by Rebecca Weinstein

Created on: March 02, 2009

Senioritis. What is it, who gets it, what are the causes, and how to combat it? As teachers, it is sometimes difficult to combat senioritis and it can cause disruption in the classroom. However, with a little insight and some understanding, senioritis can be effectively combated to restore balance to the classroom.

WHAT IS IT?

Senioritis is the term for self-destructive, slacking off behavior that is experienced in the final year of high school. For some, it can start as early as the first semester of senior year, while for most it occurs in the second half of the year as their high school career is starting to wind down. Students who exhibit senioritis lose interest in schoolwork, both classwork and homework. Students may lose interest in participating in classroom discussions and activities. Students may try to sleep through class, constantly talk to friends or text message on their cell phones, daydream, or find any distraction or excuse not to do their schoolwork. In rare cases, senioritis can lead to students acting out in class, rude behavior such as talking back to a teacher, and cutting class. For many students, senioritis can be quite mild and students may return to their previously studious habits after a small intervention, however, there are a few who may have severe senioritis that may need deeper counseling.

WHO GETS IT?

Senioritis can be experienced in any senior student, and on a very rare occasion it has even been seen in juniors! Those who are more at risk for having senioritis are those who have previously exhibited some of the behaviors such as those described above: sleepiness, talkitiveness, texting, lack of intrest in homework, classwork, or activities, or the more extreme behaviors of acting out in class or cutting class. Those who have previously exhibited these behaviors are more at risk, however, those who have never exhibited these behaviors can also be at risk. Although the chances are slim, senioritis is even possible in the best of students, and therefore educators should be aware of it, and should be proactive in its prevention as well as its resolution.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

Causes of senioritis may include one or more of the following: lack of motivation or interest in a topic; getting closer to graduation and having their school career wind down; excitement about upcoming events such as prom, spring break trips, senior trips, summer break, and starting college; anxiety about any of the aforementioned events; being worn down from

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