How can a 9th grader be motivated to excell in school?

Answer 1

Think to yourself: The harder I work in the next few years of my life, then the better job I will have when I am older, and the more money I will earn, enabling me to have a better life later on. Compare pictures in your mind, one of you as a tramp on the streets, and one of you with a loving family, nice car, nice house, and no money stress. Simple :-)

Answer 2

Motivation is something that the child has to want, it isn't something you can give them although that is what most parents would love to do.

So first of all, you are probably asking yourself "why". Why isn't he doing better? (you know he's smart) Why doesn't he care? (he's probably a typical teen-aged boy) Why am I so frustrated? (you can see 'outside the box')

He needs you, for sure. But he doesn't realize it that you want his best interests and you are able to see what harm can be done by not accomplishing his studies properly. Take him for a ride in a crappy neighborhood and say "no education", then take him for a ride in a nice neighborhood and say "educated". Show him beat-up old junker cars vs. newer vehicles and say the same.

Oh, and see what "pack of wolves" he's running with. Are they motivated or are they slackers? That's a big deal. Do they use drugs? Check it out. His friends will steer him down this crucial road in life so this is important. If you feel that he's not living up to his potential then restrict his passions. If he can't do what he loves without compromising his grades, then he has to figure it out on his own. That's the key. He has to figure it out on his own.

Some Specific Things You Can Do:

• Have a set time for study in your home - treat this like a job, and make your child accountable for spending this time on schoolwork whether they want to or not. If they claim they have no homework, just say "That's good, then you can read your textbook and write me an outline of the next chapter!" So long as they are doing something related to school, they'll pick something up.
• Have a good place for your child to study - in a room full of computer games, Video Games, TV, movies, a phone with text messaging, IMs and chat rooms, loud music, and anything else they might desire is NOT a good place to study. Most parents use the kitchen table for a good reason! The study area should be quiet - scientific evidence does show that soft non-vocal music playing in the background helps them to "tune out" distracting noises, so playing Classical Music softly is OK - and free of distractions. Make sure they have all the materials they need before they start work, so they can't take up time hunting for pencils, paper, calculator, whatever.
• Reward a job well done! As the above writer noted, motivation depends on what the child wants. An even better fact is that motivation depends on a feeling of deprivation - if there is something your child wants, use that as a way to get them to study (put a certain amount of money in a special jar for every hour studied or every good grade and use the money to buy that special thing, negotiate that they may spend one hour playing that special video game for every one hour they spend studying, or whatever else you can come up with). I know this seems like bribery - but look at your next paycheck - bribery works!
• Encourage without nagging. There is a difference between nagging your child to work and flipping that around and praising them for doing the work. Catch your child doing something good and say something like "I am impressed with how hard you worked on that homework. I know it was a tough assignment," or "I feel so proud that you passed that test. I know you wanted a higher grade, and I want you to know that I am proud of you anyway." Everybody wants praise! Find excuses to praise good study habits.
• Praise the effort, not the brain - I do need to point out that you want to make a difference between the effort the child has done and the intelligence of the child! Don't say things like "you are smart," or "you are so dumb." Instead, say things like "that homework looks sloppy - you need to do it over again more neatly," or "that homework took a lot of hard work and it looks very professional."

Minority Opinion: One's personality is formed by the time s/he enters school. S/he will be self-motivated or not by then.

Answer 3

It is extremely important that you try 110% in ninth grade and give your overall. Do not slack off because you think you still have four more years of high school because your freshman year can be just as crucial. Your ninth grade year is were all of your high school scheduling will come off of. If you do poorly in ninth grade you will have a slim chance to be able to obtain any harder classes, including honors and AP courses. It is necessary that you take this classes in order to increase your chances of getting into your college of choice. Most students in ninth grade have no thoughts about college but preparing yourself now will benefit you for the future. Also, if you have no idea on what your doing in school now, you will become even more confused later. Most things you learn in school builds off of each other so if you don't study one thing you will not be able to comprehend anything above that level.

Answer 4

uh, by studying