Hassle Free homework
School is a mere six hour experience. By evidencing interest in assignments, by helping your child organize time and activities efficiently, you pave the way to success. Here are some hints:
• Teach your child to organize. Find a time, at meals perhaps, to discuss what needs to be done in the day or evening ahead. Together create a weekly or monthly calendar. Then, each day, prioritize a list of projects. Check these off as they are completed.
• Design a study schedule to match your child's learning style. Some students perform based in the evening before dinner. Others work well in the wee hours of morning. Collaborate to identify which time will be most productive. Then, periodically reexamine your choice to verify its validity.
• Find your child's best study spot. Some youngsters work best in noisy kitchens. Others find special quiet corners superb.
• What about distractions? Again, this is a child by child decision. Mary may work best with the stereo blasting, totally ignoring the antics of her little brother. Sandy may actually perform better with the TV on. Most children, however, do better in distraction free environments, with limited extraneous noise. Most children prefer clutter free desktops, with convenient writing materials and references.
• What do you tackle first - the tough stuff or the fun assignments? Usually cognitively demanding tasks - reading and math work, writing assignments, should be pursued early on. Less taxing stuff like artwork should be finished later. Some children may need to intersperse challenges with more intrinsically motivating work.
• Avoid the homework trap. Don't do your child's homework. Too often parents, in an effort to help, end up prodding their youngsters along, coaxing at every five minute interval. Identify what your child can do, a clear study goal. Ensure that your studier understands his/her assignment. For example, require Jane to study 10 spelling words, complete 5 math problems or answer half a dozen social studies questions before taking a break. Then walk away.
Stick-to-itiveness
Some kids have an 'I can't' script. Teach your child to change negatives to motivators. 'I can succeed.' 'I can finish this chapter.' 'I can make it!'• Pacing. Students all too frequently get stuck on problem six and never complete the ten easier ones succeeding it. Obstacles should not become excuses to give up. Encourage your child to give each section a few minutes, then move on.
• Really tough stuff. Suggest a five or ten minute activity break - a walk around the block or a snack time. A little head clearing goes a long way toward success.
• Confronted with the behemoth project, Jose just collapses. Help him cope by dividing it into manageable sections. Encourage him to record completion of each. Somehow tackling smaller units makes the whole job seem easier.
• Set up a time schedule that works. Last minute cramming is unlikely to yield real accomplishment.
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Stick-to-itiveness
Some kids have an 'I can't' script. Teach your child to change negatives to motivators. 'I can succeed.' 'I can finish this chapter.' 'I can make it!'• Pacing. Students all too frequently get stuck on problem six and never complete the ten easier ones succeeding it. Obstacles should not become excuses to give up. Encourage your child to give each section a few minutes, then move on.
• Really tough stuff. Suggest a five or ten minute activity break - a walk around the block or a snack time. A little head clearing goes a long way toward success.
• Confronted with the behemoth project, Jose just collapses. Help him cope by dividing it into manageable sections. Encourage him to record completion of each. Somehow tackling smaller units makes the whole job seem easier.
• Set up a time schedule that works. Last minute cramming is unlikely to yield real accomplishment.
• Master one skill before beginning the next. You can't build the second floor without a firm foundation.
Making the Most of Reading Time
• Help your child notice headings, introductions, summaries and review questions before beginning reading. These set the stage for identification of significant data and cue reading success.
• Divide reading into small chunks. Develop thought provoking questions on each.
• Look for organizing techniques for data. Do the first letters spell a word? Can you design a sentence to put your isolated facts together?
• Use diagramming to enhance understanding: outlining, making flow charts, setting up notes in a hierarchy of importance.
Self-Starters
• It's great to praise your child for efforts and achievements. It's still better to help students evaluate and relish their own accomplishments. Children who put forth effort and actually achieve become self-starters.
• Avoid bribes and threats.
• Don't let failures have finality. Concentrate on self-esteem builders - real accomplishments.
• Find an interest and work on it. Avoid putting all your efforts into weaknesses.
Homework forges a vital connection between students' in-school efforts and their at-home activities. Provide the support your child needs, then prepare to share in his success.
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