Hints and Help for Homework

Here are 10 guidelines I've adapted from Lee Canter's Help! It's Homework Time.

Schedule a time for homework
Have a quiet study area
Have all necessary materials on hand (pens, pencils, paper, etc.)
Keep all the homework in one spot
Parent emphasizes that homework is important
Let the student know that the parent is proud of their hard work
Don't hesitate to call the teacher
Parent should take an interest in the homework
Consider using a homework contract
Check the student's assignment calendar

Here is some more information about homework from Michael Kassel, author of Study Skills for Kids.
Consistency

            Consistency is the key to this entire program.
            Indeed, there is no such thing as the perfect
            study skills method, except that the best
            method is one that is consistently applied.

This means studying at consistent times, in a
consistent place, with a consistent set of skills.

On Television & Studying

            When your Child says, "Mom, I study better
            watching TV," that really means they have
            more fun watching TV while they sneak in a
            problem or two between commercials. There is
            no evidence that suggests a child studies better
            while watching TV, and a whole lot of experts
            who say it's a distraction.

            Let's face it -- TV is inherently more
            interesting than homework, and your child's
            attention will be drawn away from his or her
            work...bottom line -- No TV!

Getting Organized

            Organization is not just a way of keeping
            things in place, but the logical extension of the
            way your child studies. When I meet a student
            who fumbles for his or her papers in an
            overstuffed, unorganized book bag, he or she
            is usually a poor student. The sloppy manner
            in which the student keeps track of his or her
            notes seems to reflect the sloppy manner in
            which he or she organizes thoughts (although
            there are many exceptions to this rule, Albert
            Einstein being one of them).

            The best students I have encountered are
            organized all the way down to the way they
            carry their materials. While your child may
            certainly be another Einstein, let's go from the
            rationale that organization and neatness never
            hurt anybody .

Homework

           Your kids probably think homework is a form
            of punishment, but it's actual purpose is to
            reinforce material they have learned in class,
            which is particularly important in math,
            science, English and social science.

            Indeed, while children learn a great deal in the
            classroom, they reinforce what they have
            learned by practicing it through homework.
            The idea behind homework is quite simple: "If
            you do something long enough, with as much
            variety as possible, you will begin to learn it."
            Just as practice makes perfect for sports, it
            makes perfect for learning.

Parental Help With Homework

            While you may be tempted to help your child
            with his or her homework, you are best to let
            your child work it on his or her own. Later,
            you can check the work, as well as question
            any solutions that appear incorrect. Under no
            circumstances, however, should you work a
            problem for your child. While this sounds like
            common sense, it is very tempting, particularly
            when your child is tired and frustrated.

            When your child encounters a problem he or
            she cannot complete, try to get your child to
            think about the problem. Find a similar
            problem he or she answered successfully, and
            ask your child how that problem is similar to
            the stumper. Then ask, "How is it different?"

            Keep in mind that homework assignments are
            grouped around basic skills that have either
            been previously mastered or explained very
            recently. Thus, the book itself, or the chapter
            upon which a worksheet is based, will have
            some clues as to how to answer or solve the
            problem. Your child needs to refer back and
            look for the similarities and differences in
            order to apply the skills. In that way, your
            child is not just learning a formula, but,
            indeed, learning to think.

Reading Comprehension

            I have taught and read a great deal about
            reading strategies and have found, among the
            many ideas, what I consider to be the best way
            to increase reading comprehension as it applies
            to text books. Though this method has gone
            by many names, I prefer the term "Mapping,"
            a technique which gives the reader a clue as to
            where they are going before they begin.

            First, you must understand that there is a
            difference between text books and general
            reading material. Text books are those
            designed for specific subjects and courses, and
            include a broad range of subject information
            arranged around examples, vocabulary,
           concepts, terms, and homework assignments.
            General reading books are those fiction and
            non-fiction books that look at a story or
            specific subject in detail. Text books have very
            strict guidelines they follow in format and
            tone, while general reading books are limitless
            in the way they are written and stylized.
            Because text books are so heavily formatted,
            they are actually easier to read, so we will deal
            with those first.

            But first, an important fact -- text books are
            incredibly boring. Indeed, as noted above,
            they are boring by design. Text books are
            about great information, not great writing.
            Thus, if your child feels strange because he or
            she is bored by the text, you can set your
            child's mind at ease by explaining that most
            children are bored by such books.

            Children approach textbooks like a fight --
            they lead with their chin and go in punching,
            tiring themselves from frustration. Some kids
            can approach a text like this and come away
            with a pretty good understanding, but many
            kids can't. They need a strategy to get the most
            out of a book, and that is where mapping
            comes in.

            Ask your child to think of a text book not so
            much as an end-to-end string of words, but as
            a series of places within a large storehouse of
            information. Rather than simply read the text,
            your child should begin by becoming familiar
            with it, one chapter -- or one section,
            depending on the assignment...

Test Preparation

            As far as I am concerned, there are three types
            of test reviews. The first type is what I call
            Non-existent. The student never reviews his
            or her homework or previous tests or readings
            and just hopes against hope to give back the
            right responses on the test. A very small
            percent of students -- known as auditory
            learners (students who learn and memorize by
            merely listening), may do well like this, but
            they are few and far between.

            The second type of review is what I call
            Passive. In this case the student will glance
            over his or her notes once or twice, perhaps
            re-read a chapter or a section, and then go on
            to the test. This is a bit better than no
            preparation at all, yet it hardly ensures
            success. I call it passive because that is exactly
            what it is -- the student reads the material and
            hopes it sinks in, yet does nothing to help the
            knowledge become absorbed.

            The third type of review -- the preferred type --
            is called Active. Not only does the student
            review the material through sight, but through
            re-writing as well as speaking the material
            aloud. These are the students who will rewrite
            any notes they may have, construct lists, use
            flash cards, and recite material. This is the best
            method because it models how we memorize
            and maintain memorized information.

Test Anxiety

            While you certainly want to inspire your child
            to do well, you don't want him or her to think
            that grades are everything. Indeed, many
            students who have had academic problems
            early on have found solutions through proper
            learning techniques presented with support and
            understanding. Therefore, if your child tries to
            do well yet brings home a disappointing grade,
            you should applaud your child for the effort
            and assure your child that you are confident he
            or she can improve. Doing otherwise may
            produce so much stress, your child may
            actually continue to do worse. If your child is
            taking a test and thinking about your negative
            reaction to bad grades, he or she will have too
            much stress to think straight for the test itself.
            Fear thrives on such a vicious cycle.

            When approached with compassion, your
            child will be inspired to do well -- and may
            even study harder to repay the confidence and
            kindness you have shown. That doesn't mean
            you should pass off poor grades as
            unimportant, but keep in mind you're not
            going to accomplish academic success through
            anger or disappointment.

            Another way your child can reduce stress is to
            avoid last minute studying. I always
            recommend that students turn away from their
            books and notes at least one hour before any
            test. Hurried, last-minute studying works for
            very few students; all it really accomplishes is
            more anxiety. The old saying is true -- if you
            don't know the material an hour before the
            test, you most likely won't know it within the
            hour.

            If your child complains of test anxiety during
            the test, tell him or her to take a few deep
            breaths when the stress begins to hit. Deep
            breaths help break the cycle of stress and can
            do wonders to clear a test-taking child's head.

            The bottom line is this: Good grades and
            academic excellence should NOT come at the
            expense of your child's mental well-being.
            Nothing good has ever come from undue
            stress, and no single test or set of tests is
            worth the problems such anxiety can cause
            your child. If your child is experiencing
            unhealthy levels of test stress, you should
            seriously consider consulting a professional
            counselor trained in dealing with such
            problems.

Rewards and Incentives

            There are many ways to reward your child's
            academic successes. While many parents
            structure this around financial incentives, I
            tend to believe that such rewards are better
            suited for chores and allowances as opposed to
            grades. While academic success certainly can
            lead to greater financial rewards as your child
            becomes an adult, that is not -- nor should it be
            -- the reason your child learns.

            Education is not really about jobs -- it is a way
            of life. There are a great deal of positive
            benefits from an education that have little to do
            with money. First, there is the satisfaction of
            accomplishment. Second is the mastery of
            knowledge that leads to better citizenship.
            Perhaps most important is that education tends
            to be handed down, from serious parents to
            high-achieving student.

            Therefore, rewards for learning should be
            intrinsic in nature. For example, you should
            take an active interest in your child's academic
            success, praising the good grades received. If
            your child's grades are not exactly as you
            hoped, yet your child is making a sincere
            effort and doing the work, you should shower
            your child with encouragement for the effort,
            inspiring him or her to achieve.

In Conclusion

            You must...understand that children learn via a
            variety of different styles. Some learn best
            through what they hear, others learn best from
            what they can picture, and others learn using a
            combination of styles. The point is Don't use
            Study Skills for Kids to try and change your
            child's natural style of learning; rather, have
            them incorporate its lessons in the manner that
            suits them best. The main thing to do is to get
            your child studying on a consistent basis. If he
            or she finds other methods that work better
            than those outlined here, encourage your child
            to use those methods on a consistent basis.
            Study Skills for Kids is not the last-word in
            study skills, but merely a beginning for a
            life-long love of learning.

            I truly believe that Study Skills for Kids
            gives you and your child a sound beginning
            and I hope you find it valuable. But always
            keep in mind that you must be careful to
            balance your desire for your child's
            achievement with love, understanding and
            compassion. Indeed, love, security, and
            support are truly the most valuable gifts you
            can ever give to your child.

Here is a helpful web site:

http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/tools-for-success/index.html