Helpful Hints for Scheduling
A good schedule
depends on your child's age, outside activities, temperament and learning
abilities. For instance, one youngster may work best in the afternoon after an
hour of play, and another may be more efficient after dinner. Outside
activities, such as sports or music lessons, may mean that you need a flexible
schedule. Your child may study after school on some days and in the evening on
others. If there isn't enough time to finish homework, your child may need to
drop some outside activity.
Older students will
probably be able to make up their own schedule, but younger students will need
some assistance. Write out the schedule and put it in a place where you will
see it often, such as on the refrigerator door or in the student's study area.
Monitor the schedule to make sure that it continues to fit your child's
needs.
One way to tackle a
schedule is to set a required amount of time that your child must devote to
homework or some other learning activity each school night (the length of time
will vary depending upon the child's age - see chart below). For instance, if
your seventh-grader knows she's expected to spend an hour doing homework,
reading or visiting the library, she may be less likely to rush through
assignments so that she can watch television. A required amount of time may
also discourage her from "forgetting" to bring home assignments, and help her
establish a routine.
Grade Level |
Minutes Per Day |
Days Per Week |
Kindergarten - 3rd grade |
Up
to 30 minutes a day |
Five days a week |
4th grade - 5th grade |
45
- 60 minutes a day |
Five days a week |
6th grade - 7th grade |
75
- 90 minutes a day |
Five days a week |
8th grade - 12th grade |
105
- 120 minutes a day |
Five days a week |
The amount of time
your child spends on homework may vary from the above guidelines. It will
depend on the subject, the complexity of the assignment, and your child's
learning level. Talk with your child's teacher if you are concerned about
either too much or too little homework.
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