Help with Homework

Helping Students Develop Good Homework Habits

Homework is a fact of life for a student, and it is an activity that often spills over into family life. Parents often wonder how they can help their child be successful. Some of my tutors work with students and parents in their private sessions to help them develop a homework strategy and routine.

I have compiled a checklist below from several sources, including my professional experience, to help students get the most out of their homework assignments.

Homework is Important

Do you show your child that you think education and homework are important?
Find out by answering the following:
Do you set a regular time every day as “homework time?”
Does your child have the school supplies necessary to complete homework assignments?
Does your child have a comfortable space where he/she can easily concentrate?
Do you set a good example by reading and writing yourself? (and sharing your reading and writing with your child?)
Do you communicate with your child’s teachers?
Do you keep a portfolio of your child’s “best pieces of work?”
Do you praise your child for things done well? When things aren’t going well, do you find something to praise him for before criticizing?

Monitoring Assignments

Do you stay interested and involved with your child’s classes? Below are some questions to consider:
Do you know what your child’s homework assignments are?
Do you know how long the homework should take?
How involved does the teacher want you to be in your child’s assignments?
Do you see that assignments are started and completed?
Do you read the teacher’s comments on assignments that are returned?
Is TV viewing or video gaming cutting into homework time?

Provide Guidance

Your biggest help to your child is to give him/her guidance throughout the school year. Answer the following questions to gauge if you are providing enough guidance.
Do you understand and respect your child’s learning styles?
Does your child work better alone or with someone else? In a group?
Do you help your child get organized?
Does your child need a calendar or planner?
Does your child have a bag or backpack that helps keep things organized?
Do you help with time management? (putting aside time for large projects, planning around activities and events, putting together a study strategy for a test)
Do you talk with your child about homework assignments? Does your child understand them?

Communicate with the School

Do you meet the teacher early in the year before problems come up?
If a problem comes up, do you meet with the teacher?
Do you cooperate with the teacher and your child to work out a plan to fix homework problems?
Do you follow up with the teacher and your child to make sure the plan is working?
Do you ask your child’s teacher how you can support what is being learned in class?
Homework is a collaborative effort, so it is important that you know your part. Some students need more support than others, and you are the best judge of what your child needs.