My son used to be honor roll and now he is making d's and f's.?

Question

other than laziness, what do you, parents, think it might be. i am in shock at this moment. i have asked him many many times, if anything is wrong and he is nothing.

Answer 1

I'd schedule a conference with the teachers and ask them what's going on (is he not handing in work? is he goofing off in class? is he not studying for tests? not participating in class? really struggling with the material? is he in too many difficult honors classes that all together are just too overwhelming?).  I'd also consider what he's doing outside of school (is anything else going on? is he hanging out with the same kids? is there a girl involved? does he have new interests? too many extracurriculars?).  The remedy depends on the problem, so the first thing you need to do is figure out the problem.  Does he have siblings? You could ask them if they've noticed anything going on.  It wouldn't hurt to talk to the school counselor, too.  You don't want to take a behavioral approach to an academic issue or vice versa, so start by doing what you can to narrow the problem down.

Answer 2

I'm sure it's just something he is going through right now. Body changes, girls, problems with friends... those mean everything to a teen.

Answer 3

I have an 11 year old son and sometimes they do go through "quiet" periods..but something maybe going on at school with his friends', maybe bullying, maybe someone said something unkind to him. The world is so harsh....we cant stop that...but just make sure he knows that you love him unconditionally and that if someone did say something unkind to him that it is their problem, not his. Maybe the work is not challenging enough? Good luck to you Mom!!

Answer 4

Listen I am a parent but was in this place myself as a teen.  he may not feel comfortable talking about what is going on at school, not wanting to bother anyone.  thinking he is grown up and don't want to be an inconvenience  he may be getting bullied or just letting all the hormones go to his head.  He could also be hanging out with new friends which are not academically as smart as him and he just wants to fit in.  But do not rule out drugs.  My issue started with a boy and escalated into drugs and alcohol.  keep talking to him and maybe even email or call his homeroom teacher if you are still concerned.  but until  you rule everything out don't punish him as that will trust me push him further away.

Answer 5

I'd talk to his teachers and ask their impressions.

Enroll him in a after school tutoring program that is adult and child based.  He probably won't be happy about it and I doubt it's that he isn't capable of learning the material on his own but the reminder that reasonable grades are part of your expectations for him can't hurt.  Sometimes the structure is what is missing.

Finally go back to the reward and punishment system.

It might be just that his friends have changed to those who are of bad influence.  

Punishing by limiting social interactions or creating stricter curfews and rewarding with increased freedoms may work.

Answer 6

Set up a meeting with his teacher and don't jump to conclusions about drugs. My 13 year old is the same way he is now the class clown. Oh joy! I've been to the office so many times this year they should offer me a salary. Jk!

Girl problems huh... he's probably googling some girl instead of paying attention. Maybe he's just bored if he was making honor roll maybe he's not being challenged enough and is just being lazy.

Answer 7

The only thing i can think of besides laziness is drugs. and drugs and laziness goes hand in hand.

Answer 8

The same thing happened to me when I started experimenting with drugs.  I'm not saying that is what is going on.  How old is he?  So many biochemical changes can take place during puberty it could be any number of things.

Answer 9

try putting him in clubs and stuff at school. That way he will like school, plus to stay in a club you have to have a certain grade point average so that will encourage him to do well in class.

Answer 10

Time for some tough love and butt whipping, If I were you I would treaten him with something I know that will scare him.

Answer 11

Please, please don't jump to the conclusion that your son is lazy.

Kids this age often go through difficult periods.

Schoolwork is harder.

Puberty wreaks havoc with the brain.

Bullying and social pressure intensifies.

Your son may not understand exactly what is happening, so it is your job to figure it out.  

Be kind, loving, and understanding.  I'm sure he's already feeling ashamed, even if he says nothing.