Homework is a constant for most children – it is always there.
For many children, it is often a chore.
Just the concept of “homework” can cause multiple anxieties and negative feelings.
To assist parents and students, this article presents some tools to help turn this chore into an enjoyable challenge.
It focuses on some general preliminaries, basic strategies, and motivation.
To begin, we must keep in mind the characteristics of our own children, because each child has his or her unique strengths, weaknesses, and needs.
When embarking on any project, there are first some questions we need to ask ourselves.
These apply whether the project is a page of maths facts or a full report.
We need to make sure we understand the project: what are we trying to do?
We need to assemble our tools: what materials will we need for this project?
Working successfully with our children on school work requires respect, and respect begins with understanding.
If a child struggles with, and/or resists homework, ask yourself, “why?”
As you discover the reasons, share them with your child so he or she better understands the issues.
Doing so takes the mystery out of struggles or frustrations.
Paediatrician Mel Levine calls this “demystification,” which he describes as eliminating mystery by explaining the child’s strengths and weaknesses and guiding him to develop more accurate personal insight.
Students may struggle with and/or resist homework for a variety of reasons.
These may include any of the following:
- Your child is experiencing some aspect of a learning disability or learning difference.
- Your child is inefficient in a skill needed to establish a solid foundation relating to the concept.
- Your child struggles to process one or more components of the task.
- Your child lacks or is not using the appropriate strategies or tools.
- Your child is experiencing fatigue, either procession fatigue or general fatigue.
As a parent, we should attend to how our student approaches the task.
Help him identify and sort through the different components and determine the needed sub-steps.
You can delineate these using a concrete chart or graphic organizer.
Many students express the idea that homework is “stupid” or a “waste of time”.
Even if you do wonder about the value of the given task, it is critical to communicate an optimistic, important belief that homework positively affects achievement in school and teaches many valuable skills critical for success throughout life.
These skills include:
- Following directions
- Independent work habits
- Time management
- Use of strategies
- Follow-through
- Responsibility
Keep in mind that you and your child are laying an important foundation that will guide his routines for years to come.
Starting in early elementary school years, each child begins to establish habits for time management and task completion.
For more on this topic, watch for next month’s installment.
Submitted by Wynandus Bezuidenhout, Protea School principal
