“Amoebas take in

food through a process known as ‘active transport.’”

Suddenly, your teen is lost. “What does active transport mean? Sounds like a truck,” he thinks. The next thing he knows, he’s thinking about 18-wheelers and has forgotten about the amoeba.

Teach him how to tell his brain to “stay tuned.” For example, if a teacher uses a word or phrase your teen doesn’t understand, have him write it down. Then draw a circle around it and keep taking notes.

After class, have him look back through his notes. Then he can write down why he doesn’t understand it. He might write, “I don’t know what active transport is, but I do know that it’s how amoebas take in food.”

The key is to help your teen find ways to remain engaged in the subject and keep his mind from wandering.

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