Because I work so closely with my youngest grandson on his
daily homework assignments and on his test preparation, I am always on the
lookout for books like Rebecca Deurlein’s Teenagers
101. In this case, it was the book’s
more descriptive subtitle that grabbed my attention: “What a Top Teacher Wishes
You Knew about Helping Your Kid Succeed.”
My grandson has a variety of learning disabilities that frustrate his
efforts, so keeping him properly motivated is a big part of helping him succeed
with his school work.
Teenagers 101,
though, is not just aimed at parents of children who are struggling with their
school work. Much of the book, in fact,
is aimed at parents whose children are doing better than most of their peers,
those kids who take Pre-AP and AP classes and cannot imagine a future for
themselves that does not include at least
four years of secondary education. Deurlein’s
advice regarding motivating your particular student, however, applies equally
well to students at both ends of the spectrum.
And, if you in your role of parent or grandparent, need a
little motivation to remain, or to become, active in helping your student
succeed, Deurlein offers these two reminders of just how important that role
is:
·
“How you respond to your children’s actions, and
what consequences they face as a result of their behavior will determine, almost entirely, their future
behavior.”
·
“Every kid does something well. Our job is to notice when that happens and
use it as a tool of encouragement that will prod children to work harder next
time.”
Deurlein, however, is quick to point out where your role as
mentor begins and where it ends. Too
many parents make the mistake of “editing” student homework to the point that
it becomes more the work of the parent than that of the student – and no one,
including the student, is fooled. Consequently,
the author devotes an entire chapter to “knowing when to back off” and letting
your teen assume responsibility for his day-to-day education, a process that
should be well in place by the time they start high school.
Rebecca Durlein |
Along the way, there are chapters on a diverse set of
topics, such as: the advantages of allowing your children to take advanced
classes; organizational skills; teaching children to “dress for success;”
determining if your student is “college bound;” building self-esteem in
children; and how to effectively work with your child’s teachers. Keep in mind that Teenagers 101 was written by an experienced high school teacher,
someone who has probably seen it all by this stage in her career. She has a good idea of what works and what
does not work.
If you are looking for some motivational tips or for
something to explain what your child might be going through, Teenagers 101 is a good place to start.