The homework process may be the most important contact you as a parent have with the school. Homework serves an important function in your student’s life. It will help your student review and reinforce the concepts covered in the classroom. It is also a method for your student to develop sound work and study habits that will assist him or her throughout the remaining school years.
As a parent you are the vital link to helping your student develop successful routines to handle the assigned work. Below are a few tips to follow as you work with your student.
1. Always ask your student if he/she has homework to do for that day.
2. Be interested in the homework. Seeing the homework can help you get a sense of progress for each subject area and demonstrate to your student that you care about his/her effort.
3. Homework is the responsibility of your student.
4. Set up a time for homework that is acceptable for your particular family routine.
5. Make sure your student has a quiet place to study and is not interrupted by other people and their activities.
Communication Tips: Dealing with low grades
When a low grade shows up on a progress report, parents can become anxious about the problem and resort to blaming, scolding, or grounding—which may not result in improvement. It might be more effective to have a
discussion in which parents recognize the student’s own disappointment and try to work out a plan of action for improvement. Always keep in mind that it is the student’s responsibility to take the lead in diagnosing the problem, suggesting solutions, and working through the situation. Here are some questions you might discuss with your student:
1. What seems to be the problem as you see it? Remember it could be an excuse or the truth.
2. Why are you taking this course? Requirement for graduation? For college?
3. Do you plan to take the next course in this area next year? Most courses are sequential and success in the previous courses is imperative.
4. What steps have you already taken to improve the situation? Note that most teenagers are slow to take action.
5. How is the rest of school going at this point? Gives the student a chance to relax.
6. How are the activities that you are involved in going? Generally involvement means better grades.
7. Does the way you spend time after school affect this problem in any way? Some relaxation is a good thing, however many students waste a lot of time avoiding homework.
