10 Ways to Help your Child with Homework
by Ann D. LaForge and the editors of Scholastic Magazine
Homework? But I want to watch TV!
1. Developing the homework habit. Help your child develop the homework habit by asking about homework when she comes home from school. It shows that you are interested in what was learned.
• Provide a study space where your child can work quietly. Find a space that has good lighting and sufficient room for materials such as pencils, paper, and erasers.
• Pick a good time for doing homework. Consider the amount of homework that he has to do and allow enough time in his schedule to complete it. Establish rules against phone use, watching TV and computer time until homework is finished.
• Never do your child's assignment. It's fine to answer questions and supervise his work, but make sure the homework is completed by the child. Homework helps your child develop a sense of responsibility.
• Encourage your child to develop a positive attitude toward homework. Stress the fact that homework is valuable because it helps the child practice skills and acquire information.
• Finally, never rush your child when she is doing homework. Make it a relaxing time. After the assignment is completed, help your child review what she has learned from it. Let her know that sloppy work is unacceptable. But praise homework that is done well--it's a good way to build self-esteem.
2. Encourage reading in any way you can. There is no way to overestimate the importance of reading. It not only enhances learning in all of the other subject areas, it exposes children to a wealth of information and experiences they might not otherwise enjoy. It stimulates the imagination, nourishes emotional growth, builds verbal skills, and influences analyzing and thinking. In fact, according to every teacher I spoke to, reading to or with your child every day is the single most important thing you can do.
You shouldn't worry so much about how well your child is reading in any particular grade. Different children acquire reading skills at different ages and in different ways. But you can promote a love of reading by giving your child lots of fun experiences with print at whatever level she's in. When she can read independently, and enjoys reading a variety of books, you can support her in these ways:
• Make sure there are lots of different kinds of reading materials geared to her interests around the house (for instance, a kids sports magazine, or books on the sports or other activities she loves).
• Treat your child like a reading expert, no matter what kinds of books he loves to read. If he's a horror story addict, for instance, say: "You've been reading a lot of those horror story books. Which one do you think is best? Why?"
• Make sure your child has some free time every day when she can curl up in a chair and read. Read your own books, magazines, or newspapers when your child is reading.
• Keep reading aloud to your child (to strengthen his vocabulary, comprehension, and listening skills, as well as his enjoyment of reading).
3. Treat your child as though he's an author
He doesn't have to be Hemingway or Shakespeare. All he has to do is grow up thinking that he can put thoughts and words onto paper. And the sooner he starts, the better.
By now, your child is becoming a confident writer, and isn't afraid to use improper spellings on her first drafts. She knows she can go back and correct spelling mistakes during the revise process.
How to help:
• Let your child see you write — and correct your own mistakes; ask him his opinion on something you've written (i.e., "Is this note to the teacher clear?").
• Give gifts associated with writing, such as special pencils and pens, a desk lamp, a hard-bound diary, a children's dictionary, or personalized stationery.
• Encourage your child to write using the computer; teach her how to use the spell-checker.
• Show pride in what your child writes by displaying her books and stories for visitors and other family members to enjoy, or having her read them aloud.
• Encourage your child to have a pen pal.
• Invite your child to do crossword puzzles, anagrams, and other word games that build vocabulary and fluency.
• Read together, and talk about the books and authors you both love.
4. Make math part of her everyday life
At home, the best way to help your child learn to love math is to play with numbers, and to frequently point out the various ways in which math makes our lives easier. By working with tangible objects, and counting, sorting, estimating, measuring, looking for patterns, and solving real-life problems, children learn to think in mathematical terms, without worrying whether or not they're "smart enough" to do math.
Almost anything you do that involves numbers and/or problem solving will build your child's math skills. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
• Have your child set the table (counting and sorting the sets of plates, napkins, cups, and silverware).
• Challenge him to guess at things, and then find the answers. For example: How many bowls of cereal do you think we can get out of this box? How many M&Ms do you think are in your (snack size) bag? How many minutes do you think it will take to clear off the table?
• Play board games, dice games, and card games (such as War) with your child. Encourage her to make up her own games.
• Talk about how you use math when: balancing your checkbook, paying cashiers, changing bills for coins, setting your household budget, depositing money in the bank, buying birthday gifts, etc.
• Teach your child to budget his own money — by helping him save up for a special toy or activity.
• Involve your child in measuring ingredients for recipes.
• Ask for help with food shopping ("Which is the better deal here?"; "How much does each one cost per pound?"). Let him bring his calculator to the grocery store.
• Encourage your child to think of different solutions to problems. For example: "You have $20 of birthday money to spend. Try to come up with three different ways to spend it."
• Most of all, try to be positive about math — even if it was your worst subject in school. If your child's having trouble in it, or starts complaining that it's too hard or too boring, act as though you know that if she keeps on trying, she'll improve. "Everyone learns at different rates and in different ways," you could say. "That's why we have teachers. But I know you can do it if you keep on trying."
5. Teach your child how to listen
Teachers who've been around for 15 or more years say they've seen a definite decline in children's attention spans and listening skills since they first started teaching. Many of them attribute it not only to the fast and entertaining pace of television and computer games, but to the fact that many children today don't have a lot of time to just sit around, listening and talking to family members. Between parents' jobs and children's after-school activities, it's hard, sometimes, to get everyone in the same room for a family dinner once a week.
But being able to focus on what other people are saying is an important element in learning. So, whenever possible, try to build your child's listening skills. Here are some strategies that will help:
• Read aloud to your child on a regular basis — even after she has learned to read by herself. Ask questions as you read, to make sure your child is understanding what she hears.
• Limit television, computer, and video game time. While they're all entertaining, and can even be educational, they tend to promote tunnel vision. Make sure the time your child spends in front of a screen is balanced by time spent with other people, talking face to face.
• When you speak to your child, make eye contact and gently touch his shoulder or arm, to secure his attention.
• When giving directions, ask your child to repeat back to you what she heard you say — to make sure she really did hear, and does understand what she needs to do.
• Model good listening behaviors. When your child wants to talk to you, for example, stop what you're doing and look at him while he's speaking. When he's finished, say something that indicates you heard him, even if you only repeat back what he said.
• Teach your child that even if an adult is saying something he finds boring, he still needs to listen, look at the person, and show respect.
• Spend time with your child doing quiet activities that encourage conversation, such as taking a walk together, taking a ride in the car, folding laundry, picking strawberries, etc.
(Please go the menu bar on the top right and continue to Ways 6-10)
• Provide a study space where your child can work quietly. Find a space that has good lighting and sufficient room for materials such as pencils, paper, and erasers.
• Pick a good time for doing homework. Consider the amount of homework that he has to do and allow enough time in his schedule to complete it. Establish rules against phone use, watching TV and computer time until homework is finished.
• Never do your child's assignment. It's fine to answer questions and supervise his work, but make sure the homework is completed by the child. Homework helps your child develop a sense of responsibility.
• Encourage your child to develop a positive attitude toward homework. Stress the fact that homework is valuable because it helps the child practice skills and acquire information.
• Finally, never rush your child when she is doing homework. Make it a relaxing time. After the assignment is completed, help your child review what she has learned from it. Let her know that sloppy work is unacceptable. But praise homework that is done well--it's a good way to build self-esteem.
2. Encourage reading in any way you can. There is no way to overestimate the importance of reading. It not only enhances learning in all of the other subject areas, it exposes children to a wealth of information and experiences they might not otherwise enjoy. It stimulates the imagination, nourishes emotional growth, builds verbal skills, and influences analyzing and thinking. In fact, according to every teacher I spoke to, reading to or with your child every day is the single most important thing you can do.
You shouldn't worry so much about how well your child is reading in any particular grade. Different children acquire reading skills at different ages and in different ways. But you can promote a love of reading by giving your child lots of fun experiences with print at whatever level she's in. When she can read independently, and enjoys reading a variety of books, you can support her in these ways:
• Make sure there are lots of different kinds of reading materials geared to her interests around the house (for instance, a kids sports magazine, or books on the sports or other activities she loves).
• Treat your child like a reading expert, no matter what kinds of books he loves to read. If he's a horror story addict, for instance, say: "You've been reading a lot of those horror story books. Which one do you think is best? Why?"
• Make sure your child has some free time every day when she can curl up in a chair and read. Read your own books, magazines, or newspapers when your child is reading.
• Keep reading aloud to your child (to strengthen his vocabulary, comprehension, and listening skills, as well as his enjoyment of reading).
3. Treat your child as though he's an author
He doesn't have to be Hemingway or Shakespeare. All he has to do is grow up thinking that he can put thoughts and words onto paper. And the sooner he starts, the better.
By now, your child is becoming a confident writer, and isn't afraid to use improper spellings on her first drafts. She knows she can go back and correct spelling mistakes during the revise process.
How to help:
• Let your child see you write — and correct your own mistakes; ask him his opinion on something you've written (i.e., "Is this note to the teacher clear?").
• Give gifts associated with writing, such as special pencils and pens, a desk lamp, a hard-bound diary, a children's dictionary, or personalized stationery.
• Encourage your child to write using the computer; teach her how to use the spell-checker.
• Show pride in what your child writes by displaying her books and stories for visitors and other family members to enjoy, or having her read them aloud.
• Encourage your child to have a pen pal.
• Invite your child to do crossword puzzles, anagrams, and other word games that build vocabulary and fluency.
• Read together, and talk about the books and authors you both love.
4. Make math part of her everyday life
At home, the best way to help your child learn to love math is to play with numbers, and to frequently point out the various ways in which math makes our lives easier. By working with tangible objects, and counting, sorting, estimating, measuring, looking for patterns, and solving real-life problems, children learn to think in mathematical terms, without worrying whether or not they're "smart enough" to do math.
Almost anything you do that involves numbers and/or problem solving will build your child's math skills. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
• Have your child set the table (counting and sorting the sets of plates, napkins, cups, and silverware).
• Challenge him to guess at things, and then find the answers. For example: How many bowls of cereal do you think we can get out of this box? How many M&Ms do you think are in your (snack size) bag? How many minutes do you think it will take to clear off the table?
• Play board games, dice games, and card games (such as War) with your child. Encourage her to make up her own games.
• Talk about how you use math when: balancing your checkbook, paying cashiers, changing bills for coins, setting your household budget, depositing money in the bank, buying birthday gifts, etc.
• Teach your child to budget his own money — by helping him save up for a special toy or activity.
• Involve your child in measuring ingredients for recipes.
• Ask for help with food shopping ("Which is the better deal here?"; "How much does each one cost per pound?"). Let him bring his calculator to the grocery store.
• Encourage your child to think of different solutions to problems. For example: "You have $20 of birthday money to spend. Try to come up with three different ways to spend it."
• Most of all, try to be positive about math — even if it was your worst subject in school. If your child's having trouble in it, or starts complaining that it's too hard or too boring, act as though you know that if she keeps on trying, she'll improve. "Everyone learns at different rates and in different ways," you could say. "That's why we have teachers. But I know you can do it if you keep on trying."
5. Teach your child how to listen
Teachers who've been around for 15 or more years say they've seen a definite decline in children's attention spans and listening skills since they first started teaching. Many of them attribute it not only to the fast and entertaining pace of television and computer games, but to the fact that many children today don't have a lot of time to just sit around, listening and talking to family members. Between parents' jobs and children's after-school activities, it's hard, sometimes, to get everyone in the same room for a family dinner once a week.
But being able to focus on what other people are saying is an important element in learning. So, whenever possible, try to build your child's listening skills. Here are some strategies that will help:
• Read aloud to your child on a regular basis — even after she has learned to read by herself. Ask questions as you read, to make sure your child is understanding what she hears.
• Limit television, computer, and video game time. While they're all entertaining, and can even be educational, they tend to promote tunnel vision. Make sure the time your child spends in front of a screen is balanced by time spent with other people, talking face to face.
• When you speak to your child, make eye contact and gently touch his shoulder or arm, to secure his attention.
• When giving directions, ask your child to repeat back to you what she heard you say — to make sure she really did hear, and does understand what she needs to do.
• Model good listening behaviors. When your child wants to talk to you, for example, stop what you're doing and look at him while he's speaking. When he's finished, say something that indicates you heard him, even if you only repeat back what he said.
• Teach your child that even if an adult is saying something he finds boring, he still needs to listen, look at the person, and show respect.
• Spend time with your child doing quiet activities that encourage conversation, such as taking a walk together, taking a ride in the car, folding laundry, picking strawberries, etc.
(Please go the menu bar on the top right and continue to Ways 6-10)