Parental Homework Strategies
According to some studies, parental involvement in homework is beneficial for students. However, there is also a general consensus that too much parental involvement can prevent the positive effects of homework. According to the study, the benefit of homework is lost when the parent completes all or most of the assignment for the student.
Setting a regular time to do homework and designating a specific place for doing homework helps keep the student well-focused on his or her studies. A flat surface, good lighting, school supplies (pens, pencils, paper, scissors, glue, eraser, ruler, etc.) and a dictionary are often essential.
Teachers need to know what their students understand and can do independently, therefore they often advise parents not to do the children's homework assignments for them, nor correct their children's homework assignments and have them copy the corrections. Grades, and the teachers' other feedback, need to apply to the student's performance, not to the parents' performance, nor to student-parent co-performance.
On the other hand some teachers give assignments far beyond what students can do independently and expect parents to go over homework and have the student make corrections before it is turned in. Practices vary.
Independent learning is encouraged and improved by providing guidance (such as explaining how to look up information or find a word in a dictionary) rather than merely providing the answers to the child's homework-related questions.
Having one's child read out loud allows the parent to provide corrections and help the student learn how to read better.
When parents do "homework" of their own at the same time as their children, it sets a good example and helps to foster a good attitude toward learning.
One key role for parents is to negotiate with teachers and schools should the homework burden be unmanageble or age-inappropriate for the students. This negotiation may take the form of speaking with the teacher individually, speaking to other school officials, or coordinating with other parents or with the PTA or school board to get the homework load for the entire class or school reduced.
Read more about this topic: Homework
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“Doing your child’s homework is a bit like believing that they can get into shape by watching someone else exercise.”
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