We are struggling to get through Biology with my son, age 15. I know he hates to buckle down in science so I got him AOP Monarch Biology because of the various features it offers. Well, he got through unit 1 but we are butting heads daily to continue on. He says it's too hard. We are with a charter school so, even though they let me choose the curriculum, I must teach biology as it's a state requirement. They said, of course, if he won't use what I bought him, they will require him to use the textbook. If he thinks what he has is boring/hard/etc, wait till he sees that. Does anybody have a recommendation of a 'dummies' type book that gives a good overview of high school level biology that maybe I can use to simplify things? Anybody have ideas to get him through this challenging subject?
Well, not so much hand's on, but the AOP Biology has short vid's (30 sec) and a Tiny Tutor that will spout off some fact or explanation. It has a read aloud feature. Gosh! It's alot better than the textbook! I will look up some videos to supplement. Any other ideas on how to motivate a teen to get to work??
We struggle with motivation for my 12 year old. He has autism and sees a counselor. She let me know that many kids (autistic or not) struggle with internal motivation and you have to create external motivators. Your son sees no personal benefit from learning Biology, and therefore is not motivated. If you tie an external motivator to the course, it may help. Set up a reward system, or offer a worth-while reward for completing the course and an even bigger reward for getting an A or B in the course. With my son I give daily rewards (tickets) which he can turn in for iTunes money. It has helped a lot!
Ok great, I will think of something to tie completion of assignments to. After 12 years homeschooling you'd think I'd know a little about motivation. We went through the same struggle with my oldest daughter. With that one you have to argue with and talk, talk, talk about it and it will finally get through her head that she has no choice but to do the work. She is very strong willed. It doesn't much matter what you try to reward her with, if she doesn't want to do something, good luck changing her mind. My son is usually compliant and easy going. When he's upset about something, he shuts down and just digs his heels in, won't talk about it. That's where I am now about Biology. Thanks for the reminder!
Check your netflix and everything else for Deviant Arts Biology we used this as a supplement I used Order of Complexity Biology myself its awesome even though itw as a text book, we did a lab, ds read it and answered questions as the text had, we did quizes and he did really good. (well)
mom_2_3, I hear ya! Also, it seems like as soon as you find one thing that works, a week later it no longer works. I feel like I'm always saying, "Ok kids, new rules." LOL. I sometimes struggle with, "should I really be paying him for doing what he should be doing anyway?" but hey....it keeps both of us sane, so for now I pay.
There's always something they want. Money for a date, or entertainment, a game, music...something you know he'd really like. (doesn't have to be huge...just a little something) Make a treasure hunt. I know this sounds stupid with a teenager....but it'll get him moving, get him working outside the box. Look at the learning objectives for the chapter he's working on...and for each new clue, he has to know how to answer the question correctly (save the clue questions to use as flashcards). It breaks it up...makes it more approachable when he's feeling burned out. Do one clue for each learning objective. Once he answers all the learning objectives correctly, let him find his reward. Could also clump chapter summary questions five per clue. See if you can find any attractions at a Science museum or nature center that tie into what he's studying. Sometimes getting out of the house makes a difference. Also consider that it might be something else...some other stressor that's causing him to feel overwhelmed or disengaged. 15 is a tough age for anyone. Be sympathetic.
When mine was that age, I couldn't even pay him real money to get his lessons done...:roll::? :evil: But now he tells his son, "I wish I'd done my lessons better when grandma was teaching me. Pay attention to your lessons and get your work done!"
Lindina I have finally heard from my oldest that he was glad I home taught him He was the bear to get to do the work, but we worked around it with the encoruagement of freedom ahead- time to go play with friends, ride bike, etc, Now ds who I have still in school age is wanting game time so he knows home work gets done first then play.. still its a struggle it seems at times but just keep moving on with it! Watch the videos to help encourage the lessons that always gives a visual to the words they are reading. MY ds16 told me the other day that one thing he knows about is Biology, he injured a shoulder and can remember my teaching the parts of shoulder last year! USEABLE lessonS!
