Back to school is an exciting time for parents and students, full of hopes and positive expectations. Last school year- whether good
or bad- is over, and it's time to move on to a new grade, a new teacher and a new room. A nice, clean slate.
Waaaaaaaahhhhhhh!
So what's
with the crying?
Back to school also means back to homework, and we wail because none of us- students, parents or teachers- want to
give up free evenings and weekends to deal with homework. Unfortunately, that's exactly what is going to happen.
The good news is that
there are steps parents can take to make this school year's homework situation better, easier and more manageable.
Be proactive
Do
things now- during vacation or early in the school year- to make certain that you have a handle on your family's homework issues before they
get out of control and/or bad homework habits become ingrained.
Make a decision.
Believe it or not, you can decide what role homework
plays in your family's life. How much time will your children devote to homework each night? Will they do homework on weekends? Vacations?
Holidays? What types of homework will your children do? Are there some types of homework that you won't make your children do?
Talk
to your kids.
You want to do this now before the homework battles begin. Bring up the topic of homework when everyone is calm and
there is no homework in sight!
Here are a few conversation starters:
"How much homework do you think you're going to get this year?"
"Have
you heard what kind of homework your new teacher gives?"
"Do all the 5th graders get the same amount of homework?"
Continue the conversation
by asking your child what worked for them last year in terms or homework- and what didn't. Find out if they have any ideas or suggestions
about how to make homework easier for themselves and the rest of the family.
Prepare your home.
Your children may not love doing homework,
but they may learn to not hate it if they have a comfortable place to do it! Take the Homework Personality Quiz at http://www.family-homework-answers.com and
then create a homework friendly home for your family. While you're at it, put together a Magic Homework Box. It is the best way to
make absolutely sure that your children have everything they need to do their homework and you don't ever have to hear those "I-can't-do-my-homework-because-I-don't-have-a-pencil"
excuses!
Go to Back to School Night.
This is probably the most important event of the school year! Do whatever you must do to get there
and find out what to expect for the next 10 months! Back to School may mean Back to Homework, but it doesn't have to mean back to
tears, fighting and crying.
Start thinking about homework now, and your family can have a great school year!
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Angela Norton Tyler is
the author of the book Tutor Your Child to Reading Success. She is also an educator, business owner and speaker-trainer. This mother
of two wears many hats, but the common thread running through them all: empowering parents. Please visit her website http://www.family-homework-answers.com today
to find out how Angela can help empower you, your family, your school or your organization. |