Help for Underachieving Students

My son is an underachiever. I have a friend with a son who is having similar difficulties. She has tried hiring a personal coach, tutoring and many other means to track his assignments and skills. Nothing is working. Where does a parent go to get help for an underachiever? - Underachieving
Answer: You begin by having the school test him to pinpoint any problem areas that might be making it difficult for him to learn. Any skill deficits need to be worked on.
Some school guidance counselors can be very helpful in developing plans to help underachievers. It's certainly worth talking to your son's counselor.
To get a good handle on the problem of underachievement and to learn how to get children on the road to achievement, we recommend reading one of these books: "Bright Minds, Poor Grades," by Michael D. Whitley; "The Unmotivated Child," by Natalie Rathvon; and "Up From Underachievement," by Diane Heacox. All have descriptions of different types of underachievers. They also have guidelines for overcoming the problems of underachievement.