"Could Do Better"

I know my son is bright. . . . why doesn't he care about school? Why is he so lazy and unmotivated? My daughter is . . . so unmotivated. How can I make her want to do better? In this lifesaving, groundbreaking book, Drs. Mandel and Marcus, clinical psychologists with more than 25 years' experience working with underachievers, show that these children are, in fact, highly motivated—in directions other than schoolwork. The key to helping underachievers reach their full potential lies in discovering their real motivation and redirecting it. But first, say the authors, you must abandon conventional wisdom; underachievers are not all alike. "Could Do Better" identifies six major underachieving personalities and includes step-by-step programs tailored to help each. Learn how to recognize which kind of underachiever your child is—the procrastinating Coaster, the distracted Identity-Searcher, the manipulative Wheeler-Dealer are just a few of the most recognizable personalities—and discover what's really going on inside his or her mind. The information is revealing, the expectations realistic. Useful parent checklists are included in each section, along with practical guidelines for when you can hope to see change, and illuminating profiles of the six personalities as adults should the underachieving continue unchecked. "Could Do Better" also addresses the specific underachievement problems of gifted and learning disabled children. A breakthrough approach to helping children realize their full potential, "Could Do Better" speaks urgently to the millions of parents deeply concerned about how to prepare their child for a competitive, achievement-oriented world, as well as to everyone who works with underachievers. IS ONE OF THESE UNDERACHIEVERS YOUR CHILD? COASTERS: the ultimate procrastinators, usually described as easy-going and unmotivated, the most common type of underachiever ANXIOUS UNDERACHIEVERS: want to do better but are too tense and uptight to work effectively IDENTITY-SEARCHERS: so wrapped up in figuring out who they are that they become distracted from schoolwork WHEELER-DEALERS: impulsive and manipulative, so intent on instant gratification that they see no point in doing well in school SAD UNDERACHIEVERS: their depressed mood and low self-esteem rob them of the energy they need for schoolwork DEFIANT UNDERACHIEVERS: underachieve as an act of rebellion Help redirect your child's motivation. "Could Do Better" offers a revolutionary new approach conceived by leading authorities in the field. Their step-by-step techniques show you how to put your child back on the achievement track. PRAISE FOR THE AUTHORS' PREVIOUS BOOK "Thought-provoking, practical information." —Marianne M. O'Hare, Drew University "Particularly excellent and detailed remediation procedures.... Mandel and Marcus are to be applauded." —Dr. Jane H. Hamacher — in The Ontario Psychologist

Acknowledgements ix Introduction: The Underachievement Myth 1 Chapter 1: How Do I Know If My Child Is Underachieving? 6 Chapter 2: The Coasting Underachiever 24 Chapter 3: The Anxious Underachiever 85 Chapter 4: The Indentity-Search Underachiever 117 Chapter 5: The Wheeler-Dealer Underachiever 148 Chapter 6: The Sad or Depressed Underachiever 187 Chapter 7: The Defiant Underachiever 221 Chapter 8: Loose Ends and Your Underachieving Child 256 Chapter 9: The '90s and Beyond: Transcending Underachievement 274 References 282 Resources for Professionals 284 Index 286