3 Essential Homework Strategies That Work

Parents have asked me why homework takes their child two, three, and even four times longer than other students their age and what they, as parents, can do about it.

Here I define the three key issues and what parents can do about them.  

Students’ fundamental problems often include:

1- Attention is a significant issue in their classroom and during homework.

2- They often have one or more vision problems – too often, these students’ eyes usually have one of the following problems: they do not work together as a pair; they skip words or lines when they read; or they have difficulty copying off the board.

3- Students become tense when doing homework and often lose it.

When students have trouble paying attention in the classroom, they often must be re-taught the information at home. What makes matters worse is that the student’s homework period, which should have taken 45 minutes, gets stretched to 1 and 2 hours because of re-teaching and then to over 2 hours because they cannot stay focused.  

Vision problems impact their homework time in a few ways:

1- They need help copying the notes off the board correctly, and you, as their parent, need help understanding the homework assignment.

2- They skip words or lines when they read, further complicating their comprehension of the assignment.

3- When doing math problems, they only sometimes align their work correctly; students miss minus signs and division symbols, so they make careless mistakes.

Students that often get tense when doing homework usually have battles with their parents. How this usually happens:

– Students are too intimidated to ask questions in class and then get stuck on assignments they now understand.  

– The student or parent will get angry.

– An argument starts, which often escalates into a screaming match.

This is what I recommend to parents:

– Stay calm when helping with homework with your child. 

– If your child gets stressed, give them a short break to calm down are regain composure.

– Make sure they are well-hydrated before and during homework time.

– When reading, have your child use an index card or finger to stay on the right line.

– If attention or staying on task is a significant problem for your child, consider asking their doctor about ADHD testing. If they have a learning disability or their attention issues significantly impact their academic performance, your child could possibly qualify for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and it could provide accommodations for their homework which could include the following:

• Getting copies of class notes – either provided by the teacher or by a fellow classmate.
• Sitting by the teacher to help improve attention in class.
• Have the teacher ensure your child has written down the assignment to complete at home correctly.
• Having you sign a paper or planner that they met all projects and put them where they are easily found.
• An early warning system that allows the teacher to alert you to issues early on before they become significant issues.

– If your child’s vision is a significant issue, make an appointment with an optometrist – even if your child has 20/20 vision.