25 Top Tips for handling homework

1 GET ORGANIZED
Keep homework supplies close at hand.
“Mom! Where’s the stapler?” To avoid digging through
drawers, create a cache of homework supplies and
keep it close to where your child works. Dedicate a
desk drawer, box, or bin with often-used items.The
supply list provided by the teacher is a great resource.
Or use the list to the right as a starting point.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

2 OPTIMIZE THE ENVIRONMENT
Be flexible about your child’s study place.
Not every child works best sitting at a desk in a
silent room. Ask your child how he likes to study—
lying on the floor, sitting on his bed with a lap desk,
or at the kitchen table amidst the bustle of dinner
preparations. Some kids like background noise;
others prefer quiet. While television is almost always
a distraction, music is welcome white noise to many
kids. Your child’s favorite study environment might
change as he grows and may vary depending upon
the type of work. The key is to be flexible while
ensuring that homework is completed.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

3 CLEAR AWAY CLUTTER
Set aside everything not related to the task at hand.
When your child comes home in a panic because of
homework assignments in multiple subjects, ease her
overwhelmed feeling by helping her focus on one
thing at a time. Review everything that needs to be
done and choose one assignment to start with.
Gather and organize the materials needed to
complete the chosen task and set everything else
aside until it’s time to tackle the next assignment.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

4 USE A PLANNER
Use a homework planner to record assignments.
Help ensure that all your child’s homework arrives
home each day by teaching him to record each
assignment as it’s given. A daily planner (print or
electronic) or assignment sheet provides a central
place to record assignments. He can review the sheet
at the end of each day and make sure the needed
materials are in his book bag. If necessary, his
teacher can review and initial the assignment sheet to
ensure the assignment was recorded correctly.
GRADES 4 THROUGH 12.

5 BOOKMARK IT
Save links to useful reference sites on the Internet.
The Internet is full of helpful “homework help”
websites. These sites, divided by subject, can help
your child with tricky assignments and research
projects. Another benefit: in order to find the right
information, your child must first understand what
she needs to know, and that’s the first step toward
solving a problem. Save the addresses of a few of
these sites in the “Favorites” file of your web browser.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

6 BUILD A LIBRARY
A home reference library is an invaluable
homework aid. A small library of reference materials, in either print or
electronic form, can be a handy resource for your child.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

7 STICK TO A SCHEDULE
Schedule time for homework every day—and stick
to it.When school starts each fall, schedule homework into
your family’s daily routine. With your child, agree on a
specific time period for doing homework, including
some weekend time. Even when there are no
assignments to complete, adhere to the schedule by
using homework time for review or reading.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

8 EASE INTO IT
Avoid an abrupt transition from playtime to
homework.
It can be hard for kids to switch from playing or other
pleasurable activities to concentrating on homework.
Make the transition easier by giving your child a small
task before she settles down to work. Assigning a job
she usually does without a fuss creates a more gradual
shift from play to homework and puts your child in a
“work” frame of mind.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

9 GET OFF TO A GOOD START
Help your child get started with homework, then
back off.If your child is unsure about an assignment, set him
on the right track by sitting together and reviewing
the instructions. Check his understanding by having
him explain how he will proceed, then stay close by
while he answers the first few questions. With his
confidence built, you can back off and let him
complete the rest of the assignment on his own.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

10 KEEP THINGS IN ORDER
Tackle assignments in the best sequence for
your child.
When your child has several homework assignments,
some she can breeze through and others that take
more effort, which should she tackle first? That
depends on your child and on the particular mix of
assignments. Starting with easier work and moving
toward the more challenging builds your child’s
confidence. On the other hand, getting the tough stuff
done first lets her breathe a sigh of relief. Try both
approaches to see which works best. But don’t be
afraid to mix it up—if she’s frustrated with a tricky
assignment, suggest she set it aside in favor of
something easier. She’ll return to the challenging
assignment refreshed and with renewed determination.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

11 TAKE TIME OUT
Set a timer to pace homework sessions.
If your child has difficulty focusing on homework long
enough to complete it in one sitting, use a kitchen
timer to set agreed-upon study and break times. Work
together to estimate the total work time needed, and
then break the total into smaller chunks. Thirty
minutes of math homework might be broken into two
15-minute work periods with a five-minute stretching
or snack break. Adjust the work and break intervals to
suit your child’s age, temperament, and the intensity
of the homework.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

12 PLAN FOR THE LONG HAUL
Set intermediate goals for long-term projects.
Make long-term projects manageable by helping your
child break the project into smaller goals. Set a target
for when each goal will be met, leading to completion
of the entire project. This process helps your child
focus on a smaller aspect of the assignment, keeps
him motivated, and teaches him planning skills.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

13 ASK LEADING QUESTIONS
When your child hits a roadblock, ask questions that
guide her to the answer.
Rather than giving your child the answer when she’s
stuck, ask questions to get her thinking about how to
solve the problem on her own. If she’s stumped by a
math problem, look at the last problem she successfully
solved. Ask, “What was the first step you took to
solve this one?” Lead her through the steps until the
tricky one becomes clear. Your questions will prompt
her to take small steps toward breaking a roadblock.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

14 BE A ROLE MODEL
Use your child’s homework time to do your
own work.
When your child sits down to tackle homework, join
him by taking care of your own “homework” at the
same time. Choose chores that are interruptible if
your child needs your help and set a good example by
not working while watching television.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

15 STAY POSITIVE
Let your own upbeat attitude toward learning rub off
on your child.
If your child senses that you dread homework
sessions, she’ll dread them too. A positive attitude,
particularly when your child is facing a tough
assignment, goes a long way toward taking the
tedium out of the daily work. Keep in mind, though,
that teachers are sometimes unreasonable in the
timing or amount of homework they assign. Help your
child resolve such challenges by asking the
school/teacher what their homework policy is.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

16 LET GO OF RESPONSIBILITY
Avoid rescuing your child from homework
emergencies.
All kids, at some point, forget their homework or put it
off until it becomes a crisis. When that happens, avoid
stepping in to fix things. Instead, guide your child
through the steps needed to salvage the situation. If
he’s forgotten his assignments, for example, sit with
him while he checks the school’s homework web page
or calls a classmate. If an assignment cannot be
completed on time, instead of writing a note to the
teacher yourself, have your child write it, explaining
why the work is late and requesting an extension.
Both of you should sign the note. Letting your child
take responsibility for his mistakes gives him valuable
problem-solving experience.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

17 BE AN ADVISOR
Be available for help as a consultant.
Your child’s homework is hers to do, not yours. Let her
know that you are willing to help but limit yourself to a
consultant role. Avoid evaluating your child’s work
unless she specifically requests your opinion. It’s OK
to point out mistakes, but let your child decide
whether to correct them. Seeing the errors will help
the teacher understand your child’s learning process.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

18 CALL IN ASSISTANCE
Recognize when outside help is required.
There may be times when you are not the best person
to help your child with homework. If working together
leads to frustration, look for outside help. This need
not mean costly tutors or joining a homework center.
You could, for example, make a trade with a
classmate’s parent: you agree to work with both kids
on English assignments if she takes on science. Or
recruit an older sibling or your spouse. It’s better to
maintain your relationship as a loving parent than get
into a cycle of anger and aggravation over homework.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

19 KNOW WHEN TO CALL A HALT
Sometimes you have to say “enough is enough.”
Everyone has his limit, and there may be occasions
when your child becomes too tired or frustrated to
continue on an assignment. That’s the time to stop. If
possible, your child can return to the assignment later
on. When the work is due the next day, write a note to
the teacher explaining that he completed as much as
he could. Know when to be your child’s ally and avoid
letting homework push him to the brink of a meltdown.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

20 KEEP A HOMEWORK HISTORY
File completed assignments for quick reference.
Completed homework assignments are a valuable
resource. Your child can refer to them to check how
he solved problems in the past, see progress made in
each subject, and detect patterns of errors. To set up
a homework history, create a color-coded file folder
for each subject. File completed assignments in order
as his teacher returns them.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

21 MAKE THE GRADE
Take the time to review your child’s graded
assignments.
Make a point of reviewing your child’s homework
assignments after they have been graded and
returned by the teacher. This review is an opportunity
to praise work done well and progress made. You will
also see trouble spots and areas where extra practice
is needed. When you treat homework as an important
part of school and learning, your child will value its
importance too.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

22 REWARD PROGRESS
Give your child small rewards for reaching goals.
Providing an occasional reward for reaching
homework goals can be a great motivator. When your
child faces a particularly difficult assignment, offering
an incentive (such as letting her choose the next
movie rental) could be just what she needs to get
through it. Also consider incentives for longer-term
goals like completion of a complicated project.
Rewarding her for hard work is similar to promising
yourself, “When I finish painting the back door, I’m
going to sit down and read for a while.”
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

23 TURN YOUR CHILD INTO A TEACHER
Encouraging your child to teach you gives him
confidence.
It’s true that teaching others reveals how much you
really know. Turn the tables on your child and have
him show you how to complete his assignments. Ask
a lot of “how,” “why,” “when,” and “who” questions.
Giving explanations helps your child think through
concepts and step-by-step processes and discloses
areas where more work is needed. You can then work
together to fill in the gaps in his knowledge.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

24 KEEP IT INTERESTING
Tie homework to your child’s interests
whenever possible.
Kids are often able to choose their own topic for
homework assignments or projects. Use those
opportunities to relate the work to something your
child is passionate about. For example, if an English
assignment requires that your child write five
compound sentences, suggest that she write about
her favorite hobby, a recent family trip, or her pet. The
work goes faster and is more fun when your child is
truly engaged in the subject.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

25 CHANGE THE SCENERY
Try tackling homework in an unusual location.
Make homework time a special occasion by moving
the study area to an offbeat place. Set up homework
camp in a tent in the backyard or living room. Spread
out under a tree or in a tree house. Try the top bunk
or even a walk-in closet. Just be sure to take along all
the usual homework supplies so everything your child
needs is close at hand.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 5.