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avatarEllen
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My 17 year old doesn't want to study or do his homework.

He's failing 4 classes and seems like he doesn't care. His teachers are willing to help, but he needs to do something also. What can I do to motivate him?

Question applies to ages: 16, 17

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avatarElizabeth.Johns
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Top 5 in: Choosing College, Discipline, Families and Relationships, Family Activities, Growth and Development, Health and Wellness, Learning Disabilities and Special Needs, Learning Styles, Parents and Schools, Safety, School Policy and Education Issues, Study Skills and Academics, Summer Learning and Camps, Teens and Jobs, Transitions and Readiness, Motivating StudentsTop 5 in 16 Topics		 Unfortunately, motivation is something that has to come from within. He needs to find a reason to want to study and do the work. You can encourage him, but he has to motivate himself.

It may be that your son feels that with failing four classes, there is no way to save the school year, so why should he bother. You need to talk with him, or have him talk with a counselor to find out why he has given up on school. He probably cares more than he's letting on.

Has he always struggled with school or is this a new turn of events? Did the work get too hard too fast as he became a junior or senior? Or, did he get in with a different crowd of friends who don't think high achievement is cool and he's dumbing down to fit in? Is there any possibility that drugs or alcohol are involved? Is it only school he doesn't care about, or everything?

There are so many things to consider, but ultimately, it all comes down to him. Offer him suggestions to get back on track: summer school, repeating a year, or maybe, taking some time off and then going back for his GED. Ask if he has any ideas and try to come up with a solution together.

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mom of four, including three teenage boys
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avatarHSMom
# of Thumbs Up Received (0)		 I can def relate. Our 16 y.o. also does not study. That would be fine if her grades were good, but she has 3 C's. She is just not motivated or mature enough to do it on her own. We have gotten as far as setting up 2 days a wk, for 1 hr to have her turn off all distractions (no phone, txt, my space, tv etc.) To use just for studying. ( I got the "none of my friends do it" speech. Unfortunately it hasn't happened yet, because we expect her to be self motivated, & she's not. I also found out she was missing work in 2 classes (the C classes) & she was like oh well, too late. I thhink they want to be treated like adults, but sometimes the motivation still isn't there. Hoping when the good grades start coming in she'll be more self motivated.
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