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Home and Family
Helping Your Child With Homework
by Nechama Berg

Before discussing ways to help your child with homework, it is important to discuss why teachers assign homework and how it benefits your child.

Teachers assign homework for many reasons. Homework can help children: review and practice what they've learned; get ready for the next day's class; learn to use resources, such as libraries, reference materials, and encyclopedias; and explore subjects more fully than time permits in the classroom.

Homework can also help children develop good habits and attitudes. It can: teach children to work independently; encourage self-discipline and responsibility (assignments provide some youngsters with their first chance to manage time and meet deadlines); and encourage a love of learning.

Homework is meant to be a positive experience and to encourage children to learn.

How Homework Helps Children Learn

Homework helps your child do better in school when assignments are meaningful, are completed successfully, and are returned with constructive comments from the teacher. An assignment should have a specific purpose, come with clear instructions, be fairly well-matched to a student's abilities, and designed to help develop a student's knowledge and skills.

Studies have shown that students who complete more homework score better on standardized tests and earn better grades, on the average, than students who do less homework. Talk with your child's teacher if you have any questions about your child's homework assignments.

How to Help: Encourage Doing Homework

Children need to know that their parents think homework is important. If they know their parents care, children have a good reason to complete assignments and turn them in on time. There is a lot that you can do to show that you value education and homework.

Set a regular time. Finding a regular time for homework helps children 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 individual needs. For instance, one youngster may work best in the afternoon after an hour of play, and another may be more efficient after dinner (late at night, when children are tired, is seldom a good time).

Extracurricular activities such as music or art lessons, may mean that your child needs to adapt a flexible schedule. Your child may study right after school on some days and in the evenings on others. If there isn't enough time to finish homework, your child may need to drop some outside activity. Homework must be a high priority.

Pick a place. A study area should have lots of light, supplies close by, and be fairly quiet. It doesn't have to be fancy. A desk in a bedroom is nice, but for many youngsters the kitchen table or a corner of the living room works just fine.

You child may enjoy decorating a special study corner. A plant, a brightly colored container to hold pencils, and some favorite artwork taped to the walls can make study time more pleasant.

Remove distractions. Try having all family members take part in a quiet activity during homework time. In my house, I try to encourage the girls to do their homework at the same time. An added benefit is that sometimes the older ones help the younger ones.

You may need to take a noisy toddler outside or into another room to play. Try to keep the children who aren't doing homework from playing on the computer or listening to a story on the tape recorder, as these activities will distract the homework doers from completing their assignments.

Provide supplies. Keep the following items together in one place or in a basket to help with homework assignments: pencils, pens, erasers, writing paper, glue, a stapler, paper clips, maps, a calculator, a pencil sharpener, tape, scissors, a ruler, index cards, a dictionary and a thesaurus.

Show an interest. Talk about school and learning activities in family conversations. Ask your child to read aloud a story she wrote or discuss the results of a recent exam. Be on hand while your children are doing their homework in case they have any questions.

Checklist for Helping Your Child With Homework:
1. Does your child have the papers, books, pencils, and other supplies needed to do assignments?
2. Does your child have a fairly quiet place to study with enough light?
3. Do you stay in touch with your child's teachers?
4. Do you read the teacher's comments on assignments that are returned?
5. Do you encourage your child to develop good study habits (e.g. scheduling enough time for big assignments; making up practice tests)?

(Adapted from an article by the U.S. Department of Education)

 

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