Homework Without Tears
[A Parental Guide to Helping Your Child
Build strong Study Habits]
Genevieve Lundberg
Elementary School Counselor
(805) 497-9511 ext. 535
Homework
affects achievement in school.
Research
tells us that the time spent doing homework directly affects a child’s
achievement. Students who consistently
do homework perform academically better than those who do not do homework. By doing homework, students can improve
academic achievement in all subjects.
This occurs across all grade levels.
Doing homework improves academic achievement of both high and low
achievers.
A.
Tell your children they must have a special place where they will do
homework.
You and your child should choose the location together. Make sure it is some place close where you
can be available for help.
II. How to get homework finished on time.
It
is very common for parents to argue with their children over when the homework
is to be done each night. Children will
try to put it off as long as possible.
The battles sometimes last until bedtime and into the next morning. On top of these battles, children are very
busy bees. Many children have after
school activities, doctor’s appointments, or tutoring. Children who have two family homes often have
to travel between homes. In order to
solve these issues, homework should be scheduled into your children’s lives.
A.
Daily
homework time is a pre-planned time set aside each day during which your
children must do their homework. During
this time, all other activities should stop.
This includes TV. the phone, and Nintendo.
B.
For
grades K-3:
Choose the Daily Homework Time for your
child.
Select a time when you or another
responsible person will be available to assist you child.
Try to schedule the same Daily Homework
Time for all of your children.
Write down the homework hours in the
designated spaces on the Daily Schedule.
Go over the sheet with your child,
explaining what it means.
Post the sheet in a visible place like the
refrigerator.
C. For grades 4-6
Decide with your child the homework hours
and write them in the Daily Schedule.
Post the Daily Schedule in a visible place
like the refrigerator.
D.
If
necessary, establish mandatory homework time.
Mandatory homework time means that children
must use their entire scheduled Daily Homework Time for homework, reading,
reviewing, or practicing. This helps speeders
(children who rush to get it over, and it is often incomplete or messy) and forgetters
(children who “forget” to bring work home or that they had any to do). Mandatory homework time is designed to teach
students that there is no advantage to rushing through work or forgetting it
altogether. Children learn that their
irresponsible approach to homework will not be rewarded with more free time.
What happens if I can’t be home during mandatory homework time?
K-3 Explain what mandatory homework time is to the person who supervises your child. If the caretaker cannot do this, schedule it during a time when you will be home.
4-6
Make
sure your child knows each day when Daily Homework time begins. Telephone home at the start of Daily Homework
to check to see that your child is working.
Have your child leave their homework out for you to review when you get
home.
E. Use the homework planner to check to make
sure all of the work is complete. For
children who have a tendency to “forget” to write it in their homework planner,
you can check with your child’s teacher to see if s/he will initial the
planner. This way you can ensure you are
seeing the whole picture.
A. Tell your children that you expect them to do homework on their own. This doesn’t happen overnight. This skill must be nurture and encouraged early on.
K-3
Check your child’s homework planner.
If needed, read the directions to the homework together.
Make sure they understand the assignment.
If needed, get your child started by working on the first
problem of the question together.
Be available to answer questions and give assistance.
Praise your child’s efforts.
4-6
Check to see that your child is doing homework at the proper
time.
Suggest that your child call a friend if he needs help.
Give your child help only after he makes an effort on his own.
Utilize study skills to help your child work independently.
Praise your child’s efforts.
B. Helpful hints to encouragement:
Emphasize your confidence in your
children’s ability to do the work with a little boost from you.
Break down the “overwhelming” assignment
into simple steps you know your child can do successfully.
Provide encouragement each time the child
succeeds at any step. Then have them
move forward to complete the assignment.
Once you child begins gaining confidence,
have him do a small part of the assignment on his own.
IV.
How to motivate your children to do their
best work.
A. Consistently praise your child every
day. Don’t just save the praise for A
‘s.
B. Tell your children specifically what you
like about what they are doing or what they have done.
C. A hug or pat on the shoulder increases the
messages impact.
D. Use super praise.
a. One parent praises the child for their
behavior.
b. This parent praises the child in front of
the other parent.
c. The other parent now praises the child.
A. For children where praise is not enough,
sometimes we have to use other incentives to get them motivated. An incentive is something that motivates a
child into action. Once the children
begin working on their own, the rewards can be phased out. It is important to note that rewards do not
have to be expensive. More than
anything, children want their parents attention. Rewards can be watching their favorite movie
together, going and getting an ice cream, or going to the park.
B. Tell your children that you are going to
use some new ideas to help them do their homework.
C. Choose incentives that your child will
appreciate.
D. Be consistent.
E. Phase out incentives, but make sure to keep
up the praise!
F. Remember giving incentives is your
choice. If a child states they won’t do
their homework unless they get a reward, make sure to lay down the law. “Jamey, doing your homework on your own is
your job. Offering you a reward for
doing it is my choice. Don’t ever get
the idea that it’s something you have coming to you”.
G. Great motivating ideas:
K-3 Beat the Clock 4-6 Trade Off
Spinner Chunking
Homework Award Spinner
Homework Contract Homework
Award
Homework
Contract
A. Tell your children- clearly and firmly-
that you expect them to do their homework responsibly.
B. Don’t argue with your children. Use the broken- record technique.
C. Back up your words with actions by:
*Tell your children that the choice is
theirs.
*Don’t make meaningless threats of
punishment.
*Be consistent in following through with
your demands.
*Be prepared for your children to test the
boundaries.
*Call the school or counselor if your
children still will not do their homework.
D. Do not hesitate to talk with
your child’s teacher if your child cannot do the homework assignments, or does
not bring home assigned work. Just make
sure to follow through on what you and your child’s teacher come up with.