United StatesHelp Parents Deal with Homework
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Excerpted from A
Survival Kit for the Special Education Teacher
Every night in millions of homes across the country you can imagine the scenario:
the age-old story of children and their homework. The scene may have different
characters, but the script is usually the same. Parents have always attempted
to help their children with homework. This help ranges from a short occasional
explanation to total completion of the task by the parent. Whatever the case,
numerous problems exist. In an attempt to cope, parents will use trial and error,
bribery, threats, reasoning, and anything they hope will work.
There seems to be little doubt that the motives of the parents
are genuine. Who could find fault with the motive of concern? However, it is
not the motive that creates the anxiety and tension for both parents and children,
but the techniques employed.
For some children, school can be a stressful place. When one takes into account
work demands, social pressures, concern over parental approval, fear of failure,
and so much more, children may need the home as a haven to unwind. If they encounter
stress in the form of parental agitation during homework, then where can they
"hang their hat?" For those of us who work, it might be comparable
to working all day at a job that has its share of stresses and coming home to
a tense environment. Think of how long you might be able to handle such a situation.
Also keep in mind the alternatives that we have as adults if the pressure gets
to be too great. Children do not have the same options.
The following techniques are provided to facilitate the process
of homework and prevent frustration, anger, and disappointment:
Homework Schedule
Rank the Assignments
Don't Hover
Check Correct Problems First
Never Let Homework Drag On All Night
Success Strategies for Textbook Assignments
Be Aware of Negative Messages
Avoid Finishing Assignments for Your Child
End-of-the-Year Resources
The end of the school year is quickly approaching! Celebrate with fun activities, then prepare yourself and your students with report card advice, summer reading guides, summer math, and more.
Common Core Lessons & Resources
Is your school district adopting the Common Core? Work these new standards into your curriculum with our reading, writing, speaking, social studies, and math lessons and activities. Each piece of content incorporates the Common Core State Standards into the activity or lesson.
Top 10 Galleries
Explore our most popular Top 10 galleries, from Top 10 Behavior Management Tips for the Classroom and Top 10 Classroom Organization Tips from Veteran Teachers to Top 10 Free (& Cheap) Rewards for Students and Top 10 Things Every Teacher Needs in the Classroom. We'll help you get organized and prepared for every classroom situation, holiday, and more! Check out all of our galleries today.
June Calendar of Events
June is full of holidays and events that you can incorporate into your standard curriculum. Our Educators' Calendar outlines activities for each event, including: Summer Begins (6/21), Helen Keller's Birthday (6/27/1880), World War I Began (6/28/1914), and Meteor Day (6/30). Plus, celebrate Child Vision Awareness Month, National Rivers Month, and National Safety Month all June long!
Causes We Support: We Give Books
Visit We Give Books, an ever-growing, free online library of children's picture books! For every book read on the site, a brand-new book will be donated to a children's literacy campaign of your choosing. Read aloud to students or encourage them read independently, and you'll teach them to help others at the same time. Giving is as simple as reading!
