Homework Help (for Parents)
7 ways to ace the challenges of after-school work.
By Amy Crelly
By now that Back to School glow is just a distant memory for
most families. If your child is struggling in school, and the very word “homework”
makes you cringe, take heart! Then try these tips from expert tutors to help
your student get back on track and help you take back your evenings.
1. Teach Kids Time Management
Establish a set time each day for doing homework. Also, have your child tackle
the most difficult work first, so he’ll be most alert for the bigger challenges.
Easier tasks will still be manageable, even when fatigue starts setting in,
but waiting until it's almost bedtime means you'll both be too tired to do your
best. Shannon Arnold at Sylvan Learning agrees and adds, “Kids need to
find their daily energy rhythm.” She recommends teaching kids to organize
their daily and weekly tasks, “so they have adequate time to get everything
done.”
2. Create a Clear, Quiet Space
TV, toys, gaming, text messages, the Internet, IM… modern students are
surrounded by temptations. A distraction-free zone just for schoolwork can go
a long, long way toward helping kids concentrate. It might be at home, at a
friend’s house, the library, a teacher’s room after school—whatever
works!
3. Provide guidance, not answers
When your child asks for help, just giving the answers is easy. Too bad it doesn’t
help. Instead, try asking questions (Will you read the question out loud to
me? What section of the chapter covers that?). Guide them toward making their
own discoveries. This will give them the confidence, and the tools, to face
challenges on their own—and ask you for help less and less!
4. Head off Frustration
If you see your child showing signs he’s getting frustrated, give him
some time out. A well-timed break lets kids recharge and refocus on their assignments.
5. Try Tutoring
Kids aren’t the only ones who get frustrated. There’s an art to
teaching, especially when a student is discouraged by a subject. So, don’t
take it personally if you’re finding it tough to play tutor at home—on
top of the dozens of other things crowding your to-do list each night. Do turn
to the experts.
A good tutor will not only know her subject inside and out, but she’ll
also know how to break it down to fit your child’s learning style. “Make
sure you find a tutor who has an experienced track record in the desired academic
subject area,” advises Elizabeth Scales, of College Nannies & Tutors
in El Dorado Hills.
6. Make Learning More Fun
Nobody expects you to perform like a PBS kids’ show host. Just try to
stay positive about schoolwork. “I used to commiserate with my kids,”
says Jason Adair, a local dad of two. “I’d say things like, ‘math
sucks, it’s hard…’ That didn’t really help. Now I’ve
made a conscious decision to be more positive, and I see how much my attitude
matters. If I tell my son math is fun, he believes it. If I tell my daughter
that German is cool, she’s into it.”
If your child is in tutoring, just finding the right tutor can
make studying more fun. “Make sure your student and tutor have a good
workable bond,” advises Elizabeth Scales, adding, “your student
will learn more and have fun doing it if he enjoys being with the tutor.”
7. Reward Your Child for a Job Well Done
Everybody likes a pat on the back when they do a great job. If you see that
your child has worked hard and done well with a schoolwork challenge, celebrate
that success. A simple trip out for pizza or a movie is a great way to reward
their efforts. “Just be sure that the reward is earned,” says Joe
Coradetti, Center Director of LearningRx of Folsom. “Set realistic goals
as a measurement for a reward,” Coradetti suggests, “and be prepared
to hold back that reward if the goal is not met.” The real value of any
reward, he points out, should lie in the achievement itself.
|
