Determine the source that is causing a lack of motivation. Sit with the teenager and have him create a list of things that are bothering him the most. Talk about his list, and pick at least three things that will be changed or eliminated.
Draw three columns with three rows on a sheet of paper. Title each column with "stressor," "strategy," then "consequence." Under the first column, write down the three things that are predominantly affecting her.
Brainstorm possible strategies to improve the "stressors" with the teenager. Have him determine what he can do to change his mindset on the stressors that are affecting his lack of motivation. For example, if he feels that socializing with peers is more important than arriving to class on time, have him develop a simple point system that will motivate him to want to attend class. He can earn one point each time he arrives to class on time. When he earns a total of 5 points for the week, he is allowed to receive a reward such as early release on Friday to have time to socialize at the end of the day. The teenager should decide which rewards are appropriate so that he offers his own motivational strategy and feels a sense of ownership in his plan. The derived strategies are then documented under the "strategy" column.
Document the appropriate consequences for the teenager's failure to improve on the stressors under the third column. The consequences should be reasonable and easy to implement. Consequences can include withholding reinforcement or loss of privileges.
Plan to prevent future problems with motivation with the teenager. Invite her to schedule a time to talk about new stressors as they arise, and determine if the plan of action needs to be adjusted at that time. Encourage her individual strengths, and help her build on them by spending more time on developing them and promoting positive self-esteem.