Getting The Facts On Homework Help
Pencils and paper are
just the beginning when helping your child with his or her homework. Computers
have become an essential learning tool and the world wide web offers endless
information and assistance. In addition to the basics, here are some more tips
and tools to help you and your child get the most out of homework.
Learn more
about:
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Homework and Computers
These days many
schools have computers in classrooms, and many households have personal
computers. Ask you child's teacher to explain his or her policy about the use
of computers, typewriters or any special equipment for homework.
If the teacher allows
students to use a computer, but you don't have a computer in your home, or if
your family computer is being used by many family members, check with your
child's teacher, the school library, and the local public library about using
their computers. Some schools offer after-school programs where your child can
use the school's computers. And many public libraries make computers available
to children.
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Online Homework Resources
Using a computer is
becoming increasingly common and sometimes necessary for children to complete
their homework assignments. Computers can be a great learning tool and provide
access to the many resources that are available on the Internet. Although,
identifying reliable resources can be overwhelming for both parents and
children. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of web sites that
can help you find online homework help.
Learn how you can
protect children's privacy online by visiting the Federal
Trade Commission's Kidz Privacy web page.
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Giving
Practice Tests
- Work memorization
subjects into your daily schedule. For example, quiz your child on
multiplication tables while grocery shopping, on the state capitals while
cleaning up from dinner, or on spelling words while in the bathtub.
- Let you child be
the teacher. If he can teach you the subject, he knows it.
- Take your child's
learning
style into consideration when doing homework. For example, if you child
is a visual learner, you may want to make flash cards for her practice
tests.
- Talk with you
child's teacher about her testing methods at the beginning of the school year.
Knowing whether tests will be multiple-choice, true/false, question/answer or
essay and how the tests will be administered such as verbally or written will
help you design more helpful practice tests.
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Overcoming Resistance
Children have good
and bad days just like adults. You may see occasional resistance depending on
the subject and type of assignment. If resistance becomes a daily part of the
homework routine, you need to deal with it directly. Below are a few tips that
may help you solve the dilemma.
- Give kids a short
break between school and homework.
- Know your child's
diet. Proper nutrition and hydration are
key to alertness and energy.
- Do the easy stuff
first. It sets a pattern of success, and a smaller amount of hard homework may
seem more manageable for some children.
- Give plenty of
positive reinforcement during homework time and try to ignore the negative
behaviors of homework resistance.
- Set standards for
how the homework is to be done that parents and other adults who are helping
know about and agree on.
- Include kids in
setting up the homework schedule and study area. Kids need to have some choices
and control over their time and activities.
Some students resist
homework because they do not understand what they are supposed to do. If this
could be the case, encourage your child to talk with his teacher, or set a time
when you and your child can talk with the teacher together. This may also give
the teacher some much-needed information. If your child does not understand the
assignment, other children may not understand it either. By talking to the
teacher, you have provided an opportunity for him to clarify the assignment to
the entire class.
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Other Resources
This is just a brief
overview. For more information on how to help your child with homework and
related issues check out these resources from the World Wide Web.
Publications available for
ordering:
Websites*:
* Names of
resources and organizations included in this online article are provided as
examples only, and their inclusion does not mean that they are endorsed by the
Savvy Consumer Information Center or any Government agency. Also, if a
particular resource or organization is not mentioned, this does not mean or
imply that it is unsatisfactory.
*If you click on these links, you are leaving our website. Please
bookmark us before you leave so you can return easily. We are not responsible
for the content of these websites.
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