Parent's Guide To Solving Homework Problems - Part 8

Determining the Problem - PROCRASTINATORS

 

The procrastinator likes to wait until the last minute to get homework done. For most children, this is usually what they are accustomed to doing. If this is the case with your child, then your task is to break a habit that is well engrained (good luck!).

If your child procrastinates with long-term assignments, then it is your job to ensure that these types of assignments are started the day they are assigned, and you and your child have agreed upon how many minutes must be spent on this assignment each night.

A log should be kept to ensure the agreed upon time is adhered to and the parent should check each block of work to ensure enough has been completed in the allotted time.

If your child procrastinates with starting homework each night, a timer is a good tool to help you and your child solve the procrastination problem.

At the start of each homework session ensure your child is seated in the place where they do homework and they are prepared to start on time.

Set the timer for 10 or 15 minutes and leave them to work. When the timer rings they have to bring the work they have completed in that time to you. If you are not satisfied with the amount completed let them know what needs to be done for the next block of time.

Another approach is to take the amount of work to be completed - say 30 Math examples – and establish a small chunk of work – say 10 examples – to be completed in a certain amount of time. If the child does not complete the amount of work allocated for that 10 or 15 minute period then you need to tell them to readjust their rate so it is completed on time.

Remember ‘Practice makes Perfect”. Your child needs time management guidance – something that is not usually taught in school. Set the homework block for each day and homework MUST be completed in that time.

part 9 to follow...

Parent's Guide To Solving Homework Problems - Part 7

Determining the Problem - FOCUS/LACK OF ATTENTION

If the problem is FOCUS (your child cannot spend more than a few minutes before she loses concentration) then you will need to break the work up into 10 or 15 minutes chunks.

Place a timer on your child’s desk and ask her to come and show you what she has accomplished when it rings.

Look carefully at the amount of work completed, its neatness and quality. Comment on each aspect. Let the child know what is good and what needs to be improved.

Continue this practise until all three aspects of the work reach a level that you feel is acceptable (this could take days or weeks!). Once you have reached this goal, set the timer for a longer period of time and go through the process a second time.

Do NOT sit with your child. Do not monitor them while they are supposed to be working. Remember your goal is to develop independent work skills in your child.

NOTE: An inability to focus may be symptomatic of a bigger problem. If your child exhibits this inability with other subjects or other aspects of daily life then you need to seek the help of a specialist. The school should be the first place to begin your search.

Parent's Guide To Solving Homework Problems - Part 6

Identifying The Problem - RESISTORS

Children (parents?) who resist doing homework are usually indicating that there is something else going on…your job is to find out what it is.

Talk with your child to see if you can determine what is going on. Has something changed at home or at school? Are they upset about anything?

Use your skills at 20 Questions to try and elicit what is going on in their mind that prevents them from being able to start & complete homework.

Try to determine if the problem is due to the fact that they are struggling with the material – do they find it hard?

Is it an attention problem – do they find it hard to concentrate for more than a few minutes?

Do they feel lost? Do they need extra help?

If you are lucky enough or not to discover what the problem may be, nevertheless, your next step is to contact the teacher. 

Meet with her and try to come to a consensus as to what is causing your child’s resistance to homework and what steps can be taken to resolve the problem. Working hand-in-hand with your child’s teacher is usually the best way to get positive results.

Again, remember: any plan devised to help your child must be followed through by you. No plan, no matter how good, will fail without consistent parent support.

Part 7 to follow...

Homework Tips For Parents #2

Many parents have the expectation that their child's homework should consist of studying spelling lists, completing arithmetic questions or doing some other form of rote exercise. Unfortunately, these kinds of homework assignments do little to tie children's school learning to what is happening in their daily lives. This article will outline some homework tips parents and families can use at home to help their children make those all-important connections.

Reading

This is the single, most effective way for children to develop good language skills and, at the same time, it is an effective way for them to learn interesting facts about the world around them and relationships. Children should read at least 15 to 20 minutes a night - preferably with an adult. When parents read books, together with their child, they can facilitate the child's understanding of difficult concepts and vocabulary. Try to choose books from a variety of genres such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, mysteries, and science fiction, to name a few. Reading lists for age groups and grade levels can be easily found on the internet or at the local library.

Writing

Writing skills are usually the most difficult set of skills for the average student to master. Writing is the culmination of good language and speaking skills applied to the writer's knowledge base. Like any other skill, writing does require practice - a lot of practice. While these skills are taught in class, there simply are not enough hours in the school day to provide the amount of practice that is needed to develop all the writing skills necessary to develop confidence and succeed in school. There are a number of fun and valuable activities parents can do with their children at home. For example, a parent can encourage their child to write the weekly shopping list, write emails to friends and family members, keep a journal and even create their own greeting cards for special occasions. Helping your child to create and maintain their own, personal dictionary goes a long way to helping the child develop a sophisticated vocabulary. Most important is that the parent shows an interest in the child's writings and use the material as a means to carry on discussions (and even debates) about the content.

Mathematics

There are dozens of home activities that will help your child to develop facility with numbers. Again, the secret here is to be consistent, regular and interested in what your child is doing. Use the shopping list and a recent grocery store flyer to develop a projected cost of the week's groceries. Understanding measurement and capacity is made much easier when activities centre on carpentry, sewing or cooking.Of course, we cannot forget board games, many of which are excellent for reinforcing number skills and problem solving strategies.

Social Studies

By the age of 7 or 8, children are starting to develop an awareness of the world. Discussions about what is happening in other parts of the world are great springboards to mapping, social customs, languages and geography. A wall map can be used to locate and pinpoint places in the news and calculate distances between foreign lands and home. A travel journal is an excellent way to encourage your child to become more observant when on vacation. All of these activities involve the practice of important academic skills and, at the same time, make excellent souvenirs.

Communication

Good communication skills are essential, not only for success in school, but also for success in life. It is vital that a child learn how to express their thoughts and ideas in a manner that is easily understood by others. The activities listed above are perfect for setting an atmosphere that leads seamlessly into conversation. Avoid questions that require just one word answers. The classic is the question, "What did you do in school today?" and the answer, "Nothing." Instead, ask specific questions about what happened in a particular class or in a certain activity, field trip or recent assignment. Remember, if your child is reluctant to talk with you, then the first place you should look for improvement is at yourself. If you have a genuine interest in your child's world, then conversation should flow naturally. Once you and your child are at ease with conversations on a variety of subjects, then you are well on your way to providing a platform that benefits all members of the family - especially during the critical teenage years.

This article provides only few of the countless methods for helping your child with their homework and facilitating the development of sound communication skills. The more creative you are with ways to help your child, the more you both will benefit and enjoy family life.

For more information on Homework Tips For Parents, use this link

Homework Tips For Parents #1

Here is a checklist for helping your child with homework:

    It is important to set aside a unique, quiet place with sufficient lighting.
    Keep necessary supplies such as paper, pencils, pens, markers, rulers, in the homework area.
    Have a regular time each day to do homework.
    Help your child to regularly use organizational tools such as a school planner, calendar, and folders. This is especially important When they are assigned larger projects that require a few days or weeks to complete, help them to schedule their time and break the assignment into manageable pieces.

    Questions you should ask your child:

        What are today's homework assignments?
        Do you understand the directions and what you have to do? If not, suggest that they call a classmate to get things straight.
        When is the assignment due?
        When it is a major project, encourage them to create a work plan to ensure it is completed on time.?

    Other ways to help:

        Always be positive, supportive and encouraging. Keep your eye open for ways your child can improve their homework skills.
        Don't forget: it is your child's homework, not yours, so do not try to take control - you are a supporter not a director.
        Show confidence in your child. If necessary, when they are feeling a unsure, remind them of past successes.
        Show interest and praise them when they have done something well.
        Always make suggestions in a helpful, positive way.
        Meet the teacher early in the year and make yourself familiar with homework policies and expectations.
        Call the teacher if there are homework problems you can't resolve. Do it early, rather than later before it becomes a major issue.
   
Children learn both in and out of school. Outside of school they learn things at home and in their surrounding community. Children also learn a great deal from their parents, who are important partners in the learning process. Positive parental involvement can help make school a successful learning experience for children. Parental interest sends a strong message to children - that education is important, and that learning can be fun and worth the effort.

Homework is assigned by teachers for a variety of reasons. It gives students extra practice time, apply information learned in class and help them expand their knowledge beyond what was learned in class. Assignments are also a good way for students to learn to work independently. Homework assignments can also help students learn how to manage and work on bigger projects, learn about other resources and visit libraries.

For more information on homework tips for parents use this link