School is back in session; very soon parents will see their students with homework assignments. All too quickly, some of those same students will begin to fall behind their classmates due to incomplete and missing homework assignments. By the first reporting period, some students will resort to old habits of denying and lying about homework. Parents will try to find the right mix of encouragement, punishment, and rewards to get their floundering student back on track. Homework battles will begin to consume parents' evenings and darken the household atmosphere for everyone. But, it does not have to be that way. There are a number of common sense interventions that can make a real difference in homework management.
• First, and foremost, absolutely no television or computer socializing until all homework is completed. If students lie to avoid homework and watch their screens, the logical consequence would be to take away screen time the next day.
• No television -ever - in children's bedrooms. There are many reasons why having a television in a child's room is a bad idea. It increases unmonitored television viewing; it decreases time spent reading; it decreases time spent in physical activities; it decreases family interaction time; and, it is too easy to watch television instead of doing homework!
• Make homework a regular habit. Provide a time, place, and materials for homework use. Insist that other family members respect homework time and monitor for noise and other types of interruptions.
• Teach children how to use planners and calendars to map out homework assignments. The local high school district and many sixth grade teachers work diligently to provide students with "Binder Reminders" or other types of planning/organizational tools. Support their use. Students who diligently record homework and tests and who use calendars to plan out long projects are much less likely to overlook important assignments.
• Allow time for homework. Many students get behind when sports, social events, and other activities are scheduled so tightly every day that there is no time to do anything at the end of the day but eat and sleep. Help your child be a good student by emphasizing that education comes first.
Parents have power to change poor homework patterns. Start immediately and help your students stay on track for a successful school year. Avoid future conflicts by planning ahead.
• First, and foremost, absolutely no television or computer socializing until all homework is completed. If students lie to avoid homework and watch their screens, the logical consequence would be to take away screen time the next day.
• No television -ever - in children's bedrooms. There are many reasons why having a television in a child's room is a bad idea. It increases unmonitored television viewing; it decreases time spent reading; it decreases time spent in physical activities; it decreases family interaction time; and, it is too easy to watch television instead of doing homework!
• Make homework a regular habit. Provide a time, place, and materials for homework use. Insist that other family members respect homework time and monitor for noise and other types of interruptions.
• Teach children how to use planners and calendars to map out homework assignments. The local high school district and many sixth grade teachers work diligently to provide students with "Binder Reminders" or other types of planning/organizational tools. Support their use. Students who diligently record homework and tests and who use calendars to plan out long projects are much less likely to overlook important assignments.
• Allow time for homework. Many students get behind when sports, social events, and other activities are scheduled so tightly every day that there is no time to do anything at the end of the day but eat and sleep. Help your child be a good student by emphasizing that education comes first.
Parents have power to change poor homework patterns. Start immediately and help your students stay on track for a successful school year. Avoid future conflicts by planning ahead.
Ramona Hall is a Licensed Educational Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She makes her professional home in Santa Clarita, California. Ramona provides testing, therapy, consultation, and case management services to adults and to children in need of educational support and intervention. Additional articles and information about educational psychology can be found at http://ramonahalleducationalpsychology.com
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