Help Your Student Get the Most Out of Homework
Homework. Many students try to avoid it, but teaching and learning
research indicates that children who spend more time on regularly
assigned, meaningful homework, on average, do better in school, and that
the academic benefits of homework increase as children move into the
upper grades.
Parents and families play an important role in the process. Together,
families and teachers can help children develop good study habits and
attitudes to become lifelong learners.
On this page you'll find answers to questions many people have about
homework, as well as specific advice for helping your children.
Why do teachers give homework?
Teachers use homework:
- to help students understand and review the work that has been
covered in class
- to see whether students understand the lesson
- to help students learn how to find and use more information on a
subject.
Homework is also the link between school and home that shows what
children are studying.
Research shows that when homework is turned in to the teacher,
graded, and discussed with students, it can improve students' grades and
understanding of their schoolwork.
How much time should my children spend each night on homework?
Most educators agree that:
- for children in grades K-2, homework is more effective when it
does not exceed 10-20 minutes each school day
- older children, in grades 3-6, can handle 30-60 minutes a day
- in junior and senior high school, the amount of homework will vary
by subject. Most older students will also have homework projects,
such as research papers and oral reports, that may have deadlines
weeks away. They may need help organizing assignments and planning
work times to make sure homework is ready to turn in on time.
Your children's teachers can tell you how much time they expect
students to spend on homework. Place most concern on whether the
homework is meaningful and whether over a period homework is assigned in
all of the student's subjects.
Ask your principal if your school or school district has a homework
policy. If it does, make sure that you and your children know and
understand that policy.
How can I help with homework?
There are several ways in which you can help:
- Send your children to school each day, well-rested, fed and with a
positive outlook.
- Take an active interest in your children's schooling. Ask specific
questions about what happens at school each day and how your
children feel about it.
- Try not to let any of your own negative experiences keep you from
supporting and encouraging your children's learning. Let them know
how much you care about education by continuing your own learning
both informally and formally, to impress its importance upon them.
- If possible, set up a quiet, comfortable study area with good
lighting and the school supplies that your children need. This can
be almost anyplace in your home; you don't need a special room.
- Set a family "quiet time" where you and your children
can work together on homework, reading, letter writing and playing
games.
- Allow your children to study in the way each of them learns best.
For example, some children work best when they're lying on the floor
with background music playing.
Make homework a daily activity and help your children develop good
homework habits.
Can my children do homework while listening to music or watching
television?
Some students can work with a radio or stereo on, while others must
work in silence. Television can be a big problem. Many teachers ask that
the television be turned off while children are doing homework.
Research shows that American children on average spend far more time
watching television than they do completing homework. Although it's
worth noting that television can be a learning tool, it's best to leave
the television off during homework time.
How much help should I give?
This depends on each child's grade level and study habits. Younger
students often need extra homework help. First, make sure the child
understands the directions. Do a few problems together, then watch your
child do a few. When your child is finished, check the work. Praise
right answers, and show how to correct mistakes.
Avoid doing your children's homework for them. Teachers need to see
where your children are having trouble.
One of the most helpful things you can do is to show your children
that you think homework is important. Many children today do their
homework while their parents are at work. When you are at home, ask to
see your children's homework and discuss it with them. Ask questions and
be supportive.
What if I don't understand my child's assignment?
Today's students may have subjects that you never had or that you
didn't like when you were in school. You can still help your children by
praising their progress, getting help from a public library or homework
hotline, and talking with their teachers.
You don't have to be an expert in a subject to help with homework.
There are many places to go for help.
Do teachers really want me to ask them questions about homework?
Teachers want children to learn and want parents and families to be
involved in their children's education. When you stay in touch with your
children's teachers, they can ease your worries and offer their own
homework tips and ideas on how you can help your children learn. Meet
each of your children's teachers and ask what kind of homework will be
given. This is very important, even if you have children in junior or
senior high school.
Early in the school year and on occasion, ask teachers about your
children's subjects and about homework policies. For example, ask what
books your children will be using, what kinds of assignments will be
given, and when the teacher is available to answer questions.
One of my children tries hard but still has problems with homework.
What can I do to help?
There could be a number of reasons for your child's trouble. Suggest
that the child ask the teacher for extra help before or after school.
Tell your child it's good to ask the teacher about homework or anything
else he or she doesn't understand. Set a time to meet with the teacher
to discuss the problem. You may need to meet again during the year to
check on how your child is doing.
If your child understands the work but is still having trouble, ask
for a meeting with the teacher. The two of you should work out a plan to
meet your child's needs.
My child seems bored by homework. Is this normal?
It's normal for students not to want to do their homework. But if
your child always seems bored or unhappy, you need to try to find out
the reason by talking with your child. Then talk with the teacher to
come up with a solution.
Teachers want students to learn from homework. Tell the teacher if
your child thinks the homework is too easy or too hard. This will help
the teacher match homework with student ability and maturity levels.
When I ask my children if they have homework, they say that it's
finished or that they don't have any. How do I make sure they're really
doing their work?
Make studying, not just homework, a daily habit. Students can always
review lessons, read a book, or work on practice exercises during quiet
time, even if they don't have homework. Ask younger children to show you
their homework so that you can check it, sign it, and date it. Teachers
like to see that adults have checked children's homework. If your
children's school has a homework hotline, call it to check for the day's
assignments. If your children often have no homework to do, you should
let their teachers know.
Don't ask your children if they have homework each night — assume
that they always have homework or studying to do.
What if my child still isn't turning homework in?
State clearly and assertively to your child that you expect homework
to be done and turned in to the teacher. Let your child know you will
not tolerate irresponsible behavior about homework.
Don't wait until grades come out to find out if the problem has been
solved. You may need weekly contact with the teacher until the student
develops new habits.
Should I reward my children for doing homework or for getting good
grades?
Children like to know when they've done a good job. Your approval
means a lot. Praise your children's work often. Show pride when your
children do their best, no matter what grades they get.
Be careful about giving money or gifts as rewards. Most teachers want
parents to reward students' work in other ways. The next time your child
does a good job on a school project, plan a special family activity as a
reward.
Homework Hints
- Assume that your children will have studying to do every night.
- Ask your children if they understand their homework. If they do
not, work a few examples together.
- Ask your children to show you their homework after the teacher
returns it, to learn where they're having trouble and where they're
doing well. See if your children did the work correctly.
- Stay in touch with your children's teachers. Ask about their
classes and what they are studying. Ask their teachers how you can
support what they are studying (flash cards, spelling, etc.).
- Remember, you and their teachers want the same thing — to help
your children learn.
- Don't be afraid to get in touch with the teacher if you and your
child don't understand an assignment or if your child is having a
great deal of trouble. Almost all parents run into these problems,
and teachers are glad to help.
- Don't do your children's work for them. Help them learn how to do
it themselves.
- Show your children that you think homework is important. If you
are at work during homework time, ask to see their work when you get
home.
- Praise your children for doing well. Make praise a habit.
- Maintain a portfolio of "best pieces."
- Ask your school about tips or guides for helping your children
develop good study habits.
- Help older students organize their assignments by recording them
on calendars or planners, along with due dates, dates turned in,
etc.
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