Underachievement: Reversing the Process A Parents Guide for Assisting Your Underachiever to Success [Paperback]

John H. Samson, M.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1991

Have you ever thought your child was not doing as well in school as he or she could? You are not alone. One out of every four students functions a year and a half or more below grade level, and the numbers are rising. In UNDERACHIEVEMENT: REVERSING THE PROCESS the authors share the 10-step process they have used successfully with hundreds of families to release the power of success in underachievers. Discover how to:

Recognize signs of underachievement

Get the help your child or adolescent needs

Evaluate the effectiveness of that help Effectively parent the underachieving child and adolescent

Editorial Reviews

Review

In a compassionate and understanding way, this book verbalizes the dilemma of parents of underachievers while providing encouragement, support, and tools to address the problem. -- Nancy M. Levin, Parent, Seal Beach, California

This clearly written book is an outstanding guide for parents with an underachieving student. The authors provide answers to problems with school achievement and suggest appropriate goals for the future. -- Karyl Ann Armbruster, M.A., Resource Specialist, Fountain Valley, California

This comprehensive, highly readable book is a valuable resource not only for parents but also for physicians, educators, mental health professionals, and child development specialists. -- Virginia Sponsler, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., Child, adult and family therapist, Portland, Oregon

UNDERACHIEVEMENT: REVERSING THE PROCESS offers many specific, reasonable suggestions for parents and teachers. Most appealingly, the tone is warm, supportive, and calm throughout. -- Kay Kaplan, Language Skills Specialist, Portland, Oregon

About the Author

Carolyn Warnemuende, M.S., writes, facilitates seminars and workshops in communication skills and parenting, and has a private counseling practice. For 11 years, she taught mentally retarded, emotionally disturbed and learning disabled students from the primary grades through the community college level. She helped develop and taught in the special education aide certification program at Long Beach City College and held an assistant professorship in the Educational Psychology Department at California State University Long Beach. Carolyn lives with her husband and two daughters in Redding, California.

John H. Samson, M.D., a pediatrician since 1965, practices in Long Beach, California. He is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at USC School of Medicine and UCI School of Medicine. He serves as an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and Memorial Miller Children's Hospital of Long Beach. He is the Editor-in-Chief for THE INFORMED PARENT, the Child Care Internet Magazine of the 21st Century. The father of 13 children, John lives with his wife and younger children in Long Beach.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 201 pages
• Publisher: Family Life Pubns (April 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962892513
• ISBN-13: 978-0962892516
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,563,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A medical model approach, not for the average parent., March 25, 1999

By 

Dr. Ched (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Underachievement: Reversing the Process A Parents Guide for Assisting Your Underachiever to Success (Paperback)

Based on the descriptions, other reviews and the jacket cover excerpt, I was expecting advice on how to help my kids do better in school. Instead, 10 out of 12 chapters discuss diagnosing mental, emotional and perceptual disorders. If you have not had your children assessed for these conditions and suspect they could be part of the reason for underachievement, then this book may be helpful. However, if you are looking for user-friendly techniques for motivating your "normal" kids to do better in school, skip this book. It doesn't meet that need. Try something like Victor Cogen: "Boosting the Adolescent Underachiever" (or other books you can find through amazon.com). If you know your are working with the "garden variety" behavioral issues that can drive parents a little nuts then keep looking for other resources. However, I did give this book to a friend whose 6th grader is struggling with low acheivement in spite of good study habits and cooperative behavior. But, for the purpose of getting adolescents to focus and expend extra effort on schoolwork, look elsewhere.

5.0 out of 5 stars A friendly voice, April 27, 2001

By 

Beverly Cleland (Flagstaff, Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Underachievement: Reversing the Process A Parents Guide for Assisting Your Underachiever to Success (Paperback)

A treasure of easily understood information and practical suggestions to help the child who is struggling and the people who love him. The authors validate the underachiever's bewildering world and his parents' frustration, while providing assurance and encouragement for both. As a teacher, I lend this book to parents who are beginning the overwhelming maze through the special education process, because it demonstrates how the parent-school team can work effectively. Just what the doctor ordered for the end of a hard day with your challenging child!

5.0 out of 5 stars A thorough and encouraging guide, our kids can succeed!, August 8, 2000

By 

Suzanne Peredo, MSW (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Underachievement: Reversing the Process A Parents Guide for Assisting Your Underachiever to Success (Paperback)

In an easy-to-understand manner, this book provides a medical, educational and psychological guide to helping the underachieving child. It is extremely parent friendly with interesting case studies and end of the chapter checklists. These checklists are so valuable I would recommend making copies of them and taking them with you to those professional appointments, as you seek help for your child! The authors state, "Our purpose is to give you information...so that you can support and guide him (your child) in releasing his power for success" This book truly meets the author's goal and will meet yours, too!