Teenagers Failing in School

Have you ever heard of Job Corps? I'm not trying to tell you that the answer...but you might want to look into it...Best of luck to you...teenagers are crazy :)

I had the same problem for a while. We restricted home phone use, took away the cell phone, no computer (texting, IM, email, Facebook, etc) except for homework and no car. No TV until chores were done. Friends here, but no privileges to go out. It was torture for him (and for us). But we let him slowly earn back the rights to some things. When he earned the rights to the car we put a tracker in it. We informed him of the tracker and made sure we called him when the car went out of bounds or left the school during school hours. It worked, but it wasn't fun, nor was it easy, and you can never let up or let a broken rule slide. You gotta be strong to do it this way. But he's now a responsible kid making good decisions. We sent him off to college and he's very happy.

Good luck, and I'm glad I'm passed that! :)

www.thosecrazybeans.blogspot.com

If he's cutting class, let the school counselor know. They should be working on keeping him in school. I know it's high school and they have a lot of freedom, my oldest is a high schooler too, but if he's cutting classes, there are steps to be taken. If he is staying out all night til after you're in bed, there is a serious problem with control. Is he driving? Take away his car, confiscate his keys. Make him take the bus to and from school. Get some counselling. Is he failing because he has some sort of learning disability, or is it that he is failing because he is not bothering to go to school or do the work?
Get some help, it's okay to admit that you can't do it all on your own!

First, smarten up yourself. Don't act like a kid yourself by using abbreviations when writing, and don't be asleep when they get home. Wait up for them. Punish them for being out late. Don't let them out at all until homework is done, or chores are done. If they don't have chores, give them some! You are the parent. They are the kids. Kids need and thrive on discipline and while it will take a long time to see a change, you need to pick yourself up and take responsibilty for raising your children. Don't teach them to be irresponsible and then wonder how they got that way.

a suggestion I would have tried if my kid did this. It may not be feasable to you either. buy a pair of hand cuffs hand cuff your kid to you and go to school with him. It will be totally embarrasing and let him know if he does it again you will go to school with him again. If he needs to go to the bathroom go get the school cop to escort him and make sure he doesnt go out the window.
Oh and the suggestion of job corps is also a great idea I sent my oldest not for discipline problems but other reasons the downfall to job corp is it only works for the kids who want it to work. I also like the idea of taking everything away and make them earn it back. I did that with my step kids and they didn't like it and moved back in with mom who they could push around.

As a former hell teenager myself I do suggest and I have experienced full stripping of all rights and material belongings. Let them earn wach right and privildge back one by one slowly till they get the full point. Teens always think your an idiot and can one up you. They forget how much power you really have when you are pushed. I know someone already suggested this but as a bad teen who did act up a lot and was put through this regiment to straighten me out it worked. Im a happy wonderful mother of 2 and my head has been screwed ons traight since age of 18. It works, now button down and do it.

good question, You gotta make rules and stick to them. like come home after school do homework- show to you before they can leave. If they do not do that then ground them or take away cellphone, computer, prized possesions.
Also if its a real problem, talk to there school councelor and set up a plan, maybe having them spend lunch in library or meet with certain teachers on lunch, before or after school. There is help, you just gotta show your teenager you wnat whats best for them and stick to it, no matter how hard it is.
I remember as a teenager how hard i pushed my mom, but she pushed right back and got me on track.
Hang in there momma!

I'm not sure I totally understand the situation, but it sounds like your teenager is not respecting rules or limits that you establish. Teens should be home at reasonable hours and should generally be at home on schoolnights. You need to find a way to enforce rules -- if your child does not come home on time, what are the consequences?

If your child is not going to school or leaving before school is over, you might talk to the school (principal, counselor....) to see what can be done about making sure your child stays at school all day. Skipping school is a big problem with teens. Perhaps the school could have someone accompany your child from one class to the next, and have someone supervise him/her during lunch. In other words, do something to prevent your kid from leaving school when he/she is not supposed to. You will also just have to talk to your kid a lot about why he/she's skipping school, why it's important not to. Try to be positive - explain that you believe in your child and know he/she can suceed in school, and that you want a good future for him/her and school is important for a good future. Try to work with the school's counselors. If they are good, they will be able to give you some strategies to try to help your kid, and they can help you get a handle on things. Good luck!

I would go to the school counselor and see if there is suspected drug and alcohol problem.

I'd also read Michael Gurian's "The Wonder of Boys" or "The Wonder of Girls" - whichever is appropriate for you.

Counselling seems appropriate - it may be that you need to set clear boundaries with clear consequences without continually giving more chances.

If drug and alcohol are potentially a problem, I cannot recommend highly enough Alanon for you - it is for anyone who has someone in their life with a drug/alcohol problem. You can live a happy life even with a child in crisis. It doesn't mean that you don't care very deeply, but it does mean there is comfort and healing for you regardless of what people around are choosing to do. Alanon is anonymous and can be found on the web - for a local listing of meetings.

God bless you in this difficult time.