Homework Help!

Why is Homework Important?

Homework helps students to:

✪Review and practice what they have covered in class;✪Prepare for class the next day;✪Learn to use resources, such as libraries, reference materials and Web

sites;✪Explore subjects more fully than classroom time permits;✪Extend learning by applying skills they already have to new situations;✪Integrate their learning by applying many different skills to a single

task, such as book reports or science projects; and✪Learn to manage time and meet deadlines.✪Develop good study habits and positive attitudes

What’s the Right Amount of Homework?

The right amount of homework depends on the age and skills of the child. National organizations of parents and teachers

suggest that children in kindergarten through second grade can benefit from 10 to 20 minutes of homework each

school day.

Parent Tips

You can do many things at home to show your child that you value education and homework, such as:

✪ Set a regular time and place for homework

✪ Remove distractions

✪ Provide a snack and water

✪ Provide supplies and identify resources

✪ Be interested in what your child is learning

So What Can I Do?• Create a homework box!• All items in the homework box are ONLY to be used for homework. They are

not to be used on the weekend for a craft project or anything of the sort. The reason is so that you always have what you need when you need it while doing your homework. It’s really the only way this little system can be successful!

• What’s in the homework box?In one or two nylon zipper pouches:– pens + mechanical– hi-lighters– erasers– crayons– glue sticks– Scissors

Homework Stations

If you just can’t find a quiet spot – consider creating a little study center out of cardboard. Put it up when your student is working to keep them focused on the task at hand

Be Organized…

1. Start homework everyday at the same time (if possible) and keep to the schedule.

2. Have all supplies in the same place so you are not wasting time looking for materials.

3. Post the homework on a clipboard or magnetic board, so that homework is visible and accessible.

Have Clear Expectations…

Make sure that your child knows the expectations you have set and are clear on the consequences if those expectations aren’t met.

Create a “to do” list so that there are no arguments on what needs to be done.

Things to do

1. Ask about the school's homework policy

2. Be available

3. Watch your child for frustration

4. Look over completed assignments

5. Praise your child

6. Acknowledge homework that is well

7. Monitor time spent viewing TV and playing video games

Things Not to do

1. Don’t nag or bully your child into

getting homework done

2. Don’t bribe your child to do homework

3. Don’t hover but stay close by

4. Don’t do your child’s homework

5. Don’t take over your child’s projects

Sometimes when your child procrastinates, most of the time, it is not because he is lazy; it can be because there lies a “fear” in him. The fear can be whether your child fully understood the topic and he may not know how to apply what he has learned? If he does not understand, there is a fear of feeling inadequate and stupid or not sure where to search for answers and so feeling inadequate about it. Communicate with him about his work, and ask whether he needs help.

Overcoming procrastination

Use questions to prompt about how he feels about his work:

How did you go with your work?Are you able to understand?What is the topic about?How would you rate your homework? Hard? Easy?What is most challenging about the work?

It is from these conversations that you are going to truly understand what your child is feeling and thinking, and what the issues he is experiencing right now are. This is how you are able to offer your advice or help.

Communication with teachers is very important for helping your child withhomework. Here are some important things to remember:

✪ Talk with each of your child's teachers early in the school year. Let teachersknow that you want to be kept informed about what goes on at school.

✪ Contact teachers as soon as you suspect your child has a homeworkproblem. Schools have a responsibility to keep you informed about yourchild's performance and behavior. Or, you may realize a problem exists beforethe teacher discovers it. Together, you can solve a problem in its early stages.

✪ Request a meeting with teachers to discuss homework problems.Tell teachers briefly why you want to meet, and make the arrangements.

✪ Let teachers know whether your child finds the assignments too hardor too easy.

Communication

My Child’s Academic Success

Checklist for Helping Your Child With Homework

Show That You Think Education and Homework Are Important– Do you set a regular time every day for homework?– Does your child have the papers, books, pencils and other things needed to do assignments?– Does your child have a well-lit, fairly quiet place to study?– Do you set a good example by showing your child that the skills he is learning are an important part of the things he will do as an adult?– Do you stay in touch with your child's teacher?

• Monitor Assignments– Do you know what your child's homework assignments are? How long they should take? How the teacher wants you to be involved in

them?– Do you see that your child starts and completes assignments?– Do you read the teacher's comments on assignments that are returned?– Is TV viewing or video game playing cutting into your child's homework time?

• Provide Guidance– Do you help your child to get organized? Does your child need a schedule or assignment book? A book bag or backpack and a folder for

papers?– Do you encourage your child to develop good study habits (for example, scheduling enough time for big assignments; making up

practice tests)?– Do you talk with your child about homework assignments? Does she understand them?

• Talk with Teachers to Resolve Problems– Do you meet with the teacher early in the year before any problems arise?– If a problem comes up, do you meet with the teacher?– Do you cooperate with the teacher to work out a plan and a schedule to solve homework problems?– Do you follow up with the teacher and with your child to make sure the plan is working?

Resources

You will find a great variety of resources on the internet that can make homework more manageable for everyone.

• If you need information on a specific topic, go to www.askanexpert.com, which links students with the web sites of experts on such topics as science, animals, arts, health, trades, industry, and many others.

• At Homework Helper you will find tips on writing, over 100 general reference links, and help with math problems - you can input a math problem and it will help you solve it!

• Specific help in all the basic subjects is available at www.bigchalk.com. Click on the subject where help is needed.

• Find help with science fair ideas, solve math problems, and create your own crossword puzzles and word searches at http://school.discovery.com. Also at this site, click on BJ Pinchbeck's Homework Helper, where you'll find over 700 links to homework help websites.

• Homework Spot is full of helpful ideas and tips for homework and studying, as well as subject area assistance