General Homework Tips
- Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework.
Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with other distractions, such as people coming and going. - Make sure the materials your child needs, such as paper, pencils and a dictionary, are available.
Ask your child if special materials will be needed for some projects and get them in advance. - Help your child with time management.
Establish a set time each day for doing homework. Don't let your child leave homework until just before bedtime. Think about using a weekend morning or afternoon for working on big projects, especially if the project involves getting together with classmates. - Be positive about homework.
Tell your child how important school is. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires. - When your child does homework, you do homework.
Show your child that the skills they are learning are related to things you do as an adult. If your child is reading, you read too. If your child is doing math, balance your checkbook. - When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers.
Giving answers means your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her. - When the teacher asks that you play a role in homework, do it.
Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team. Follow the directions given by the teacher. - If homework is meant to be done by your child alone, stay away.
Too much parent involvement can prevent homework from having some positive effects. Homework is a great way for kids to develop independent, lifelong learning skills. - Stay informed.
Talk with your child's teacher. Make sure you know the purpose of homework and what your child's class rules are. - Help your child figure out what is hard homework and what is easy homework.
Have your child do the hard work first. This will mean he will be most alert when facing the biggest challenges. Easy material will seem to go fast when fatigue begins to set in. - Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration.
Let your child take a short break if she is having trouble keeping her mind on an assignment. - Reward progress in homework.
If your child has been successful in homework completion and is working hard, celebrate that success with a special event (e.g., pizza, a walk, a trip to the park) to reinforce the positive effort.
Reading Tips
- One of the most important activities you can do with your children to prepare them for success in school is to read with them. Reading aloud to your kids stimulates their minds, strengthens their imaginations, and improves language skills. Daily independent reading is essential for growing your child’s reading skills as well.
- Make reading time special. Turn off distractions like the TV.
- Make time to read every day. Reading fits into almost any routine.
- Schedule visits to the library, and get them library cards in their own names.
- Create a space that encourages reading. Make a "book nook" in your home especially for the kids.
- Take time to look at the book’s pictures, and talk about them. Ask your child what he/she thinks is happening or what the characters are feeling.
- Stop at interesting points in the story. Ask questions such as "What do you think will happen next?"
- Help children relate the story to their own experiences. Ask "Have you ever felt that way?"
- Select and read a variety of books to children. Include poetry and stories about other cultures, lifestyles, and countries.
- Use books to help you discuss important events in children’s lives—welcoming a new baby, starting daycare, moving to a new home, etc.
- Continue to read to children after they have learned to read. This will expose them to language, ideas, and adventures beyond their own reading skills.
- Give books as presents. This tells children that books are special.
- Let children see you read. Point out how reading helps you do important things like following a recipe or looking up a phone number.
- Encourage children to make their own books.
|
|