How To Motivate Your Teen!

Using high school "classes" to explore & engage.

No matter where or how you do school, your student may not be 'all in'. This is normal. The student might appear uninterested in school, lazy on tests, unmotivated to do homework, or even belligerent, angry, and/or depressed. These are all common but the typical treatment for such problems is not very successful: threats, bribes, medications, or even boot camps.

The best treatment for school related angst of any kind is ENGAGEMENT!

How Do You Engage a Student? Best question you ever asked. You engage by getting rid of busywork (any work that is being done just because you are 'supposed' to do it) and add in explorative work that allows the student to find meaning in what they are doing.

If you want to never see this in a classroom again, then find a way to get rid of repetitive school work. Replace it with engaging courses that allow the student to explore their career options.

If you are a home schooler or doing a custom program with LeeWay Academy, then you will be doing your core classes in an efficient way like dual credit, AP, or CLEP that allows the student to see the value of their class work. But you will have a lot of extra time since these options are super efficient (when used correctly). So what do you do with that extra time? You take one-off classes or join clubs that let's the student engage.

Here are some wonderful examples of credit high school classes you can find a various cooperatives or online that will engage any student and motivate their other school work!

American Girls - Blog Post for American Girls

Ancient Science - 40 Time-Traveling, World-Exploring, History-Making Activities for Kids

Art Journalism - Great for Taking Class Notes

Backyard Ballistics - Backyard Ballistics Project Book (Physics Fun!)

Basket Weaving (Yes, literally)

Beginning Beading (Jewelry Making)

Bibliovores - Blog Post for Bibliovores (For kids who devour books)

Blood and Guts - Blood and Guts, Homeschool Share Body Lapbook

Camping Adventure - Blog Post for Camping Adventure

Candymaking - Sample Syllabus for Candymaking

Careers with Animals - Volunteer with zookeeper, pet store owner, veterinarian, animal shelter worker, animal trainers, groomers, conservation officer, kennel attendant, etc.

Caring Quilts - Blog Post for Caring Quilts

Chess (leagues both online and around town)

Choir - Sample Syllabus for Choir

Collage Art - Sample Syllabus

Computer Coding - Just one option, there are many!

Cook with Books - Blog Post for Cook with Books

Cooking Around the World - Blog Post for Cooking Around the World

Cooking for the Family - Sample Syllabus

Creative Cupcakes - Blog Post for Creative Cupcakes

Creative Writing - Blog Posts for Creative Writing

Crochet - All Craft Channel

Dare to Draw - Blog Post for Dare to Draw