| It's been about nine weeks since the new school year | | | | now they have to work a little harder and are unwilling |
| began. That means that report cards will be coming | | | | to or don't know how. Whatever the reason, there are |
| home soon, and not long after, my phone will start | | | | many things you can do as a parent.Ask your kids |
| ringing.Grades can reveal many issuesSchool | | | | what they think happened. You will probably get "I don't |
| performance has a way of exposing many of the | | | | know," which is to be expected. Try asking, "If you did |
| struggles of the teen years, and not just the academic | | | | know, what would it be?"Your next step is to meet |
| ones.Teens tend to start the school year in one of | | | | with the teachers and guidance counselor for a |
| three ways: the good start, the bad start and the no | | | | conference. Find out what is happening in each class. |
| start. Many kids get off to a good start, and that's | | | | Ask lots of questions, such as "What do you |
| good. The next challenge is to keep it up. What | | | | recommend we do at this point?" Discuss the |
| happens occasionally, however, is that silly old habit of | | | | possibility of any learning problems.The good news is |
| resting on our laurels after we meet a goal.As soon as | | | | there are many resources that specialize in helping |
| you start resting, things begin to slip. Kids stop studying | | | | students with learning or homework problems. If school |
| as much, they forget about homework, etc. Parents | | | | is becoming a power struggle or battle ground for you |
| also can contribute to this by thinking that the good | | | | and your child, seek the help of a family counselor who |
| start means that they, too, can relax and stop keeping | | | | specializes in working with kids and teens.No start at |
| track of how their kid is doing.A good startThe best | | | | allEvery now and then, kids start the school year by |
| thing to do with a good start is to keep it going. Kids | | | | not starting out at all. You typically see all D's and F's |
| need to keep doing all the things that got them off to a | | | | on the first report card and lots of absences. If they |
| good start. Parents need to keep a watchful eye in | | | | are in class, they are disruptive or sleeping. Usually they |
| order to stay on top of what is going on. Remember, a | | | | are skipping class and/or not showing up for school at |
| goal is not something you reach and then stop. A goal | | | | all.This kind of start tells me that something big is going |
| is something you reach and then pass through on the | | | | on and it's not good. It could be anything from |
| way to bigger and better things.A bad startSome | | | | depression to drugs, and anything in between.If your |
| report cards reveal that kids have gotten off to a bad | | | | student fits this pattern, make an appointment right |
| start. Perhaps the first few weeks went well, but then | | | | away with a family counselor who specializes in |
| they got behind and just gave up. If it's the first year of | | | | working with teens. This kind of start indicates that the |
| middle or high school, the issue might be one of a | | | | school year is at stake, and your teen is at stake as |
| difficult adjustment to a new school and new | | | | well.Visit for tips and tools for thriving during the teen |
| routines.Other kids have never learned how to study | | | | years. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 5 day |
| and organize for more than one class. I've worked | | | | e-program on The Top 5 Things to Never Say to |
| with many kids who were bright enough that for many | | | | Your Teenager, from parenting coach and expert Jeff |
| years all they had to do was show up to do well, but | | | | Herring . |