It seems to me that homework is often dreaded by parents more than children. Below are some simple, easy to read tips to help with this daily daunting task.
1. Most kids need a break between coming home from school and starting homework. If your child needs a play break, they should absolutely have one. However, I don't advise having this be a break in which they turn on the television or play on the computer. Instead, think about alternatives, such as, drawing/coloring, reading, writing, or a form of play.
2. Allow your child to select where he or she does homework. Whether it's on the floor, on the couch, or at the table, it's important that the space is clear of distractions. TV and music should be off.
3. Do your own educational work nearby. While your child is working, try reading, paying bills, or doing something else which demonstrates that what your child is learning actually has real world applications. Being nearby will provide a sense of comfort for your child.
4. When your child gets stuck, don't just give them the answer, a hint, or try to reexplain everything. Follow up with a question. For example, you could ask, "What do you think you should do first?" or "What steps should help you figure this out?" Remember, we are preparing our children to be independent learners. They have other resources at their disposal ranging from examples provided in their homework, dictionaries, the internet, notes from class, etc.; they should be encouraged to use these resources.
5. Show your child how to pace themselves with long term assignments or studying. Often times, children don't mention something is due until right before the due date. This results in chaos. Pay close attention to where things are going wrong to prevent those issues from occurring in the future.
6. If your child needed an extensive amount of support to complete an assignment, let his or her teacher know by sending in a note or writing an email. Also inform the teacher if homework is taking too long to complete. Research suggests that students should have about 10 minutes of homework per day multiplied by their grade level. Therefore, a first grader should have about 10 minutes per night, while a third grader should have about a half an hour of homework per night. Remember that children should still be reading in addition to this.
7. If you're a parent that truly dreads this time, do your best to pretend that it's an exciting time. If you seem enthusiastic about this portion of your day, your children are more likely to get the work done happily.
Feel free to comment with additional tips.
1. Most kids need a break between coming home from school and starting homework. If your child needs a play break, they should absolutely have one. However, I don't advise having this be a break in which they turn on the television or play on the computer. Instead, think about alternatives, such as, drawing/coloring, reading, writing, or a form of play.
2. Allow your child to select where he or she does homework. Whether it's on the floor, on the couch, or at the table, it's important that the space is clear of distractions. TV and music should be off.
3. Do your own educational work nearby. While your child is working, try reading, paying bills, or doing something else which demonstrates that what your child is learning actually has real world applications. Being nearby will provide a sense of comfort for your child.
4. When your child gets stuck, don't just give them the answer, a hint, or try to reexplain everything. Follow up with a question. For example, you could ask, "What do you think you should do first?" or "What steps should help you figure this out?" Remember, we are preparing our children to be independent learners. They have other resources at their disposal ranging from examples provided in their homework, dictionaries, the internet, notes from class, etc.; they should be encouraged to use these resources.
5. Show your child how to pace themselves with long term assignments or studying. Often times, children don't mention something is due until right before the due date. This results in chaos. Pay close attention to where things are going wrong to prevent those issues from occurring in the future.
6. If your child needed an extensive amount of support to complete an assignment, let his or her teacher know by sending in a note or writing an email. Also inform the teacher if homework is taking too long to complete. Research suggests that students should have about 10 minutes of homework per day multiplied by their grade level. Therefore, a first grader should have about 10 minutes per night, while a third grader should have about a half an hour of homework per night. Remember that children should still be reading in addition to this.
7. If you're a parent that truly dreads this time, do your best to pretend that it's an exciting time. If you seem enthusiastic about this portion of your day, your children are more likely to get the work done happily.
Feel free to comment with additional tips.
RSS Feed
