what would motivate my child to learn?

Have you considered military school?

Seriously tho, what you need to do is identify exactly where the disconnect is occuring. Is he goofin off in class? Is he sleeping or otherwise being a space cadet in class? Talk with his teacher to help you narrow it down. Maybe class is moving too slowly for him and he's getting bored? Maybe it's moving too quickly for him and it puts him in a daze? Are you sure he's doing all of his homework?

If none of that works, do you know what he wants to be when he grows up? Can you take him to meet him some folks in that area?

In general for motivation, you have to find what works for that individual. I would stay away from too many rewards, but some kind of something for a job well-done isn't too horrible.

Maybe he needs some extra curricular activities to help him meet some people and to busy up his schedule so he has to stay on task?

LOL mom...he hasn't forgotten how, it's called selective learning basically - because he can get away with it. Every kid ends up in that slacking stage and it is up to you to pull him out of it -before it becomes a permanent condition.

First thing you need to do is talk to the teachers at school, see if it is a problem there too, or if it just a homebound condition. If it is happening at school too, then there could be a problem that needs to be addressed...a learning disability could be surfacing, maybe he needs glasses...find out what his teachers are seeing before starting a "reward" program.

I personally, don't agree with a "reward system" for something a child SHOULD be doing, but a lot of parents get into bribe mode...just because it is easier, but the problem with that is that it still leaves it up to the child.

Many parents these days don't even know what thier child is learning on a daily basis - they ask if a child has homework, but don't sit down with him/her to see what they have been given.

It could be he is overwhelmed. Some teachers load up on homework - so my second sugestion is to set up a certain time each night that becomes "homework time" no exceptions, and preferably earlier in the evening. It should be somewhere quiet, no distractions like TV...For at least an hour of the time you should be right there with him - that way you can also tell if it's just his boredome, if he is having difficulty comprehending....etc.

You have to find out the root cause of WHY he is having issues, before setting up a plan to get him to do better. If he is just plain old being lazy, a rewards system is not the way to go...

I told my son if he does good in school with good progress then he could get any game system that he wanted. And it worked he did very well in school. I don't know how they grade were you are but were I am from they don't give A's and B's they give other marks but you can tell him for what ever good marks he get he gets a certain amount of money for each one, that helped to. Or at the end of the school year if he does good then you can take him to a special place with a couple of his friend, or buy new games, a skate board, Rollerblades a new bike, or a scooter. Since he's only six a little gift would be good, but when he get older then a little money would be good. I just believe that if a child does well in school then they should be awarded to let them know how well they have done plus it gives them a incentive to work harder. Make up a contract with your son so , when school ends then he can have his choice of a award in your price range. I like the end of the school year award because if they really want it they will work for it and it gives you some time to put away a little so when the time come he can get it.

probably needs to learn a new a set of study skills because school is getting more challenging and he could be overwhelmed by all the things being throw at him right now. Get him a daily calendar and teach him how to manage his homework time (ie., 1/2 hour for math, 15 minutes social studies review. etc). Stay involved in his school work and try to pinpoint any areas that may need some extra help or review. Maybe the school or local library has a study hall or tutoring program? Check into that. Also make sure he is getting enough sleep, balanced meals and outdoor exrecise each day because bad health can make anyone sluggish and unfocused.

I work with a lot of children in that range. It usually seems worse from the parent's perspective. Usually, moms don't understand why preteen sons don't act like the little sponges they used to be. Time will change that, but there are some things that you need to consider for the time being. First, I'd guess he loves to learn about things he's interested in. Help him to find some stuff that relates to his interests but touches on the things he needs to be learning. Second, help him to develop his own goals for learning. If you set them, he won't have any reason to reach the goals. If he sets them, he'll be driven more. Third, there should be consequences for misusing time. Don't allow him to waist a whole day then you make up the homework or make excuses to the teach. Finally, relax a little. It's his problem, not yours. Guide him but don't be the captain of his learning ship.

I have a son in the 6th grade as well, unfortunately he started this behavior in the 5th grade. I tried everything I thought would help. My son is a skater, so for the summer, in order to get him to read I subscribed to skater magazine, so this way he is reading something he likes. I also found out that his teacher was berating him and a couple of other students because of thier set backs, and now that he has different teachers he like school just a little better. I even took a class about how to help ypur student succeed. I found that alot of what they expect in school is hard for a CHILD to complete. So work closely with him.

Take the X-box and Play Station and TV away from him. Replace it with his school books..... when the grades finally come up to your satisfaction, reward him with very limited time with the games. Or how about a sports program that requires satisfactory school performance for participation?? A conference with the school psychologist might be in order.... is he dealing with other issues? And, there are a number of private learning programs available that can supplement his schooling, and help to get him back on track.

find out HOW your child learns best such as visual, hands on, reading, listening and then try to help him along like that.

Cut off TV, video games, computer, etc.

Make time to read with him, watch educational shows with him and discuss them, quizz him on his vocabulary etc while you cook, make flashcards for him and quiz him.

Make sure nobody is teasing or bullying him, that can also have and effect on his studies.

Ask his teacher what she thinks of his grades, and ask her to let you know as soon as grades start dipping so that you can satch it and help him before he gets too far behind.

Look online for homeschooling resources, they have workbook pages, and explain math, etc in different ways so that maybe he'll understand with another explanation.

look into a tutor - either in school or private and at home

It's time consuming, I know, but it's important that they not feel inadequate in school as well as feeling socially awkward ( which they are at this time) good luck

The best thing to do is help him learn. Sit with him and encourage learning not only what he is taught in school. Find a way that relates the outside world or his interests to what he is doing in school. Make it fun! That's the best advice I have. Good Luck!

IMHO, learning centers (like Sylvan) don't work. My parents sent me to one and the only thing I got out of it was a guilty conscience for wasting my parents' money. The teachers there really didn't bother with me because they knew I was bright, just not applying myself, and that's not something you can teach in two hours, three times a week. The one thing that did work for me was my mother's reward system. At report card time, for every 'A' I got, I recieved $50. For every 'B' I got $20. I got no money for 'C's, and if I got a 'D' I owed her $50. If I got a single 'F' I got no money whatsoever and lost my allowance for a month. Trust me, when your sole source of money for the mall or the video game store is cut off, you'll remember to study for that test or finish your homework.