It is important for children of all ages to complete purposeful homework on a regular basis. If the school does not assign homework, parents should. Continuing learning after school may help improve grades and boost elementary study skills.
Use feedback from your child's teacher to guide your "assignments." Does your child struggle with organization? On a night with "no homework," have her review upcoming deadlines and set short-term goals that will help her get everything done on time.  Does he struggle with reading? Assign a comic book, novel or short story that you can read together. Discuss the plot, character development and language when you have a moment. Rules of thumb - make the learning you assign fun, relevant and meaningful. And always, always praise.

Keep a Homework Box Just for the Purpose of Your Child's Homework.

Grades Pre-K – 2 - Fill It with...

  1. Paper
  2. Pencils
  3. Pencil Sharpener
  4. Crayons
  5. Scissors (blunt)
  6. Glue—Paste
  7. Dictionary
  8. 4x6 Cards
  9. Alarm Clock (so she knows when to take a break!)

Grades 3 and Higher - Fil it with...

  1. Paper
  2. Pencils—Pens—Highlighters
  3. Pencil Sharpener
  4. Stapler & Staples
  5. Scissors
  6. Ruler
  7. Dictionary-Thesaurus
  8. 3x5 Cards
  9. Alarm Clock (to keep him focused)

Let Your Child Know How Important You Think Homework Is.

  • Homework time should be "no phone, no tv" time.
  • During homework time, Internet use should be limited to surfing that is directly connected to the assignment. Students say they can do many things at once, but are they really focussing intently on homework if they're on Facebook too? We don't think so either.
  • Materials in the “Homework Box” should not be used at any other time.
  • Help your child with any problems. Re-read directions. Does your child know what to do? If the answer is no, review the lesson material.
  • When your child has completed the assignment, check it over. Check to see:
    1. that directions were followed,
    2. the assignment is completed, and
    3. the work is done neatly.

FYI

One of the easiest and most influential ways for parents to be involved in their child's learning is to talk about school work. Setting rules for homework time, creating a homework box and monitoring your child's assignments create strong and positive messages for children about the importance of school.