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UPCOMING EVENTS Community Flea Market Saturday April 9, 2005 |
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Members List:
Links Section
President:
Jaymie Pierce
Vice President:
Amy Polster
Secretary:
Teena Chapman
Treasurer:
Stephanie Luster
High School Representative:
Maria Cox
Hospitality Chairman:
Elaine Renfroe
Jr. High School Representative:
Lorie Smith
PARADISE ISD
Homework help for parents and students
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Look for the positive and avoid criticism. Your children's frustration will only increase if they're having a rough time and you continue to point out their shortcomings. A statement like "You should be able to do these on your own by now!" can quickly turn a homework session into a war zone. Beware the "That's not the way my teacher does it" trap. This familiar song deserves a polite refrain from you in response-"Sorry, dear, it looks like I'm not going to be very helpful, then." Suggest that your children mark the problem or assignment for discussion with their teacher, and move on to the next assignment. Learning to ask for help when you are confused or don't understand is an important skill. Checking homework is OK, but leave it at that. Checking your child's homework is a simple way to show that you're interested in how things are going. Check the work for completeness, not correctness. Coping with chronic homework problems When your child consistently fails to complete homework assignments, you need to step in. Can your child usually complete assignments with extra assistance and encouragement? On most evenings, children should be able to complete assignments independently. If they seem to require more help from you than you think is reasonable, it's time to schedule an appointment with their teacher. Explain your concerns to the teacher. Ask if your child is able to complete similar assignments in class. Does the teacher think your child has the skills to do the work? If the teacher believes your child is capable of doing the work and does fine in class, you need to set up a plan with the teacher to get your child back on track with homework. A plan for improvement While your children's specific plan for improvement must accommodate their unique circumstances, there are several key principles to follow in setting up that plan. Your children's homework is their responsibility. Your child needs to know what the assignments are, when they are due, and how much time to plan to complete them. Establish clear expectations. What do you and the teacher expect your child to do? Make these expectations clear, and make sure your child understands that you and the teacher are working together to define them. Often a meeting involving you, your child, and the teacher is the best setting to establish expectations. Establish clear consequences. Determine what will happen if your child fails to meet the expectations you and the teacher have established, and let your child know what consequences to expect. Identify several activities or privileges your children enjoy every day. When they meet the established expectations, they continue to enjoy their activities or privileges. When they don't, some or all may be suspended. When you must suspend privileges, do so matter-of-factly, without anger or emotion. Be consistent. Stay connected with your child's teacher. A simple "note home" system is an easy and effective way to know whether your child is meeting established expectations. Your child's teacher just sends home a short note each day telling you whether your child has completed and turned in assignments. It's never too late to start The earlier in your child's school years that you can implement effective homework practices, the more likely you are to shape homework as a positive learning experience. But it's never too late to start. Even if your child has reached the grumbling and complaining stage, you can still turn things around. Sit down with your child at a time and in a place where there are no distractions, and explain what you plan to do and what you expect to accomplish. Involve children in your plans as much as possible. Does your child have a favorite place or time to study? When practical, incorporate those preferences into your approach. In reality, your child doesn't like fighting about homework any more than you do. Though you may hear complaints and even encounter resistance at first, stick to your plan. Remember, stay calm and keep it positive. In the end, both you and your child will appreciate having homework as just another routine in the day.
