Failing pregnant teenager

[Helix]

I have one failure in one of my courses for my progress grades, and it is a very pregnant (8.5 months) teenager. I have tried to cut her slack by cushioning her grades a bit but her exam grades are brutally low and she is missing work. She is in a course that could be taken in alternate ways for credit, but she has poor attendance (addressed by the principal) and the counselor won't take her out of my class. What do I do? She needs her HS diploma, and once the baby arrives (she is already having false labor, students told me) she is going to have even less time to devote to education, let alone a frivolous course like mine!

Do I just keep pushing the issue? Do I call a conference with the counselor and parents? (She is evidently not living with her mother).

I am extremely concerned about her!

[Boxcar]

What do you know about this student’s situation? Does she have the support she needs? Has someone helped her prpare for the birth process and the life after it? Is she signed up for WIC or any other programs for which she qualifies?

These types of issues may be contributing to her academic problems.

At my high school, there was a large percentage of teen parents. A social worker would met with htem every week to offer help and support. It was intended to help them succeed. From what I saw, it did. Many of the girls returned and graduated. They were assisted in finding childcare, assistance programs, and other services. Does your school or community offer any thing like this?

What subject are you teaching? If you can restructure the material for this student, you may be able to help her.

For instance, a math or economics lesson might be having her make a budget for her and the baby. A language arts lesson might be letting her write a letter to the unborn baby to be read on a special occasion. A science lesson could be about how the baby is going to grow and develop or how the environment can affect a baby.

If you can, you might suggest she start a personal journal. It might really help her. There is also a support group online at iVillage for teen moms that she might like to join.

I think the most important thing is to talk to her. Let her e-mail you assignments if she can’t make class. Offer to be flexible. If she feels like you are working together, she may be more able to do what needs to be done.

[muinteoir]

Boxcar gives superb advice.

What support is in place for this student?

By all means get the parent(s) or guardian(s) and counselor involved.

[Helix]

To my knowledge, the student is impoverished. I don't know if it's her fashion sense or a money issue, but I have not seen her in a single maternity outfit. She wears clothes that don't fit and don't even cover her stomach.

This is anatomy I am teaching. Unfortunately, we won't be covering anything pregnancy related until nearly April! lol (People are making jokes that if she gives birth in my class, it's going to be my problem :) ) Other kids have already been removed from anatomy to take computer-based science courses because they were in danger of (1) failing my class and (2) not getting a degree. I think she fits both categories.

There IS some degree of social support available, and school support, but I've heard other teachers scoff that she won't be back to school once the baby is born, since she barely attended while she was pregnant.