School, grades and friends....oh my!

It seems like if this school year has had a theme, it would be this: me harping about grades. First term, smooth as silk. Then everything fell apart. From that point on, I feel like my major job is checking grades, talking about grades, reminding about grades....getting frustrated about grades!! What is the deal? First of all, I think there is something in the water at the Jr. High. I've considered sending bottled water for Noah to try and limit his exposure to whatever it is! I know the routine so well now, I don't even have to think about it. First I check the SIS, then talk to Noah about whatever I found on the SIS. (why can't kids just hand their stupid work in?? Is it really that difficult once you've completed it to just hand it in?) Then Noah gets upset, promises different behavior, and I restrict all friends until things improve. Things improve, a few weeks pass, cycle starts over. Is there a better way? Is it just the curse of Jr. High? The thing that gets me is he is always able to pull of A's at report card time. So, why all the hassle and drama in-between?

So, until this phase passes, which I hope it will, I will continue on my quest for a near teenager who can police his grades himself. Until then....