Helping Your Student Get the Most Out of Homework

Susan Carlson, Parent Education Committee

Many students try to avoid it, but teaching and learning research indicates that children who spend more time on regularly

assigned, meaningful homework, on average,

do better in school. This article answers questions

many people have about homework. It gives specific

advice for helping your children. Here are some

quick hints to help your child get the most out of

homework.

Homework Hints
1. Assume that your children will have studying to
do every night.
2. Ask your children if they understand their
homework. If they do not, work a few examples together.
3. Ask your children to show you their homework
after the teacher returns it, to learn where they're
having trouble and where they're doing well. See if
your children did the work correctly.
4. Stay in touch with your children's teachers. Ask
about their classes and what they are studying.
Ask their teachers how you can support what they
are studying (flash cards, spelling, etc.).
5. Remember, you and their teachers want the
same thing—to help your children learn.
6. Don't be afraid to get in touch with the teacher if
you and your child don't understand an assignment
or if your child is having a great deal of trouble. Almost
all parents run into these problems, and
teachers are glad to help.
7. Don't do your children's work for them. Help
them learn how to do it themselves.
8. Show your children that you think homework is
important. If you are at work during homework
time, ask to see their work when you get home.
9. Praise your children for doing well. Make praise
a habit.
10. Maintain a portfolio of "best pieces."
11. Ask your school about tips or guides for helping
your children develop good study habits.
12. Help older students organize their assignments
by recording them on calendars or planners, along
with due dates, dates turned in, etc.
Reprinted with permission from “Helping Your Student
Get the Most Out of Homework,” National PTA
website, www.pta.org.
 

Educational Issues

• 10 Partnering Tips for a Strong School Community

• Choosing Age-Appropriate Instruments and a Good Instructor

• Helping Your Student Get the Most Out of Homework

• Ten "Must-Know" Facts About Educational Testing

• Making Parent–Teacher Conferences Work for Your Child

• 10 Ways for Parents to Help Teachers

• National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs

• Reducing Homework Stress

• Reading to Learn

Internet Safety

• Parenting in MySpace Era

• A Combined Strategy for Internet Safety

• Keeping Our Kids Internet Safe and Smart

• www.ikeepsafe.org

• www.wiredkids.org

• www.safesurfers.org

Media

• Video Game Safety

• Watching Movies

• Watching Television

• Cell Phone Safety

• Common Sense Media

SPARK

• Experience what it is like to have a learning disability

• Differences in Learning styles and strategies

• help for learning disabled community

• Fun website for kids ages 8-12

• Info about Special Education law

Educational Field Trip Information

• Museum of Science and Industry

• Field Museum

• Art Institute of Chicago

• Adler Planetarium

• Shedd Aquarium

• Lincoln Park Zoo

• Brookfield Zoo

• Chicago Botanical Garden

• Chicago Children's Museum