Social Learning Centre

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BACK TO BASICS – GETTING HOMEWORK DONE AT HOME

With over half of the school year behind us, and the March Break gloriously over, parents of school age children turn their thoughts back to routine, and the completion of nightly homework. In today's busy, multitask households, getting homework done can be a real challenge. As the mother of two school age boys, ensuring that homework time develops my children's sense of responsibility, good study and organizational habits can be a struggle.

Busy parents face a time crunch at the end of the day, and homework can get wedged somewhere between after school activities, dinner, and bedtime. Sometimes, just finding a child's homework in that bottomless vortex of mystery, otherwise known as a backpack, can be as difficult as getting the work done. There are days I think I need a compass and a map to figure out my son's agenda list of exactly what he needs to do.

Routine is the cornerstone of quality homework time with children. Once a routine is set up, children can be supervised through the completion of nightly homework with a minimal amount of haranguing.

Harangue free homework? Bring it on!

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO?

Parents can, and should set the stage for children to complete their work; however, we should not do it for them, no matter how much we want them to succeed. Children need to make mistakes, and those mistakes should be corrected by their teacher. Teachers need to see what children are capable of, and where more work needs to be done. None of us want our children to fail, or even to face that uncomfortable moment of admission that their work is undone, but there is no other way to teach children the consequence of their action, or inaction other then by letting nature take its course. Teachers are not the enemy. They are a part of the learning process, and want children to learn to take responsibility for their work. Encourage your child to correct their own work, but resist doing those corrections for them.

BE ON TOP OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

Parents need to ensure that there is an ongoing and open dialogue with their child's teacher. We need to know what the classroom teacher expects so we can guide children through the process.

Encourage your child to make use of the school provided agenda. The agenda can provide a written record of what work must be done, and when. Encourage your child to respect timelines and due dates by writing down the assigned homework and checking items off once complete.

SET THE STAGE

Sit with your child at the start of homework time to get them started, and then give them space to complete their work. Come in again once the work is done. Help your child review their work. It is important to teach children how to follow through on their work. Revisions are a part of the process, and corrections make work complete.

TEACH THEM TO PLAN AHEAD FOR BIG ASSIGNMENTS

Use the homework agenda, or a calendar to keep track of big assignments. Break big assignments down into weekly or daily chunks. This will help children track their progress, and stay on top of the whole assignment. Post a work schedule calendar in the place where your child completes their homework so they can easily refer to it.

TEACH YOUR CHILD A PROCESS

Use homework time to teach your child how to get and stay focused. Whenever possible, have your child do their homework at the same time every night: after supper, after their bath, before they watch TV. Any of these things can remind and signal children that homework time is near.

Make sure your child de-clutters and organizes their materials before they settle down to work. Limit distractions right from the get go. No game boys, ipods, or cell phones.

Have your child make a complete list of all the homework that has to be done. This is best if the teacher assigns homework on a weekly instead of a nightly basis. Arrange work items from easy to hard, or hard to easy. For some children, starting with the easy things gets them rolling, others need to start with harder subjects while their mind is still fresh.

DO NOT NEGOTIATE HOMEWORK COMPLETION

Children can be masters at negotiation, and once you open the portal of negotiation, there is no closing it. Soon, you are no longer negotiating homework completion but bargaining, cajoling, bribing, and pleading. Make homework completion one of the responsibilities that are non-negotiable. Flexibility is fine, but make sure the end result is the same. Homework is a task that needs to be done, and done on time.

HOMEWORK BOOT CAMP

Once taught, expect your child to follow through on the organization and completion of their homework. Children can rise to high expectations, and it is not unreasonable to expect them to.

KNOW WHAT THE WORK IS

Expect your child to listen in class and write down what homework needs to be done.

USE SOUND TRANSPORTATION

Left to their own devices, children can turn homework sheets into postage stamps. Use a strong folder to house homework assignments for the trip to and from school. A strong Ziplock bag with a piece of cardboard inside can do the trick quite nicely.

FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE HOMEWORK ROUTINE

Always expect children to do their homework. Maintain the attitude that homework is important and must be done. Try the 1, 2, 3 set up method.

One: Clear the workspace of all distractions.

Two: Collect all homework materials. Have everything that will need on hand.

Three: Review the work and make a short list of what to do. Highlight instructional words like: read, list, write down, colour in, etc. These are written clues on how to complete the assignment. Make sure your child hands in their homework. Many a time I've found completed work buried deep in the bottom of a back pack.

FOCUS ON LONG TERM DISCIPLINE

Homework completion should encourage positive study habits and organizational skills that last a lifetime. Once you set up your child's homework routine, discuss that the most important thing is follow through with the process, not just getting answers right.

In today's busy society, children can be overwhelmed with too many pressures. Make sure your child doesn't confuse doing their personal best with excelling to someone else's standard. Personal best is unique to each child, and an intrinsic part of self-esteem and personal growth. Homework skills can teach children more than academic learning. It can put them on the path of good organizational and life skills.

- Tricia C.M. Kassotis

Tricia Kassotis is the Director of The Social Learning Centre prgram in Ottawa, Canada. The Social Learning Centre is an after school social skills and academic enhancement program. It's focus is upon the completion of children's daily homework, as well as the development of positive social skills in children.

Resource Information: The Peanut Butter and Jelly Guide to Organizing a Homework Club.
Frontier College Press. 1996.

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