My personal opinion: A tutor doesn't make sense as a motivational tool. Yes, if this is a subject SS is trying hard in but just doesn't "get," a tutor is in order. If a tutor is to take the place of SS trying his best, then no. I fight this same thing with BD10. She doesn't like math and so doesn't try very hard. DH's solution was to get her a tutor. I told him no, the solution is for BD10 to try harder. She is slowly doing that, it's a struggle, but I'm not throwing money at a motivation problem.

Are there private schools in your area? I know in our area the private schools usually have a required amount of community service to graduate, we were able to get a high school student to tutor SD at the library once a week and just signed the students form for her service hours... might be worth looking into. Also, might be worth asking the teacher, sometimes they have free tutoring through the school/city.

A tutor for art????

I agree^^^ until a kid is actually trying a tutor is a waste of money.

Ask he school if there is a program to help him along. My ss12 fail three classes first semester and he is now enrolled in a free program after school. He stays an hour late three days a week and they go over that weeks lesson in each class he's failing in order to help him keep up with the rest of the class.

Bet the art thing is because he's not doing/turning in assignments or not engaging in projects in class. Surely his teacher wouldn't grade on actual talent. So if his assignment is to paint his rendition of the Sistine Chapel and he did it in all stick figures, that should be ok if he followed directions and got the thing turned in.

Bet the issue isn't actually the art part of art class. What does SS say about it? Oh wait, let me guess, the teacher doesn't LIKE him and isn't FAIR.

SS13 is failing Art also. He doesn't like the class part of art, he thinks he can just do his art assignments without having to pay attention and listen to the teacher. He does not follow directions and says that it is boring. He is a decent drawer, but that doesn't make an artist. He needs to learn about composition, shading, colors, etc.

Art Class -- Turning in half completed or obviously lazy projects (Told to draw a house in art using 2 point perspective. Instead just wings it) or not turning in assignments at all. He's 11 right? That's what... 6th grade? He should still be doing fairly simple projects. So I'd put my money on incomplete or missing assignments.

Tutor -- from my experience (from tutoring my SIL13) tutors can't do anything parents can't do. Find out what the issue is that he's bringing home poor grades.

I have a daily after school tutor for SS. She comes for one hour a day $12/hr. WORTH EVERY PENNY!! She does his homework with him and saves my life in the process. Maybe if you could find something like that but 2-3 days a week you might be able to swing it? Sorry not trying to get all up in your financials!!

Found her on Care.com- there is a tutor section.

Alternative Suggestions

Call a local senior center. Some have retired teachers that will tutor for free or at a very nominal cost.

Call a local college. Some have peer tutoring programs for a nominal cost that is usually far less than a formal tutoring schools fees.

My reaction would be the kid having an immediate restriction from anything electronic until his grades across the board not only rose to an 85% but consistantly stayed there for a period of not less than 2 weeks. If it plugs in or uses any form of battery: not allowed to use it.
This works for my boys. Everytime.

If he is a smart ass like my kids I highly suggest having a wind up alarm clock on hand for when he tries saying then he can't get up for school on his own because his alarm clock is electric.

"We're going to meet the teacher. I think our first visit will be the art teacher. I am not keen on hearing what is going on with SS in art class but I suspect he is fooling around"

Any other poster would have been flamed for over-stepping and attending a skid conference. This kid's BDad is in the picture. Maybe because Draco is a step DAD and not a step MOM? Ugh.

I hated art. I think it has something to do with my ADHD but I hated and still hate spending time and focus and energy on Art. Still, I always managed to at least keep a c or above. If you do the work, you're not getting bad grades because you suck at art. This is a case of him not turning work in.

Wait until after the conference with art teacher before making a decision.

For someone to get a 41% in art, IMO I'd think it's a matter of the kid hates art aka finds it a stupid bother of his time. I'd think the kid shows absolutely no effort and at times either does not do assignments and/or does them so lazily 1/2ass , perhaps even turning what he does do in late (which usually drops the grade of project with each day late).

Ask the teacher to see examples of what kid has turned in and to give a brief explanation as to what the task in the assignment was. With my daughter's art class I can see online exactly what she has been assigned to do, I can see how many points it was worth and what she actually received for the project (not to mention that if project was a homework task, I can readily see how she's coming along with it). She likes art (I myself always hated art class) and she does well. It interest her and she enjoys being creative. With my youngest son, art class was a boring mandated necessity and he scrapped by with a 'C', not because he couldn't do better but because he only did enough to pass what he declared 'a waste of my time'.

If that is the case with your SS, you need to find what can and will motivate him to realize even if he hates it he has to do it and put some effort in it. A tutor can teach a kid 'how', but he/she won't be worth your time and money (for any subject) if the kid has the attitude it's a worthless subject not worth his efforts. Your SS has improved and tried harder on his other subjects now DW needs to motivate his buns on this one. Whether that key is in loss of extra activities or tv/game time or whatever works.

Personally, I'd think twice about marital arts lessons as IMO it helps the kid learn self discipline and concentration but that's my 2 cents. Surely there is something else to 'take away'.

Did you stop to think that maybe SS13 doesn't like art? Finds it boring or stupid? Isn't interested in it??

Or are you continuing to assume he should be exactly like you??

You are so focused on changing this kid into some sort of mini-me, that you're not giving him any opportunities to discover and explore the things that interest him and/or excite him.