Guidelines for Homework

Homework can often be a cause of tension within a family. Here are a few guidelines that might help.

1. Set a regular time (a beginning and ending time)
During this time activities such as reviewing trouble areas in subjects, practicing spelling lists or times tables, getting assignments done, writing in a journal, and reading should be done. The designated time does not need to be the same time every night (although this is preferable). Outside activities such as piano lessons or baseball games are valuable in a child's life. However, if these activities seem to constantly interfere with study time, perhaps your child needs to drop out of one of the activities so the homework can get done.

2. Have a designated study place.
Make sure the area has good lighting and is fairly quiet. Suitable areas include a desk in the child's bedroom or the kitchen table.

3. Provide supplies and resources your child may need.
Items such ad pencils, pencil sharpener, erasers, pens, paper, etc. should be easily accessible.

4. Remove distractions.
Turn off a nearby television. Turn off computer games and remove video games. Do not accept social calls that would interfere with studying. Sometimes worry is a distraction. Check to make sure your child clearly understands the assignment. Ask, "Tell me in your own words what you are supposed to do."

5. Help your child get organized.
Show your child how to make a list of things that need to be accomplished and then check them off as they are done. Determine priorities, estimate the time it might take to do a certain task, arrange work in a homework folder, have an assignment sheet or notebook, and make sure to write out when a certain assignment is due.

6. Help your child learn to concentrate.
Limit the length of time spent on a "boring" task. Break it into several shorter segments of time. Describe ways you concentrate such as talking to yourself to direct your attention, visualizing what your are studying in your mind or on paper by means of an outline or a map, and help your child realize s/he has to consciously plan to concentrate.

7. Allow ample time in the mornings.
This time is not for homework or studying but to allow time to preview the day and check to make sure everything is in your child's backpack to be taken to school.

Equip Your Child For Success

According to Peter Scales, here are four ways you can help your child be more successful:

(1) Support. Children need to know someone is in their corner. They can be successful if they feel someone cares about whether they succeed or fail, and if someone is proud of their successes and efforts.

(2) Boundaries and expectations. Children need adults who act like adults. Parent who are firm and loving have children who do better at school, feel more self-confident and get into less trouble than children whose parents are too strict - or too lenient.

(3) Empowerment. All people need to know they make a difference. Encourage children to provide service to others. Make sure they take part in school, community, or religious organizations that give them the chance to do some community service.

(4) Constructive use of time. After school, children still need to be involved in constructive activities. Research shows that children who play video games or watch TV for more than 10 hours per week are at greater risk of school failure.

Developing Listening Skills

Do you have trouble getting your kids to listen to you? Listening is such an important skill, yes it is a skill that can be developed! Here are a couple of ways to help your child become a better listener.
1. Have family members close their eyes for two minutes and then describe every sound they heard.
2. Make a game out of seeing how many directions a family member can follow without being reminded. For instance, give three directions (get a glass from the cupboard, take it to the bookshelf, hide it behind the fourth book). The sillier the directions, the more fun it is. Activities like these will sharpen your child's listening skills and help him/her follow directions in school.

Backpacks for Organization

Organization is a key to being successful in any area of life. It is one of the most important skills a child or adult can have. Academic challenges are often related to a child's not being organized. Becoming a list maker is one practical way to help with organization. Make a checklist of what your child should be taking to school each day. Put this list by the door and teach your child to look at it and check it over to be sure s/he has the necessary items before going out that door to school.

A good place to begin helping your child get organized is with his/her backpack. Sit down together and go through its contents. Discuss what is still needed, what to save, what to toss. By doing this, you are teaching your child a process. Use folders that are labeled (homework, parent pages, etc.) to organize all papers. Then show your child how to put things back into the backpack instead of just tossing everything in. Generally this process will take several times of doing it for a child to begin making a habit of it.

It's not always the hare that wins the race!

Thomas Edison has been quoted as saying success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. This has been proven to be correct over and over again. It is not uncommon to find a student or an adult with a high IQ and potential for learning to be surpassed by someone who seemingly has less ability but puts forth a lot of effort into her work, and therefore is successful. Encourage your child to work hard and to always try her best.

The key word here is "encourage". Parents should be their child's best coach. Find something your child has done well and give her appropriate praise. Point out your child's successes, small as they may be. Be positive in your encouragement. Praise goes a lot further than yelling and finding fault.

Remember, it is not always the hare that wins the race!

Introduction

As an elementary teacher for 23 years, I have seen over and over again the relationship between a child's success in school and that child's parents' involvement with that child at home. Bright children whose parents are not involved in their academics seem to struggle to reach their full potential while lower ability students whose parents are involved in their academics can surpass their more gifted peers.

Research has consistently shown that the family is among the most important influences in predicting a child's academic performance. The U.S. Department of Education has stated, "The family is critical to success in school." Noted educator Lucy Calkins has found, "No one is more important or more powerful in a child's life than that child's parents." Other research about the family has shown that children whose parents are involved in their education have better grades, a more positive attitude toward school, and more appropriate school behavior.

Often I have parents ask me how they can help their child at home. They simply aren't sure what to do. It is my hope that this blog will be a useful tool for helping parent better know how to help their children to be more successful in school.

With each new post, strategies will be given for helping your children be more successful in school. These will not come all at once, but over a period of days and weeks.