. She goes everyday but I don't know how to encourage her without pushing too much. Any suggestions? Thank you
- My 15 year old son is a freshman,and is struggling this year. He is failing 2 courses, even with tutoring and extra help. He is taking meds for ADD, but has no previously detected learning disabilities. He says he does not care about school, grades, or his future. He refuses psychological counseling. (He has had counseling before, with poor results due to indifference on his part.) How much indifference is expected or common in children this age?
- My daughter is 13 and started high school this year being year 8. She did some stupid things at the beginning of the year, like sending text msgs to boys of a sexual nature, as a joke and decided to exchange photos, without thinking of the consequences. As she goes to a small town private catholic school she has received a fair bit of flack concerning the incidents. To make the incidents worse, she had a falling out with a kid that she has been friends with for the past 3 years. Which this person is adding fuel to the fire by making up stories and continually bullying her. We've been to counseling as a family, and all has gone well there. But I can't seem to decide whether she should ride the bullying and teasing out, or should I change schools. She is extremely unhappy, as she has gone from a kid with all types of friends to only having a few to console her.
- Dear Renee, Within the past couple of weeks it has come to our attention that our son has been a victim of bullying. He is a quiet kid who tends to be on the shy side. The problem occurs at school. We have contacted the school counselor, who in turn let the staff member in charge of discipline know. This person met with our son, where my son decided to handle the situation on his own. His seat was moved in both classes and teachers were made aware. He was instructed to say in a loud voice "knock it off." As parents we are encouraging our son to talk with us, verbally tell the bully to leave him alone, remind him that this is the bully's problem, one of insecurity and how much we love him. He is a freshman at an all boys school. and on a team. His shyness prevents him from making the friends he desperately needs.
- My teenage son 14 is going to start school schedule an hour earlier than he is accustomed to. For all of his elementary and junior high years, school started at 8:45am. Now high school will require him to be in his school seat by 7:45am Even with the late start during the early years, he was problematic in getting up and out on time. I am concerned that it will continue to be an complete uphill battle for the upcoming summer school term. Any suggestions?
- my son is a 3rd year freshman this year. He is fully capable of doing the work, he just won't...he stays grounded for coming home high, and/or failing in school. He sneaks out. We have tried everything...and I mean everything. We have called the police when we couldn't find him, we have taken him to the police station to talk to a police officer when we could find him. We have taken everything away from him but books...we have even hit him...He's very sweet, not ugly or disrespectful, but he is still completely out of control. We (the 4 of us--both parents and step parents) have tried everything we can think of. Any thoughts?
- my 13 year old daughter has failed grade 7. She has gotten into the wrong crowd, is smoking and staying out late and has snuck out of the house at night, she swears and has even been caught shoplifting. What can I do to make her understand that she is really going down the wrong road and hanging out with the wrong crowd. In fact I am beginning to think that she is the bad one not the other kids. How do I get through to her. I wonder where my good girl went.