It's the first week of December and the good news is that there is still time to influence a classroom grade.  Interestingly, I also find this is the time of year that many students kind of 'check out.'  I was just speaking to a student this week and although she was saying all the right things, I found myself asking, 'Have you actually accepted failing this class?'  After an extended pause, she said 'Maybe.'  Be cautious of not just listening to the words your teen uses, but to the emotion behind the words.  Often a child has learned the right things to say just to get mom off her back, but the reality is it takes only a small push to get your child to speak the truth.