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Original poster

How can I get him to care about his schoolwork/revision

30 replies

IsabellaofFrance · 02/01/2016 19:18

DS1 is driving me to drink.

He has a German written exam and 4 mock exams starting next week.

The German written exam is a gift - 15% of his GCSE mark for what is basically a memory exercise. I have, through blood, sweat and tears managed to get him to almost learn it by heart. However he has done little if any revision for the other subjects, and despite my best efforts seems not bothered by the whole thing.

He is a capable student who can excel and get A's and B's in subjects, but he has the mindset that a C is good enough so why should he try harder.

He wants to go to Uni to study History, and has ambitions to be a teacher. I have tried explaining that he has the wrong attitude to be a good teacher, but even that hasnt changed his thinking.

Help!

OP posts:
Original poster
IsabellaofFrance · 02/01/2016 19:49

He will do well in History and Maths, those are his favourite subjects and he works very hard in them.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 02/01/2016 19:42

What is a C good enough for? It probably won't be good enough to take A-level history or the other subjects he will need to get a decent university offer. You could start that way by looking at entry requirements for college and good unis, make him see the sense of doing well.

The other options are bribery for good grades (usually frowned upon but can be effective as a short term incentive) or punishment for slacking (withdrawal of Xbox etc if results/reports are poor). Contacting teachers and asking to be informed if DS is not putting the work in is a good idea.

You know your DS and what's likely to work.

Original poster
IsabellaofFrance · 02/01/2016 19:33

Yes - I have contacted DS's HOY after becoming frustrated with him, and that has helped bring his teachers on board.

DS will be doing 2 GCSE's this year - German and RE. He is only in year 10 so I am hoping it isnt too late.

My Mum suggests I 'let him get on with it' which is what she did with me, but I was very different to DS, I worked hard and wanted to get good marks. He just doesn't care.

OP posts:
Ragwort · 02/01/2016 19:22

No idea - my DS is exactly the same (also talks about becoming a teacher!).

Hopefully someone might have some ideas ............. we did go in to school and discuss this with our DS's tutor which I think embarrassed him, but I still don't know if that's enough to make him put a bit of effort into his school work.

hadtoregregister · 02/01/2016 19:20

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