The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn How to Learn Better
This is essential reading for both parents and youth pastors trying to understand why some teenagers seem to struggle or check out.
The authors identify four key learning modes that help explain teenage behaviour: Resisters who struggle silently with feelings of inadequacy and communicate through ignoring responsibilities or acting out; Passengers who coast along doing the bare minimum and need help connecting their learning to real life; Achievers who get high grades but tie their self-worth to performance, putting them at risk for anxiety and burnout; and Explorers who are driven by genuine curiosity rather than external pressure.
Understanding which mode a young person is in can transform how you communicate with them, support their emotional regulation, and help ignite their internal motivation. The book offers counterintuitive yet practical strategies that work both in youth ministry settings and at home.