6) Designate a
study space.
Pick a homework space free from
distractions. However, consider your
child’s personality and ability to fo-
cus when selecting a homework sta-
tion. Some children concentrate best in
complete quiet at the kitchen table or
a desk. Others study well on their bed
with background music. And reading
areas can be creative like a reading tent
or comfy beanbag. Make study areas
free from video games, television and
the games of other siblings who finish
homework early.
7) Create a
supply caddy.
Fill a plastic caddy or bin orga-
nizer with items your child might need
for homework. Some good supplies are
pencils, markers, crayons, glue, tape,
stapler, three-hole punch, paper clips,
notebook paper, art paper, graph paper,
calculator, protractor, compass, ruler
and a dictionary/thesaurus combo. Also
provide a wipe-off calendar for impor-
tant due dates.
8) Be available, but
don’t do the work.
Helping your child with homework
is a great way to connect with them, but
don’t spoon feed answers. The whole
point of homework is for children to
practice skills independently.
9) Use a timer,
if necessary.
Sometimes children like to procras-
tinate. Some children like the challenge
of beating the clock. Either way, a timer
keeps a child focused on the finish line.
10) Keep a resource
bookshelf.
Can’t remember what a gerund is?
Are you a little rusty on what the terms
perpendicular and parallel mean? Keep
an assortment of reference books or
save online references to your Favor-
ites list on your computer. A good math
dictionary for parents of elementary
students is Math Dictionary: Home-
work Help for Families by Judith de
Klerk. Another great resource is the
Everything You Need to Know About
Homework Series Set by Anne Zeman
and Kate Kelly.
11) Create a
phone chain.
How many times has your child left
their spelling words at school or forgot-
ten a lesson? Help your child make a list
of friends they can call or get to know
other parents in your child’s class so you
can have a phone chain to get answers
about assignments.
12) Model learning
as a priority.
Let your child see you reading the
newspaper or books. Discuss current
events, politics or the new art or history
museum you want to visit. Find exciting
tidbits in their homework lessons and
research them. Show by example that
learning is fun.
13) Encourage.
No matter how tired you are, have
a positive attitude about the work your
child is doing. Encourage their efforts
and let them know you are proud of them.
Apps That
Help With
Homework
Dictionary.com
This app works
just like a print
dictionary
without taking
up desk space.
myHomework
This student planner syncs
across devices and allows
students
to access
classes and
assignments
and sends
due date
reminders.
My
GradeBook
Students or
parents can
keep track of
grades with
this app.
14) Reward.
Homework rewards don’t have to
be elaborate, although you may want to
up the ante for a struggling child or one
who is hard to motivate. A reward can
be something as simple as a fun activity
when they finish. But you can also keep
a homework incentive chart and let your
child earn a special activity with mom or
dad, some extra screen time, or a dinner
out.
15) Don’t be afraid to
speak up.
If you think too much homework is
coming home, that your child isn’t fa-
miliar with the material, or that they are
struggling, don’t be too intimidated to
schedule a conference with your child’s
teacher. Most teachers welcome feed-
back and want to help your child suc-
ceed.
StudyBlue
Provides tools
including
flashcards,
notes, and
study guides.
Tinycards
This flashcard
app helps with
memorization.
Janeen Lewis is a freelance journalist
and teacher with a Master’s Degree in
education. Because she loves to see her
students get lost in books, reading is her
favorite homework to assign.
September 2019 WNY Family 15