Parents in Action: Homework help

The second half of the school year is about to begin and in millions of homes across the country so will the homework time after school. As well as helping to instill the information they learned earlier in the day, homework will help your older kids prepare for mid-term exams coming up in January.

Here are a few ideas to help your kids focus on homework:

Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework. Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with other distractions.

Help your child with time management. Establish a set time each day for doing homework. Don't let your child leave homework until just before bedtime. Think about using a weekend morning or afternoon for working on big projects, especially if the project involves getting together with classmates. It will also help your kids save time if they work on more difficult homework first and then move on to subjects and work that is easier for them.

When the teacher asks that you play a role in homework, do it. Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team. Follow the directions given by the teacher.

Save old homework. January is a time of year when many students will be getting ready for mid-term exams. One of the best ways to study for these exams is by revisiting homework assignments from earlier in the year. Create a folder to save old homework assignments so they're easy to find later on.

There are numerous ways to help your kids complete and get the most out of there homework and that includes mom and dad being in communication with teachers. Take a moment once a month to touch base with their teachers and see what your kids are working on, what they need help with and how they can improve. You can also visit the Department of Education website, www.ed.gov for more than 50 tips on homework help.

Sources:
TBParenting.com
ParentingWithAngela.com
ED.gov