Characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics

Characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics Addiction Alcohol Use Children of Alcoholics Print Characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on July 02, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 17, 2020 More in Addiction Alcohol Use Children of Alcoholics Binge Drinking Withdrawal and Relapse Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Many adults who grew up in families affected by the disease of alcoholism never really grow up in many ways. Sure, they grew up physically, but emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, many are still stuck back there in early childhood. They never learned a normal way of thinking, feeling, or reacting. As long as things are going smoothly, they are fine. However, when they experience conflict, controversy, or crises, they respond with less-than-adult-like reactions, therefore the term adult children. What Do We Mean by Adult Children? According to the Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization (WSO) website, the term adult children refers to adults who were raised in alcoholic homes, who exhibit identifiable traits that reveal past abuse or neglect.?? However, more than 30 years of research has revealed that the same character or personality traits that are common to children from alcoholic homes are also common in children who grew up in homes that were otherwise dysfunctional in some manner.?? The same characteristics have been found in adults who were raised in homes where there were other compulsive behaviors. The same presence of abuse, shame, and abandonment found in children of alcoholics are also found in children from homes where there was: gamblingovereatingbehavioral addictionschronic illnessstrict or legalistic religious practicessome foster or adoptive homesother dysfunctional systems Many adult children were raised in homes where alcohol and drugs were not present at all, but abuse, neglect, or unhealthy behavior was very much present. What Are the Common Characteristics of Adult Children? Over the years, those who have studied the adult child phenomenon have compiled a list of common characteristics which many people who grew up in dysfunctional homes seem to share. The following characteristics were developed in 1983 by Dr. Janet G. Woititz. Many children of alcoholics and other dysfunctional homes find that when they become adults they: guess at what normal ishave difficulty in following a project through from beginning to endlie when it would be just as easy to tell the truthjudge themselves without mercyhave difficulty having funtake themselves very seriouslyhave difficulty with intimate relationshipsoverreact to changes over which they have no controlconstantly seek approval and affirmationfeel that they are different from other peopleare either super responsible or super irresponsibleare extremely loyal, even in the face of evidence that loyalty is undeservedtend to lock themselves into a course of action without giving serious consideration to alternative behaviors or possible consequences. This impulsivity leads to confusion, self-loathing, and loss of control of their environment. As a result, they spend tremendous amounts of time cleaning up the mess. These characteristics are, of course, general in nature and do not apply to everyone. Some may apply and others not. And there are still other characteristics which are not on this list. The Other Laundry List Not all children of alcoholics are affected by the experience the same way. Although many live their lives victimized by the abuse and neglect of their parents, others have the opposite reaction and become victimizers. Research by the Adult Children of Alcoholics WSO has developed The Other Laundry List, which outlines characteristics of ACOA members who compensate for their childhood experiences by becoming aggressive and defensive. According to the WSOs other list of common behaviors, adult children can: become authority figures to frighten others and cause them to withdrawbecome rigidly self-sufficient, disdaining the approval of othersfrighten others with anger and belittling criticismdominate others and abandon them and isolateare attracted to people that can be manipulated and controlledbecome irresponsible and self-centered to cover shortcomingsmake others feel guilty when they assert themselvesinhibit fears by staying deadened and numbhate those who play victim and beg to be rescuedsuppress emotions by the dramatic expression of pseudo feelingsproject self-hate onto others and punish themquickly let go of relationships that become too closedeny being affected by family dysfunction or that there ever was dysfunction in the homeact as if they are nothing like the dependent people who raised them Do These Characteristics Sound Familiar? You may have known for a long time how growing up in an alcoholic or dysfunctional home has affected you, but chances are that you may not have been aware at all. Many adult children go through life struggling with the consequences of having been raised in an alcoholic home but do not realize why they were struggling. Many do not make the connection between how they were raised and the problems they experience in adulthood even though it has affected everything about them, including their attitudes, behavior, and choices. Dealing With the Consequences There are many adult children of alcoholics that do not become aware of how much they have been affected by the experience until a problem in their life becomes so overwhelming they seek help for that specific situation. One adult child tendency is to become alcoholics, marry one, or both. If that is the case, many adult children will end up experiencing serious problemsâ€"either with their own substance abuse or in their business or personal relationships. It is when they seek help for these problems that they can become aware of the influence that growing up in an alcoholic home has had on their decision-making ability, their interactions with others, and their very attitude toward life. Making a Decision to Seek Help The ACA website describes how many adult children finally become aware of how growing up affected their lives and why they decide to seek help: Our decisions and answers to life did not seem to work. Our lives had become unmanageable. We exhausted all the ways we thought we could become happy. We often lost our creativity, our flexibility, and our sense of humor. Continuing the same existence was no longer an option. Nevertheless, we found it almost impossible to abandon the thought of being able to fix ourselves. Exhausted, we held out hope that a new relationship, a new job, or a move would be the cure, but it never was. Awareness of the problem can be the first step in beginning to recover. Accepting or admitting that your life was deeply and profoundly affected by how or by whom you were raised, can mean that you are now free to address the real source of your problems rather than merely try to address the symptoms. What Is Next for Adult Children of Alcoholics? One of the first things you can do to address your adult child issues is to find a safe place where you can talk to someone about your situation. For many adult children, that can be with a counselor, therapist, or a trusted spiritual advisor. For others, it can mean joining a support group with others who have similar experiences, such as Adult Children of Alcoholics or Al-Anon Family Groups. Finding a Safe Place It is understandable that if you are one of the adult children who tend to isolate, that joining a support group might be the last thing you would ever consider doing. But, because you tend to isolate that is the very reason that a mutual support group would benefit you most. Many adult children discover that once they find that their support group is a safe place and they begin to come out of isolation their healing begins. After becoming a part of the group, many of them say, I should have done this years ago! Whether its with a support group or with a counselor who is trained to deal with adult-child issues, your emotional healing can begin as you move away from burying your feelings and cease isolating, by talking freely with someone who understands. Other Tools of Recovery There are other ways adult children of alcoholics have chosen to aid their recovery. Here are some of those suggested tools: Learn as much as you can about adult children of alcoholicsSet and enforce personal boundariesBegin writing a personal journalDiscard people, places, and things who are unhealthyWork a 12-step programHelp others with similar problems Developing a Healthy Lifestyle There is a reason that the 12 steps have been adapted and used to address all kinds of problems from alcoholism to overeating to gambling to other behavior addictions. The program can help you clean up the baggage from your past and help you lead a happier, more positive life in the future. Which 12-step program you join would depend on your own personal experience. The most popular and readily available include: Alcoholics AnonymousAl-Anon Family GroupsAdult Children of AlcoholicsNarcotics Anonymous To help you learn as much as you can about the adult-child phenomenon, there are several books available on the topic, including the New York Times bestseller by Dr. Janet Woititz. A Word From Verywell If you relate to the characteristics common to adult children listed above, it doesnt mean that you are a bad person, mentally ill, or hopelessly lost. As the ACA website suggests, it may help to look at your situation as having been infected by a disease as a child which still affects you as an adult. Regardless of where your path has taken you, there is hope. You can learn to make healthier choices, set safe limits and boundaries, increase your self-esteem, form healthy relationships, and find that you can actually play and have fun. Help is out thereâ€"all you have to do is seek it.

Learning French Where to Begin

One of the most frequent questions potential students of French ask is Where do I start? French is a vast language, and there are so many resources available that its easy to feel lost. So before you start studying anything about the French language, there are a couple of things you should know and some questions you need to ask yourself. There Are Two French Languages There are essentially two French languages: written French (or book French) and modern spoken French (or street French). Book French is what youd study in a school, where you follow typical grammar lessons and learn vocabulary. Learning Book French teaches you the structure of French, and you cannot master French without it.Modern spoken French uses all these rules, but with strong pronunciation variations and sometimes softer grammatical structures. For example, here is a typical grammatically correct French question:- Quand Camille va-t-elle nager ? The here is the same question in street French:- Camille va nager, quand-à §a ? Both mean When is Camille going swimming? But one is grammatically correct, and the second one is not. However, its likely even French language purists would use the street French way of saying this when they speak to their family and are not in the spotlight. Now, you need to decide why you want to learn French. What is your primary reason? The reason will allow you to clarify your search. Youll be able to focus and find what requirements you face in order to learn French, what information youll need  to learn French, what resources you can draw upon to help you learn French and much more. What is your reason for learning French? Do You Want to Learn French to Pass Tests? If this is your primary reason, the core of your studies should be in book French. Learn the grammar, all the topics most common in tests, check exactly what you should be studying to pass your test and focus on that program. You might want to go to a school that specializes in preparing you for French-certification exams such as the Diplà ´me dEtudes en Langue Franà §aise (DELF) or  the Diplà ´me  Approfondi de Langue Franà §aise (DALF). Both are official qualifications awarded by the French  Ministry of Education  to certify the competency of candidates from outside France in the French language. Anyone who passes one or both of these is awarded a certificate thats valid for life. Check with your teacher about the exact requirements for these or other exams. Do You Want to Learn French to Read It Only? If this is your goal, you need to concentrate on learning a lot of  vocabularies. Study verb tenses, too, since books use them all right away when other methods will usually ease you into them. Also study linking words, which are the essential connective tissue in French. Do You Want to Learn French to Communicate in French? Then you need to learn with audio files or other audio material. Written material cannot prepare you for the modern gliding youll hear when the French speakers and you wont understand them. And if you dont use these glidings yourself, native French speakers may not understand you. At the very least, youll stand out as a foreigner. This brings us to the final points. After youve decided what your goal is in learning French, youll have to figure out  what method best fits your needs and what your options are (studying French with a tutor/ a class / in immersion or self-studying). Online courses are very effective for the independent student and not so expensive. Look at sites with good views from verified reviewers and experts, a site that explains French grammar clearly to a native English speaker and one that offers  a 100% money back guarantee or   a free trial.  And finally, make sure you get level-appropriate learning tools that dont deflate your confidence because they are too difficult for your level. Follow up with free French learning tools that will help if  you want to self-study. Or you might decide you need the expertise of a French tutor or teacher via Skype,  in a physical classroom or in an immersion program.   Its completely up to you. Decide on whats best, then establish a plan of action for learning French.

The Effects Of Technology On Childhood Obesity - 983 Words

The effects technology has on childhood obesity Twenty five percent of children in the US are overweight and a shocking eleven percent of them are obese (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh and Merchant). Child hood obesity is a forerunner to one of the United States greatest public health crisis. The growth of technology has had a major impact on childhood obesity. Obesity is a widespread epidemic and is getting incredibly worse as technology increases. The use of technology relates directly with childhood obesity because it has been proven that technology has made children live more sedentary lifestyles versus active lifestyles. Also, television commercials influence children to increase their food intake as well as advertise foods extremely high in sugar and fat. Childhood obesity is mainly caused because of personal lifestyle choices and environmental factors, such as where the child is living. (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh and Merchant). In this paper I will address why technology has a direct cor relation with the soaring childhood obesity rate in our society. In the fast past sedentary lifestyles we live today make technology such an efficient way to get things done. Although technology has it perks and has made a remarkable contribution to our society, it is often overlooked that it is negatively affecting our health. For parents, it seems easiest to just give your child a phone or computer to play on to keep them occupied. What parents aren’t realizing by doing so is that that is aShow MoreRelatedWhy has Childhood Obesity Become a Paramount Problem in the United States?1609 Words   |  7 Pages According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, â€Å"Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years,† (â€Å"Childhood Obesity Facts†). The monumental question that researchers seem to be asking is why the increase now? 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To start with, the first and major reason causing children to beRead MoreChildhood Obesity : A Epidemic Of Today s Youth1108 Words   |  5 PagesChildhood Obesity Have you ever been told to clean your plate because there are starving kids in Africa? This is a phrase you probably heard from your mother during childhood. With the difference ,in portion control, on the go meals, and lack of exercise in today,s youth, this question can cause a child to be a statistic of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is one of the United States most leading medical epidemic of today’s youth. According to the Center for Disease Control, seventeen percentRead MoreVideo Mediums and Childhood Obesity971 Words   |  4 PagesVideo Mediums and Childhood Obesity Childhood Obesity has now reached a critical level. The main reason for the growing number of obese children is inactivity. 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Most weight loss is attributed to the compound effects of both diet and exercise, but once the pattern is ceased most actually regains the weight that was lost. It is also determined that extreme weight loss is actually harmful. This rapid loss in weight causes the body to increase stress hormones, releases organic pollutants, and increases one risk of osteoporosis due to excess consumption of calcium from the bonesRead MoreThe Effects Of Advertising On Childhood Obesity Essay1042 Words   |  5 Pagesgrowing technology, has moved on to things such as radio, television and the internet. In this day and age, advertisement techniques can be considered almost predatory in nature targeting people who are interested in new forms of technology, gaming, clothing and even food. It has become easier for a products influence to make its way into people s homes. Even though television advertisements can be incredibly powerful tools, they cannot be held entirely accountable for childhood obesity because

Lucozade Adverts Free Essays

Lucozade is a product which over the years has totally changed the target audience and its impact on the market. At the start of its production life it was marketed as a drink which helped aid recovery for sick children, so the obvious target market was mothers who would be encouraged by the commercial to buy the drink for their children. However, as time went by this proved unsuccessful. We will write a custom essay sample on Lucozade Adverts or any similar topic only for you Order Now It was time for change and this they did, changing not only image but target market and the different uses for the drink. The first advertisement studied was an original commercial which advertised Lucozade as a drink which aids recovery from illness; aimed to be bought by mothers, and promoted very much as a ‘happy family’ drink. However, the slogan ‘Lucozade Aids Recovery’ made consumers think it was a drink only for the sick and not intended for healthy people; because of improving social conditions and medical care, fewer people felt the need to buy Lucozade when they were ill, causing as obvious decrease in sales. Another problem was the packaging: it was a unique large glass bottle, but was only suitable for use in the home. Consumers who felt thirsty were unlikely to buy it and drink it on the street, which meant that the brand was only sold in large grocery stores and chemist so limiting its availability and reducing its market share. The drink itself was also a problem as it was then only provided in one flavour and consumers could take it or leave it, so many simply d id not like the taste and bought other soft drinks. A positive side to this advertising, however, was that everybody had heard of Lucozade and it had an excellent reputation, strongly associated with glucose and health. It was sold at a high price compared to production cost which meant that Lucozade made tremendous profit on each bottle sold. There was also no direct competition, not even from supermarkets, who often market their ‘own brand’ versions of successful products. The Daley Thompson advertisements were the ‘cure’ and saviour of the Lucozade drink in using a top sports superstar to endorse and advertise the product. Thompson was a double Olympic gold winning decathlete in the 1980s, and so was a world renowned sports star and he was British! A totally new advertising campaign was now launched to give Lucozade a new image and enhance its reputation in a modern was that consumers would feel was relevant to them. The image of the children and sickrooms was gone and in came representations of fitness and healthy living, so completely transforming the total target market, as it now promised energy for healthy athletes, not for convalescent children. In addition there would be announcements of new products for example providing new flavours that would give Lucozade a much wider appeal through its advertising. Also the first part of the campaign introduced the single-drink, quarter litre bottle. Sales improved dramatically and the newer, smaller bottle was sold in small shops as well as chemists, so widening its availability. The Daley Thompson advertisement starts with an extreme close-up of a red traffic light which draws attention immediately to the screen, as it then switches to a shot of Daley Thompson slowing down from a run, while it states: ‘8AM Daley Thompson’, stops training for a refreshment. Another picture of a red light cross fades to a shot of Daley coming to a standstill: when Daley stops, the viewers stop to focus a shimmering heat on the running track, which is red, the corporate colour of Lucozade. The effect of this dramatic opening is to show the viewer Thompson’s total exhaustion, whilst the red colours remind us of the product label. It also has an American style with the traffic lights and intense heat so suggesting what an international superstar Daley Thompson is. It also indicates that if he trains in America, he must be popular whilst it is a country associated with success – as is Thompson, and, by implication, Lucozade The traffic lights turn amber as it goes to a shot of Daley: the clothes he is wearing are grey and dull emphasising that he is exhausted from a long training session. He is depicted with a bottle of Lucozade, flipping it out of out of his bag to show it is portable and will fit into a bag which can be taken anywhere. He drinks it; am extreme close-up follows of the vivid orange Lucozade liquid and bubbles passing through it like the energy building up. There is also an extreme close-up of the bottle with a Royal Seal of Approval indicating that is a high quality product, which is good enough to be royally approved, to remind viewers of the tradition and reputation. The music speeds up and the camera moves in and goes to an extreme close-up of a green light, zooms in and out quickly and moves to a mid-shot of Daley getting ready to sprint; this is in slow-motion which indicates the energy building up and rushing through his body from the tip of his toes to the top of his head. He burst from the block and races down the track towards the camera and audience to fully involve them, stressing how quick he is and it is implied that the Lucozade has fully revitalised him. There is then a variety of shots of his legs pounding down the runway, making the advertisement more explosive and exciting so retaining audience involvement. The shots change quickly to reflect the speed of Lucozade, but it ends with a freeze frame of Daley in motion winning his race. The words ‘Lucozade’ and ‘the refreshing glucose drink’ appear in the Lucozade ‘font’ whilst the voice of Des Lynam is heard saying these words, portraying more c elebrity endorsement which gives Lucozade an even better image having been endorsed by two famous sport personalities. Sound is also used to excellent effect in the advertisement as the music is of a heavy metal style, which was popular with teenagers at the time, the band being Iron Maiden with their song ‘Phantom of the Opera’, complementing the images perfectly. The music gives the advertisement a racy and modern edge whilst also appealing to a younger audience than the mothers of the older advertisements. Therefore, the advertisement was constructed extremely well and this was reflected in a huge increase in sales, mainly because of the Daley Thompson endorsement. It helped Lucozade become what it is today, a well known and respected top sports drinks used by the worlds best professional and amateur athletes aswell as ordinary people on the street who have been convinced by a series of very powerful advertisements. How to cite Lucozade Adverts, Papers

October Sky Essays - American People Of German Descent, Laura Dern

October Sky How about I believe in the unlucky ones? If I don't I'd probably go crazy.(Laura Dern, October Sky) This could arguably be the most important line in the entire movie, in my opinion. This teacher recognizes the potential in every student, not only the ones with visible ability. This, I would hope, would be the goal of every teacher. Teachers have the greatest gift in the world - - the ability to help shape a student's life. Recognized and appreciated he or she can use that to present a world of opportunities to those who may not have had any. This was true in October Sky; the Rocket Boys were from a small failing mining community, where little expectations were placed on them and even less opportunities were available. When Dern's character was accused of giving the boys false hopes she held her grounds and continued to support the boys. This to me is an example of a great teacher, one who will continue to do what he or she thinks is right regardless of whether it earns her the disapproval of the rest of the staff. The movie October Sky gives a very positive representation of a teacher. She is a role model, a friend, a source of information, a defender, and a fighter. She is portrayed as compassionate, understanding, and very beneficial in keeping the students directed toward their goals. This would seem to say that teachers need these qualities in order to fully relate to their students. A teacher can not only be there for informational needs, but must also stand behind her students and be prepared to defend their rights to discover themselves. A teacher should be prepared to recognize hidden potential; it is in almost every student. This is a difficult task, especially if the student also brings great adversity, however, it is not impossible; Dern's character realized this. Every teacher will have a student in his or her classroom with hidden ability; despite the student's possibility for greatness, the great teacher will be measured by her ability to see the potential inside that student.

Write a Summary That Sums It All up

Write a Summary That Sums It All up Write a Summary That â€Å"Sums It All up† When it comes to summarizing a thought or essay for Toronto professors, you must be able to think critically, be concise, and have a certain amount of writing skill. Being a better writer makes you a better reader, because you understand how to find important points. This isn’t a talent developed overnight. Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to summarize effectively. Our tips will help you to recognize what is necessary to do more than explain, restate, or describe something you read. Understand What You Are Reading If you don’t have a thorough understanding of what you are reading, take your time with the text and try to grasp the basic â€Å"gist† of what the writer is conveying. As you read content, try to be more analytical. What argument is the author making? What does an idea presented mean to you? Take Notes If you like, taking notes can be done during a second read-through. Write down answers to any questions you had on the first reading. Write down the main points the author made. Leave out nothing, even if a point seems only vaguely important. Removing certain notes and thoughts is easier than later trying to remember something that wasn’t written. Edit Now is the time to thin out your notes. If anything seems less important to your summary, excise it. Create an Outline Review those notes and structure the paper based on them. Use key details and quotations where appropriate. Edit Again Look for more unnecessary ideas or statements. If an item doesn’t support your argument, remove it. If your text seems too wordy, find ways to say the same thing in fewer words. If your writing seems too short, add by using your thoughts from the reading work. Make sure to save this version under a different title just in case you want to reuse an earlier thought in your final draft. Start Writing Review the outline and beef up the main points. Do this one section at a time. Don’t worry about a first draft being â€Å"perfect;† there’s opportunity to fix things later. Check Your Work Review your writing. Did you make all your points? Are there spelling or grammatical errors? Smooth out the rough edges: Does some writing seem awkward? Read your text out loud and catch more errors. If you need assistance writing a summary for Toronto for school, college, or university, call toll-free: 1-800-573-0840. We can help with this or any other kind of writing assignment.

The Joys and Pains of Teaching Seniors

The Joys and Pains of Teaching Seniors There is a certain attitude in high schools that Senior teachers often get off easy. Typically, their students finish sooner than the rest of the school. Further, the worst behaved students have often times left school for good by that point. Despite these positives, teaching Seniors is not always a bed of roses. So how do we keep students who are suffering from Chronic Senioritis motivated? I cant say I have all the answers, but I can give you some insights that might help you make it through the last day of graduation practice without losing your mind or your patience. Teaching Seniors requires a person with a special personality. You cant take things as seriously with Seniors because, honestly, you are dealing with at least four special circumstances: Non-college bound students who are doing fine and will definitely graduate. They know that by second semester they only need to pass (not excel) in your class and therefore they do not take it seriously. Note: If you teach an non-required elective, this is even worse.College-bound students who by their second semester have already been accepted to their University and know that it is VERY rare that students will be turned away based on their last semester grades unless they fail.Students who are in danger of not graduating and are doing everything they can to stay afloat and make that grade that will give them the required GPA.Students who have no chance of graduating on time. These can be divided into two subcategories: those that will take the required summer courses to graduate and those that wont. Further, the ones who wont are often under the false impression that somehow a miracle will happen and they will be allowed to graduate. (Whats really sad is that many schools allow the se individuals to actually walk across the stage - just not get a diploma. Why cant we teach our students the harsh reality of their poor decisions? They will learn them soon enough - so arent we doing them a disservice by not helping them learn coping mechanisms now? But thats another article for another day.) So with that said, you can probably see that your best and average students are usually not interested in giving it their all. The only people still interested in working hard are those who either do or dont have a chance to graduate on time. And they are most interested in getting work in that will raise their grades. What to do? You can choose to give up for the last semester and just show movies - loosely based on your topic. You can continue teaching as always hoping they will settle down and get back to the way they were first semester. Or you can change what you are doing and include interest building activities that could actually result in some thinking and learning. Ideas for Interest Building Activities: Have the entire Senior class work on a project that culminates near the end of the year. In my school, we always had a Mock Legislature. Kids spent time writing bills and then for two days, the bills went through committees. If they made it through the House committees then they had to go to the Senate committees. If they made it out of their, they had to go to the entire House and Senate. If they made it out of that, the Governor would determine if it was a worthy bill and either sign or veto it. Of course, the competition for the top spots (committee chairs, Speaker, Governor, etc.) would be advertised and students would have to apply and turn in resumes. etc. This kept kids motivated and interested in coming to school. Hold classroom debates Go back to Grade School. The oddest thing happens with last semester Seniors. They are eager to leave but they are also (secretly) afraid of leaving the safety of High School. Therefore, they seem to really enjoy activities in class that requ ire artwork, cutting and pasting, experimenting, even coloring. Make them curricularly-sound - they will enjoy it. Teach them about what they can expect in College. Spend a little time talking to them about college and about how to succeed. Teach them note-taking skills. Let them in on some truths - like how important it is to figure out each professor at the beginning of a course to know how best to turn in work that they will appreciate. Help them create goals. There is no greater gift that you can give them giving students a road map to making their dreams become reality. Play educational games. Some simulation games provide students wiht a real depth of understanding. Interact has an awesome line up of simulations throughout the curriculum. Even though something might be listed as for Middle School, it can still be used in the upper grade. In the end, motivating Seniors is more about changing your teaching style to keep their interest. This is not say that you have to be an entertainer but if you want to make the last months of school enjoyable each year, try one or more of these strategies and see what happens. Good Luck!