My son, Thomas, is very bright, but he reads too quickly for his own good. A few nights ago, he was supposed to read a section in his biology book and answer questions. The following day, his teacher gave a pop quiz, which he failed. He swore up and down that he read the chapter and had no idea how he could have failed.

Fret no more — active reading strategies are the answer. These techniques work to slow students down, so they are engaged in the text and better able to retain information. While reading, many students simply read words without making connections. Others will read a section, get to the bottom of the page, and have no idea what they've just read. Encourage these two effective strategies to promote comprehension along with other strategies found in study skills chapter of my book, Homework Made Simple.

• Highlighting — Your teen should highlight the most important information, such as main themes or events. This should be done at the end of each section or page, not while he's reading.
• Margin Notes — Have your child summarize important information in the margins of the textbook or novel. If he can't write in the book, have him jot info on a Post-it note instead. Now, reviewing for a test is easier. Margin notes will allow him to reflect on the main points he's jotted without having to read the information all over again. Moreover, the act of writing helps retention.

My husband thinks our teenager is just plain lazy and that his ADHD diagnosis is just an excuse to slack off. We're really at odds about how to parent him. What's the right approach?

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is real. It is a neurobehavioral disorder that has been well researched. It's not surprising that your son is experiencing problems with academic motivation. In fact, individuals with ADHD are far more likely to have been held back in school, suspended, or to drop out. Furthermore, almost half exhibit considerable behavior problems. When children repeatedly fail to do well on homework, classwork, and on tests, their self-esteem takes a nose dive. Deep down, they may have a desire to succeed, but don't have enough self-control to focus and persevere. So often, students with ADHD feel as if the world is against them, so they lash out at others or rebel against their parents.

The academic impact is low self-worth, avoidance of difficult tasks, including homework, and an "I don't care" attitude. If this is remotely similar to what is happening in your home, I encourage you and your husband to learn more about the disorder. A great resource is chadd.org, a national organization for ADHD.

Here's the good part — you and your husband can help your son by agreeing on the basics. Sit down together as a family and design a consistent schedule for homework and privileges. Even though you are parenting a teen and he wants his independence, it's still okay to monitor his homework. Keep in contact with his teachers periodically so that he doesn't slide down the slippery slope I described before. Even though you and your husband may not agree on every detail, pose a united front for your son.