Empowering Underachievers

by Spevak, Peter A.

• ISBN13: 9780882821955
• ISBN10: 0882821954
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-09-06
• Publisher: New Horizon Press

Summary

Kids who are failing at school share three traits: no persistence to completion, lack of independent functioning and the inability to work within time limits. Parents and teachers often try tutoring, force or logic to try to get these underachievers to perform at a higher level. Most of the time they fail.

Now, noted psychologist Dr. Peter A. Spevak, whose ideas have been touted in over 300 television programs and newspapers, reveals his dynamic method that has helped motivate 2000 failing students to perform at or near their full potential.

Author Biography

Peter A. Spevak, Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Center for Applied Motivation near Washington, D.C. Maryann Karinch has spent over twenty-five years writing about medicine, technology and fitness and has served as a communications consultant to physicians

Table of Contents

Illustrations	ix
Author's Note	xi
Preface	xiii
Acknowledgements	xv
Part I: Understanding the Problem	1	(89)
Who Are Underachievers?	3	(13)
The Four Types of Underachievers	16	(17)
Attention Deficit and Other Disorders	33	(7)
What Influences Motivation?	40	(15)
Why It Is Important to Motivate Underachievers	55	(8)
The Motivational Circle	63	(8)
Good and Bad Emotions	71	(14)
Intellectual Versus Emotional Development	85	(5)
Part II: Solving the Problem	90	(116)
Approaches to Motivation---What to Avoid	92	(7)
General Interventions	99	(17)
General Interventions: Rules with Value	116	(11)
Summer and Holiday Interventions	127	(7)
How to Motivate a Distant Underachiever	134	(7)
How to Motivate a Passive Underachiever	141	(6)
How to Motivate a Dependent Underachiever	147	(7)
How to Motivate a Defiant Underachiever	154	(9)
Maintenance and Prevention	163	(25)
Staying Fit for Intervention	188	(5)
Teacher/Parent Cooperation	193	(8)
Intervention When You Aren't Around	201	(5)
Conclusion	206	(3)
Appendix A	209	(2)
Appendix B	211	(4)
Appendix C	215	(9)
Appendix D	224	(2)
Appendix E	226	(2)
Appendix F	228	(2)
Index	230	(3)
About the Authors	233