As soon as my son (13) entered middle school, it seems like he’s lost a lot of steam with learning. He keeps asking “When am I going to actually use this?” Especially about math (he wants to be a professional athlete.) How can I answer this question and get my son back on track for next year?
Jessica, Kansas City, MO
Hi, Jessica!
Ah, the good old “When am I going to use this?” question. We find that students often ask this question not necessarily because they have a burning desire to understand the practical uses of a class’s subject matter, but sometimes because they want to justify the idea of pursuing other interests and letting the subjects they struggle with slide. If your son wants to be a professional athlete, however, he should take into consideration that he has to keep up with his grades in order to participate–especially in high school, which he’ll be entering soon. For situations like this, we recommend small group settings where he can receive the attention he needs and get questions like “when am I going to use this?” answered once and for all. If he’s really neglecting his studies, it may be time for a one-on-one tutorial approach to help redirect his attention and figure out the best way to help him succeed in math (and, by extension, participate in sports.)
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