Homework is an important part of every child's education

Homework is an important part of every child’s education. It teaches
responsibility as well as how to follow directions, manage time,
begin and complete a task, and practice what’s been learned in class.
It teaches children how to work independently and be resourceful.
Developing responsible homework habits comes gradually for most
children. How much help you give your child with homework will
depend on his or her age and the homework task. A third-grader, for
example, usually needs help planning a school project. You may need
to walk him through each step and monitor the work.
Some children work independently and need very little help from
parents with homework. But most children need some support.
They need help learning how to organize their work, getting started
or completing their work, and knowing what to do when they reach
a roadblock. All children need encouragement, too. Experts agree
that parental involvement is key when it comes to homework.
Here are some tips and suggestions on how to help your child
with homework:
• Make it clear that homework is a priority and that you are serious
about its importance. You might say to your child, “I need to see
that you are working on that science report in advance, not just the
day before it’s due.” “I need to look at your work and see that it’s
done carefully.” Repeat these messages frequently with each child in
your family.
• Tell your child, “Ask for help if you get stuck or don’t understand
the homework.” Say, “It’s your job to ask for help. If I can’t help
you, I’ll find someone who can—whether it’s the teacher, a friend,
or a neighbor.” Remind your child that it’s OK to make mistakes.
That’s the way we learn.
• If your child is in elementary school or middle school, meet with the
teacher at the beginning of the school year and ask about homework.
How much time should your child be spending on homework? Are
there regularly scheduled tests? It’s helpful to know, for instance, that
the math teacher gives a quiz every Friday. This way you can help
your child prepare.
Find out the best way to get in touch with the teacher if you have a
question about homework. Can you call? Drop by at a certain time?
Many schools now have a homework hot line or Web site where
homework assignments are posted or listed daily. Ask the teacher if
this is available at your school.
• Ask the teacher how your child can get help with homework. Many
teachers are willing to give extra help and support before or after class
and can also recommend where to get tutoring if your child needs it.
• Make every effort to have your home be a good place for learning.
Some children say they can study effectively with the television,
radio, stereo, or headphones on. But in fact, this can make it very
hard for your child to concentrate, especially if the work is difficult
or challenging. If possible, set up a homework station far enough
away from your family’s television that your child will not be
distracted by it. Or just make it family policy not to turn on the
television until homework is completed.
• Have homework supplies on hand at home. Make sure your child
has paper, pencils, a dictionary, a calculator, and good light to read
by throughout the school year. You can make life easier by also
having special supplies on hand, like poster board, markers, and
glue. That way your child won’t get stuck the night before a big
project is due.
• Be sure your child has an assignment book. Look for an assignment
book that lists the days of the week, with spaces for each class period
to note assignments. These are available at drug, office supply, and
stationery stores. Many schools now require a specific type of
assignment book. If the school doesn’t supply an assignment book,
it’s best to ask the teacher before going out to buy one.
• Help your child develop a homework routine. Children need time to
unwind after school. They need time to play with friends, participate
in extracurricular activities, and relax before they settle down to
work and study. But children also need consistency and a routine
time each day for doing homework. Stop and think about what goes
on in your household after school. What time does everyone get
home? Is your child too tired to do schoolwork in the evening? Does
she have more energy before dinner? Talk with your child and reach
an agreement about when and where he or she will do homework.
The time may change from day to day, depending on your child’s
schedule. Keep in mind that your right time to do homework may
not be your child’s right time.
• Help your child get started. Encourage your child to take a few
minutes every day, before he starts his homework, to go over all of
his assignments and decide which need his attention first. With a
younger child, you might read the assignments together to make
sure he understands them. Then ask how long he thinks each part
will take. Help older children break a heavy homework load into
manageable parts so they don’t feel overwhelmed. You may not
always be able to control when your child finishes his homework.
But you can help him get started by giving him reminders and
making him aware of the time.
• Don’t expect your child to complete all the work in one sitting.
Many children, especially those under the age of 10 or 11, have
trouble working steadily for long periods. Sitting for 15 or 20
minutes is usually comfortable for younger elementary kids. Some
children in middle school may be able to extend the time. But
remember that short breaks can help your child stay focused. Your
child may need to take breaks, get up, have a snack, and then go
back to work.
• Help your child plan ahead for big projects and “crunch” times.
We all tend to put things off. You can help with school projects by
teaching your child how to break big projects into smaller pieces.
One good way to plan for a large assignment is to “work backwards.”
For instance, if a research report is due in six weeks, your child might
plan on having the rough draft completed in five weeks and the
research in three to four weeks. Then set aside time to check on your
child’s progress. If your child has a number of big assignments due at
the same time, remind her to start some of them early. You might
buy a big desk calendar or planner. They’re inexpensive and can be
found at most office supply stores. Your child can use it to keep track
of work and projects. Being able to see the whole month at a glance
is helpful.
• Plan a time to take your child to the library. School or local libraries
are excellent resources for children. Your child can use the computer
there and get research help from librarians as well as take advantage
of a quiet place to do homework.

Article Source: http://www.approvedarticles.com

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

# of Ratings = 2 | Rating = 5/5