Teen boys come to class tired

Posted by doccharlie @doccharlie, Apr 10 4:16am

I volunteer at a GED program in St. Augustine. The teen boys (not girls) aged 16-19 usually come to class at 8AM looking like they just got out of bed. It takes the teacher a significant amount of time to get them to focus on completing sample GED test questions. Girls the same age come ready to work. My grandson, who is in this demographic, behaves similarly. These teens are past puberty and have dropped out of HS for different reasons. Suggestions on how to get them to focus.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the About Kids & Teens Support Group.

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Apr 10 8:06am

Hello @doccharlie, It's great hearing you are volunteering your time at a GED program to help teenagers who have dropped out of high school. I did a little research and thought you might find the following articles helpful while you wait for other members to respond.

-- Understanding the Teenage Brain: 10 Tips to Help Your Teen Stay Focused in School
https://simipsychologicalgroup.com/understanding-the-teenage-brain/
-- Tips for helping children deal with stress
https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/mental-health/tips-for-helping-children-deal-with-stress-2/
-- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Back-to-school mental health tips
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-back-to-school-mental-health-tips/

slarson14 | @slarson14 | Apr 15 7:51am

Take away the online and late night gaming devices?

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Apr 15 8:59am

In reply to @slarson14 "Take away the online and late night gaming devices?" + (show)

@slarson14 This is beyond the capability of @doccharlie, he is a volunteer in the GED program, not a parent.

@doccharlie - You mentioned that the boys and girls behave very differently, and that is typical in post-pubescent kids. I pondered how to respond for several days. Here is my observation, as both a parent and the "sounding board" for my daughter who is a high school nurse facing similar behaviors in her kids.

Keep in mind that many times, girls in difficult home settings are already de facto caretakers of younger siblings and even parents. This may happen with boys, but more rarely. So they come to you with different mindsets.

Girls may be more motivated because they see a more immediate need for the certificate - it is the ticket to be able to get their CNA or other training that will lead to a stable job and adulthood. It would be interesting to know how many are young Moms.

Boys - meh - many are content to continue their adolescence, however turbulent it might be, letting someone else take care of them for a while longer. It would be interesting to know how many of them have been "forced" into the program, either by parental figures saying "go there or get out" or by the court system.

Just something to ponder.