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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP - for what it is worth, some kids do better with the discipline that a sport provides.

I would also stop looking at results and stop looking at process.  The real issue you face is missed work. That has to stop.  I would take away a lot of autonomy. Make basketball tryouts contingent on working with you to keep a perfect agenda of up and coming assignments.  You can use google docs, a pad of paper, myhomeworkapp.com or whatever works.  Then you work with

The schools demand a ridiculous amount of skill to handle all the assignments coming at kids in seven different ways (paper, blackboard, google calendar, google classroom, and probably something else as well), through three different logins (blackboard, the school district, google classroom, and maybe something else), at random times (test reviews posted on the weekend??), on paper (handouts?), or yelled to the kids as they walk out the door.  At least for my kid (who has a good work ethic), it is just too much.  When left unassisted, he loses track and eventually falls into an abyss. With assistance, he stays on track, does his work unaided, and is a pleasure to live with.  [/quote]

Interesting. New to FCPS, it was months before we knew there was information posted on 24/7 system that was crucial to studying. Our HS DS (bright/ good student) didn't know about any of it and teachers exasperated with apparent indifference from bright kid. Clearly he needs some organizational work, but not sure best way to support integration of, as you say, info coming from 10 directions. Trying not to be held parents and having kid figure it out, but there's too much missing work that kid would have done, if he was able to keep track of assignments. Not blaming school. Trying to support kid. Yep. Electronics banned school evenings now.[/quote]

I agree with the PP--I think it is a mistake to take away sports. Exercise is just as important for the body as education is for the mind. Plus, there are so many lessons that can be learned through participation in a sport--the way hard work can pay off, teamwork, discipline, timeliness, etc.

The process is the problem here. Your kid has proved that right now he cannot manage his schoolwork on his own. That means he needs assistance with the process. Every night, have him check homework on blackboard and make a list of the assignments. Every night, have him sit down in a quiet but public place (so you can keep an eye on him) so he can complete his assignments. Every night, check to see that his work is completed. Once a week or so, have him check his grades on line so he (and you) can check that work was indeed received and graded by his teachers.

I won't lie, this is a huge PITA and it's where a lot of parents (IMO) throw in the towel. But this is what is needed. After a while, this becomes routine for your kid, which is what you want for him going forward. This kind of executive planning/project & process management is a life skill that will serve him well for the rest of his educational career and into his working life.

Let him play basketball, but tell him that taking on an extracurricular will require MORE attention to schedule/planning, not less, so you will need to help him manage his time and schoolwork until he shows that he can manage on his own. Make basketball contingent not on his grades but on a reasonable level of cooperation with your micromanaging him for a while until he shows that he can manage himself.[/quote]

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