K-12 students who have been working hard at school all day, and have extracurricular commitments after school, may be understandably less enthusiastic about their homework than parents and teachers would like. Even without a lot of distractions, some students find it difficult to organize their time and space well enough to consistently complete their homework well. Parents can help all students achieve homework success by following these simple guidelines.
Creating an Environment Conducive to Study
Children who have trouble completing their homework are usually too easily distracted by other things. Having a designated space for after school study can help. Arrange a desk or table in a private area, making sure that the workspace is well-lit and free of clutter. Make sure there are ample school supplies (paper, pens, pencils, ruler, compass, etc.) available, and for special projects, necessary art supplies (poster board, markers, crayons, etc.).
Organizing After School Time for Homework
When children begin having regular homework to do, it is time to work with them to limit after school activities to what will still allow them the necessary time to study. Keep a calendar for long-term planning, and ask daily about how they plan to complete their work around other scheduled events, including the “down time” that all students need after a long day at school.
Developing a Positive Attitude Toward Homework
Children often feel overwhelmed by homework, especially as they reach middle and high school and the quantity and complexity of assignments increases. Acknowledging their feelings can help diffuse the tension, but most students will also need a concrete plan for completing the work, as well as frequent monitoring and encouragement until, with success, the new work habits and attitudes are firmly developed.
Small accomplishments will build a sense of self-efficacy regarding homework. Help children prioritize assignments by difficulty, and approach the most challenging tasks first. Check in with them as they work, offering encouragement and tangible rewards for completion, such as a five-minute break for every ten math problems they complete; or use a timer and have them compete with themselves to see how much they can complete in a given time period.
Providing Appropriate Parent Help
Teachers expect parents to provide some help with homework tasks, such as proofreading or editing papers, reading to and with children, working with flashcards, or quizzing students on vocabulary or spelling words. Problems arise, however, when in an attempt to help their children, parents take over responsibility for the assignment and end up doing most of the work themselves.
Homework assignments provide an opportunity for parents to co-teach, to provide a different instructional perspective to children. By modeling thought processes, helping children check for errors or explain their solutions to problems, discussing information, and helping them formulate and organize ideas, parents can provide a higher level of assistance than with the simple rote exercises mentioned above; but at all times, students should remain in control of their own assignments and complete the work themselves.
Parents can help children become more successful with their homework by focusing on the home environment, time management, and positive attitudes. By modeling good work habits and providing appropriate assistance, parents can help children see homework as the means of extra practice and enrichment that it is meant to be.
Further Reading
Canter, Lee. Homework Without Tears: A Parents’ Guide For Motivating Children to Do Homework and to Succeed in School. New York: Harper, 1993.
Barbara Abromitis - Barbara Abromitis, Ed.D. is a freelance writer and educational consultant, with degrees in reading education and educational psychology, ...
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