Homework is a challenge for parents, students, and teachers. Students think that it was invented as a special form of torture created just to ruin their lives. Parents are faced with helping their often unwilling children complete their assignments, and teachers struggle to have homework turned in every day. Here are some hints that I hope will make doing homework more successful and less stressful.
1. Check your child's homework planner daily, and make certain that the assignments are completed. Also check the Gradelink site to make certain that all of your child's work has been done.
2. Set up a white board or chalkboard with the date of each child's tests, appointments, and athletic schedules, as well as when projects are due. You can use a different color of marker or chalk for each member of the family.
3. Try to avoid scheduling special events like going out to dinner or going to the movies on the night before tests.
4. Model organization skills for your child. Put your keys in the same place each day; pack your briefcase the night before, etc.
5. Set aside a specific place for homework. This should be away from the television and other distractions, and provide enough space for your child to spread his/her things out.
6. Have a specific place to put papers, completed work, and books so they are easy to find in the morning.
7. Set aside a specific time time to do homework, preferably before watching television or playing video games.
8. Help your child to organize his/her materials before the homework session so that all books, papers, pencils, and other equipment will be readily available when needed.
9. Help your child learn to look up information needed rather than giving him/her the answer. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the Internet are good sources.
10. Have your child make a list of assignments each day, and then check off the items when they are completed. This can provide a sense of accomplishment.
Helpful Internet Sources
www.studybuddy.com provides help with a variety of subjects, games, and events calendars
www.backtoshcool.about.com homework tips, lunchbox recipes, etc.
www.ask.com provides a special "Ask for Kids" search tool, as well as for a dictionary and encyclopedia
www.discoveryschool.com provides a wide variety of educational material and resources.
