|
Managing Homework Battles |
|
With the onset of school, the battle lines are drawn, the positions are fixed, and the rhetoric escalates. Family rooms are filled with the excuses. “I didn’t have time to write it down.” “I forgot my books.” “The assignment isn’t due for a week.” In many families, the homework war is one battle that parents wish they never had to enter.
Students typically lament that the work is either too difficult, too lengthy, or too dull. Teachers complain that students don’t demonstrate an interest in homework and fail to complete assignments. Parents often feel stuck in the middle. They don’t believe that they are sufficiently informed of assignments that are due and are unclear regarding the specific role teachers want them to play. They are unsure if they should back off and take a more neutral position or step in and be the enforcer.
Homework is a necessary part of a child’s education and one in which parents need to remain involved. The particular way parents are involved is determined, in large part, by the age of the child. For example, younger children require greater amounts of feedback, so they can maintain motivation and complete their assignments correctly. Junior high and high school students require less immediate supervision, but the importance of homework to their overall academic success increases significantly. Students who spend less time on homework may eventually not achieve to the extent of those who complete their assignments. Still, about half of all high school students complete less than 80% of their work.
Homework is the interface between home and school. It allows parents the chance to view their child’s education, while offering the school an opportunity to keep parents informed as to what their child is learning. It improves personal life skills such as organization, time-management, and self-responsibility. And, believe it or not, when the process runs smoothly, it can even become a positive part of the parent-child relationship.
As is often the case with so many aspects of parenting, when it comes to homework, it is far better to be proactive, rather than reactive. There are several things parents can do to increase their child’s ability to manage homework successfully.
Remain involved. Find the time to stay on top of your child’s school work. Read to your child or have your child read to you on a nightly basis. Show your child that you value school (even if you hated it) and consider homework to be important (even if you hated it, too). Show your child that you are available to help out, if needed. Parental involvement also means knowing where your child is after school. Work with your child to develop an effective Homework Station. The manner in which you structure home learning conditions such as light, noise, and television has been found to be a major predictor of homework success. Allow your child to try a variety of locations and noise levels to see which is most conducive to studying. Some children require absolute silence, while others actually perform better with background noises such as televisions or radios. This is especially true of older kids. Develop a family rule for homework time. For example, homework is to be completed between 5:00 and 6:00 PM. This suggestion is particularly important and one that parents are encouraged to consistently monitor and reinforce. Don’t allow your child to study late into the evening when fatigue becomes more of a factor. If there are no assignments given on that particular night, the child should be required to read during their homework time. This will help to develop a routine. Consider developing a list of privileges with your child such as television, computer, or phone time that will be available once homework has been completed. Help your child to break down large assignments into more manageable steps. This is especially relevant for children who have Attention-Deficit Disorder. Calendars can be used to keep track of large projects. Develop and maintain a system for returning homework to school. When an assignment has been completed, it should be placed in a special folder that is clearly marked “Completed Work.” This folder should then have a distinguished place in the child’s backpack. Some children may need to have their backpacks cleaned out weekly. Although you should remain involved, never allow your child to convince you to do the assignment for him or her. It is far better for the child to do only part of the work on their own, than for the parent to do it all. Keep your temper in check. Most children become frustrated by homework at some point. When you respond with anger, you only add fuel to the fire. Avoid criticisms and excessive corrections. Try to provide three compliments for each correction. If you find yourself becoming continuously frustrated, it might be time to allow someone else such as a sibling or tutor to provide the homework assistance.
The benefits of doing homework consistently and accurately are great. Parents need to remember, however that there is more to living than homework assignments and children should be encouraged to develop a healthy balance between school work and outside activities. With some hard work on everyone’s part, children can begin to view their parents as allies in their homework battles.
|
|
To Contact Us:
Telephone: 970-223-2256
Facsimile: 970-223-2324
300 E. Boardwalk Drive Building 5A Fort Collins, CO 80525
*Email: questions@stressmanagementfcc.com *Be aware that email is not a secure or confidential form of communication.
|