How do you motivate a teenager to give his best at school?

Hi, I am in the same boat as you, only it is my 14 year old daughter...school seems to be last on her 'to do' list where as friends seem to be at the top... She is not stupid, if she actually tried, she would get fairly far...but it seems that she can't be bothered and only does what she has to...... as for your son, the sad thing about teachers is some do not care...i remember when i went to highschool (about 100 years ago lol) i had an english teacher who was pretty much just waiting until retirement and had absolutely no control over his class.....in addition to his schooling does he have hobbies that he could learn from? summer jobs? school isnt everything, but real life experience is...

don't worry dear, people like ur younger son r the horses for long races. they don't get start faster but whenever they start they r ahead of everyone. ur duty here is just to keep motivating him n keeping ur faith in him. let him be responsible. keep patience n let him enjoy the life in the manner he like.

I can understand. I've never been academically motivated either, luckily I've gotten good grades because I do have some brains in my head (!) but i always end up cramming. I know that I will never change, but as long as your son does well in school and behaves himself, than that is come consolation.

Well I have a niece who's almost a teener and I always tell her that doing ok in school is good but If she think she can go further all she need to do is try. I'm not telling her to do it in leaps and bounds but just give a little try to take one more step further and when she gets there, give it a thought if she can move a little more up. But everything really depends on how she tackles things. The first thing is to listen. Listen if there is any advice that she thinks is not for her own good. Because advice always is for their own good. I always tell her that accomplishments are achieved if you want it. It's just there for the taking. And they're the ones who will benefit from it.

You need to explain how important education is and if your son don't get down to work soon he would feel really sorry after a few years. But in your case this doesn't work so you'll have to ask someone who your son will listen to and explain the same thing in a different manner.

Yeah this hard times for every parents jobs, But I usually give the teenager rewards or prize for their best effort.

as we know best education is come from parents, i have son too, young boy, and i never to ask my son have to follow my rule, its free, i teach only rule of life how to be strong and self education, in this world to day formal education formal education still important but without self education our kids will lose someday. so get rank in school not important if our kids never improve them self with self education. i always motivation in two side formal and self education, many kids out there get rank in school or high school, but never find a job and...don't know what step next to do this self education can handle this problem.

Sounds like it's time to try homeschooling. Switched-On Schoolhouse has great curriculums. You may even be able to find the grade you need on ebay for a much lower price. I think I paid around $300 for a brand new one then around $80 for the ones I found on ebay. I taught my boy at home for 3 years for pretty much the same reasons--the teachers are much better in the district in which we now live. Sometimes it's just the school. Once the teachers get a dim view on a child, that child no longer has a chance at that school...even when the child is trying. Sad, but true.

I think the best course of action, is to get him a mentor. Find a good guy in your church that is going to college, and making something of himself, and see if he wouldn't be willing to help out a bit. I think people forget how important it is to have a mentor in thier lives, especially at this age, when mom and dad, simply are no longer cool. (no offense) (: Also, I would set up some new ground rules, if he doesn't maintain a B average (or whatever you feel is appropriate) he does not have access to the car, or something else like that, but if he raises his grades by so many points, he can do something he's been wanting to do. (concert, a trip etc.) I think this may help encourage him. I know that every kid is different though, and some children just have an easier time at school. My parents were not really involved with any of my schooling, they never needed to be, I was not motivated at all though, but still managed to maintain a A-B average. I was just one of those kids who could coast by, and no one noticed I wasn't applying myself. My little brother however, had a horrible time in school, so much so, that they had to transfer him to a special school for a couple of months, he got his grades up and was able to graduate with his class. Your son sounds alot like my little brother, he would do his homework sometimes, and then leave it on the table, he just didn't seem to care. But we soon realized that it wasn't that he didn't care, it was that the material was too hard for him, and he needed a teacher to go one on one with him, once he got into the other school, his grades turned to A's and B's within a month. Good luck with your son, I pray it all works out well.

Ya this was the same thing with my brother too ... but what my parents did was being very persistent in recognising his inner talents ..... just give it a try ... just spend some time having fun and see what he enjoys the most and what he is really good at then try getting it to make use of that talent that is encourage him to express it to the world... once you do that he will understand that you are a able parent .. then just make him realise what he has to do to get well in his studies .. ya plz dont ever compare your kid instead make him realize what he is capable of and introduce to some of those above average kids to have a cool discussion with him like inviting them ..share their values etc..etc . finally don't expect to get quick fix results what you are doing that is giving those advices are really good be persistent and carry on but dont force through ok ... all the best