4 Ways to Inspire an Underachiever
If you have an underachiever, you often hear the lament "I'm dumb" or "It's just too hard" from your perfectly capable kid. It often starts around fourth or fifth grade, when the workload intensifies. To get your stubborn student moving:

• Boost his confidence. At this age, kids begin to compare themselves to others, and may find themselves wanting. Put self-criticism into perspective by reminding him of his strengths: Okay, so he's not in the top math group, but very few write as well as he does. Be careful not to make comparison to older siblings. Instead of zeroing in on what he did wrong or forgot, focus on how much he's improved.

• Challenge "horribilizing." Teach her to dispute pessimistic thoughts ("I messed up the test …I'm never going to do well…I'm stupid") with accurate, specific information, to put disappointments into perspective. You might say: "Okay, so you didn't do well on that test, but you gave it your best shot. Let's talk to the teacher and see where you need to improve. Then you'll be better prepared for next time."

• Be a cheerleader. Remind him that good things don't just happen. He got an A on last month's math test — not because he was lucky, but because he worked hard and deserved it. Instead of saying, "Cut the complaining and get to work," try, "Sure, this is hard, but you've done work this hard before. Let's look at the problem again. Maybe we can break it down into simpler pieces."

• Ask about what she's learning. Show interest in the work she brings home. If she sees that you think it's important, she'll think so, too. Listen completely to her answer without arguing or judging. When you do, you build confidence, nurture self-esteem and teach her to think. What's more, if you give her time to express her thoughts at home, she'll be more confident doing so in class.

8 Ways to Motivate Your Child to Succeed in Schools
Your child is naturally curious and eager to learn. By making school and homework as pressure-free as possible, you can help protect him from stress and boost his academic achievement.

• Show enthusiasm for your child's interests and encourage her to explore subjects that fascinate her. If she's a horse nut, offer her stories about riding or challenge her to find five facts about horses in the encyclopedia.

• Ask about what he's learning, not his grades or test scores. Ask him to teach you what he learned in school today.

• Help her organize school papers and assignments so she feels in control of her work

• Build his sense of responsibility by allowing him to choose extracurricular activities, assigning him chores, and asking his input on family decisions.

• Ensure that she has plenty of time for unstructured play.

• Celebrate his achievements, no matter how small. Completing a book report calls for a special treat or finishing a book allows him an hour of TV.

• Focus on his strengths, encouraging him to develop his talents. Even if he didn't ace his math test, he may have written a good poem in English class or improved his spelling score. Besides offering him a math workbook or computer program for practice, give him a writing journal.

• Check in with your child regularly to make sure she's not feeling overloaded. If she is, help her prioritize her work.