ADDITIONAL WAYS TO TACKLE HOMEWORK

Set regular time for homework

Having a regular time to do homework helps children to finish assignments. The best schedule is one that works for your child and your family. What works well in one household may not work in another. Of course, a good schedule depends in part on your child’s age as well as her specific needs. For instance, one child may do homework best in the afternoon, completing homework first or after an hour of play and another may do it best after dinner. However, don’t let your child leave homework to do just before bedtime.

You will need to work with your elementary school child to develop a schedule. An older student can probably make up a schedule independently, although you will want to make sure that it’s a workable one. You may find it helpful to write out his schedule and put it in a place where you will see it often, such as on a refrigerator door.

Your child may enjoy decorating a special area for homework. A plant, a bright colored container to hold pencils and some favorite artwork taped to the walls can do homework time more pleasant.

Remove Distractions.

Turn off the TV and discourage your child from making and receiving social telephone calls during homework time. (A call to a classmate about the assignment, however, may be helpful.)

Some children work well with quiet background music, but loud noise from the CD player, radio or TV is not OK. One history teacher lament, ’I’ve actually had a kid turn in an assignment that had written in the middle, ‘And George Washington said, ‘’Ohhhhh I love you.’’ The kid was so plugged into the music, so he was not concentrating to what he was writing.

Be interested and interesting.

Make time to take your child to the library to check out materials needed for homework (and for enjoyment) and read with your child as often as you can. Talk about school and learning activities in family conversations. Ask your child what was discussed in class that day. If she doesn’t have much to say, try another approach. For example, ask her to read aloud a story she wrote or talk about what she found out from science experiment.

Set a good example.

Do your kids ever see you diligently balancing your budget or reading a book? kids are more likely to follow their parent's examples than their advice. Post an aced test or an art project on the refrigerator. mention achievements to relatives. ask question about assignments, and test. Give encouragement, check completed homework, and make yourself available for questions and concerns. Make sure your kids do their own work, they won't learn if they don't think for themselves and make their own mistakes. Parents can make suggestions and help with directions but it's the kids' job to do the learning.