Academics

Homework Helpers

HELPING YOUR CHILD WITH HOMEWORK

Your child's teachers assign homework for a variety of reasons: to help your child review, apply, and integrate what has been learned in class; to help them prepare for the next class session; to extend your child's exploration of topics more fully than class time permits; or to help your child gain skills in self-directed learning and using resources such as libraries and reference materials. Homework can also help students:

* Develop mastery by practicing what they have learned.

* Acquire effective habits of self-discipline and time management.

* Learn to work independently.

* Gain a sense of personal responsibility for learning.

* Develop research skills such as locating, organizing, and condensing information.

Homework can also bring parents and teachers closer together; parents who supervise homework learn more about their children's education and about the school.

According to Paulu (1995), children who spend more time on homework, on average, do better academically than children who don't, and the academic benefits of homework increase in high school. Research on homework during the last decade began to focus on the relationship between homework and student achievement, and has greatly strengthened the case for assigning homework.

How Can I Help My Child With Homework?

First, avoid doing the homework yourself! Doing homework for a child sends the message that he or she is incapable of doing the work and that perfection is the main objective. It also denies your child the opportunity to develop skills and gain understanding from the experience. Remember, doing homework should help your child plan, manage, and complete work on their own. Parents should help their children get the most out of homework by:

 * Exhibiting a positive attitude in word and deed that homework is important and education comes first.

* Encouraging children to take notes about homework assignments when they are given.

* Discussing homework assignments with children to become familiar with what they are studying. Talk together about the topic of an essay before the child begins writing, and do short quizzes on the day before a test.

* Limiting after-school activities to allow time for homework and family activities.

* Limiting telephone use by agreeing ahead of time what will be allowed.

* Planning homework schedules and routines that allow some free time when assignments are completed. Make sure your child is well rested, not hungry, and has had time to wind down after school (Herold, 1999). For long-term projects, mark plans and deadlines on a calendar.

* Monitoring television and radio use.

* Checking completed assignments, and reviewing homework that has been marked and returned. Avoid negative comments, but contact the teacher if your child consistently gets 25% or more wrong on homework problems and assignments, or if he or she never seems to have any homework (Shore, 1999).

* Providing children with convenient, quiet, and comfortable work areas that are well-lit, free of family traffic, and have the materials needed to complete assignments. Some people do study better with music or background noise, so try to accommodate your child's preferred learning style.

* Encouraging the use of reference materials (such as dictionaries and encyclopedias), and providing a computer and calculator if possible. If a computer is not available in the home, plan regular visits to a public library or community learning center where access is available.

For more information about helping your child with homework, see "How Parents Can Help With Homework" by Judith Lips and "Homework Helpers For Parents" by Kenneth Shore at this site. Homework is an essential component of the total educational program for students and should enhance the intellectual development of a child while creating greater interest and success in learning and studying.

Current Calculator Policy and Requirements (as of 10/25/2004)

Math/Science Department "By the Numbers"