My ds13 is in 8th grade. He has ADHD and dysgraphia. He's failing social studies (which should be an easy class) because he hasn't been turning in his homework regularly. At this point, I think his teacher thinks he's a slacker, and I'm enabling him. He doesn't regularly turn in his homework in other classes either. For the most part, he actually does his homework, though. Sometimes he starts it and forgets he hasn't finished it, and sometimes he forgets he has to do it.
I've been micromanaging him to make sure his homework is done and turned in to the best of my ability. I make sure he does it, puts it in his "turn in" pocket in his binder, and ask if he's turned it in. I can't actually go in and turn it in for him, but I have driven him back to school to turn it in.
He's been sick a few times this school year, but it's hard to know how sick. If his stomach hurts or he has a cough, he plays it up, moaning and groaning or coughing continuously. It's hard to know just how much is sick and how much is real symptoms. He's missing more school than I think he should, but the school nurse says he can't stay in school with a loud cough (he does have asthma, and the cough is an issue sometimes). He never seems to be as sick on non-school days, but the doctor says his airways have been somewhat inflamed. Ds denies he's enhancing his symptoms.
He is not terribly enthusiastic about school. He is impressed with himself about some of the classes he takes (he's advanced a year or 2 in math and science, and he takes honors classes where they're available. He enjoys learning and talks about things he's learned, but he'd much rather play video games than go to school. He doesn't like to be challenged too much; really, he wants to KNOW everything, but he doesn't want to LEARN anything.
So... next year, he'd like to apply for some accelerated programs in high school. Our school district has many. He certainly has the ability to learn the material, but I'm not sure he has the maturity to handle regular high school, much less an accelerated program. Should I allow him to apply anyway? How can I help him mature?
