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Top 10 Homework Tips

Who dreads homework more a child or the parents?

One of the worst things I can remember about going to school was homework. Now one of the worst things about being a parent is the homework. Perhaps it would help if I was like other parents and stood over my children brandishing a whip and uttering all manner of ungodly threats if homework was not completed and out of the way half an hour after they arrived home from school.

What would you rather do? Chill out watching television, be out and about playing with friends or doing homework. Well for any sensible person doing homework would come bottom of the list. Looking back to my own schooldays homework was a real chore. I had certainly had enough of school by the time the bell went at the end of the day. The thought of spending my precious leisure time writing to an imaginary French pen friend, trying to make head or tails of algebra or writing up the latest chemical experiment that involved burning a tiny sliver of magnesium did not exactly get my heart racing with excitement. Therefore spare a thought for your child when they are showing a decided lack of enthusiasm for tackling their latest homework assignment.

Although I didn't think so at the time, I was lucky. For me homework didn't start until senior school whereas for my own children they were meant to read every night from the moment they went to school as well as having other bits and pieces of work to do from the age of five. Once they were in junior school homework was set every week and some of it I have to say I struggled with when asked to help.

Looking back there is one piece of homework that I am particularly proud of. It was a piece of poetry I wrote and a little time afterwards the school submitted it to a book for publication The publishers wrote to me asking for permission to publish the poem. So far so good, but there was a small technical problem. The book was for poems written by junior school children. I was about 40 at the time! What happen was that my son was struggling to write a poem. To help I quickly scribbled out an example poem that I thought might give him some ideas. The only idea it gave him was to copy it out in his own hand and give it in to his teacher as his own work. Tut. Tut.

Even now I must admit that I find it hard to stick rigidly to every tip listed below. It's a shame because I know if I did homework would get done a lot easier and my blood pressure would remain somewhat lower.

1. Check what needs to be done early
I have heard of some parents who insist the weekend's home work is done and out of the way by teatime on Friday. This is a bit extreme for my own personal taste, but if you find it gets the job done and works for you then carry on. One important point I learnt from hearing of this method was to at least check through any homework that has been set as soon as you possibly can. There have been times when I have discovered on a Sunday night that in order to complete the homework a trip to a library was required. Now that makes it harder when they are all closed.

Checking homework early also helps you to assess how long the homework will take.

2. Consider using treats to entice your children to finish homework early
This doesn't have to cost you a large some of money, but perhaps you can link it in with an activity that is already planned. For example if homework is completed in the morning it makes time for a trip to the park in the afternoon.

3. Be prepared to help with organisation and getting started
I have found that getting started is often the hardest part of any task. Talk through the homework with your child. Make sure they understand the work they need to do. Helping them to break down the task into manageable sections can make the homework appear less daunting.

4. Create the right environment and avoid distractions
Sitting at a table or desk is likely to help. It is a bit like being in school. A quiet environment also helps. If you had to do your work each day while also watching television then you probably wouldn't get very far (unless you're a TV critic!). Therefore homework will progress a lot faster with the television off and other distractions such a siblings playing out of the way.

5. Ensure your child has all the equipment they need
If they have all the things they need at the start such as paper, the correct pencils etc. then there should be no need to stop half way through to find something. This helps to maintain concentration and momentum. (I have always found a good quality rubber is vital!).

6. Make sure they have enough time to complete the work
Many children do not work as well when up against the clock.

7. Plan homework at the same time of day each time
This is not always possible, but it can help build homework into your child's routine and help them to accept it may be a dirty job, but its one that needs doing.

8. If you think your child is being overloaded or has not received the direction required talk to the school about it
Although homework needs to be done it should not totally dominate. If you think your child is being given too much homework, the work is too hard or it is not clear what needs to be done then talk to the school about your concerns. If you are finding it almost impossible to get your child to complete their homework then ask the school for help.

9. Stay calm!
If homework is causing friction then try to keep calm. This is something I have not always found easy when a child refuses to use any of the guidelines listed above (insists they can do their homework just before bedtime, while watching their favourite program and playing a game with a sibling etc.). Getting angry about it only makes you feel worse and often has no effect on getting the homework done.

10. Keep in Touch
Check the marks your children are receiving for their homework. This more than anything tells you if the effort being put in is enough in terms of both quantity and quality.

 

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