Homework Hassles: Solved

If your child is struggling in school, and the very word “homework” raises your blood pressure, relax. Take a deep breath. Then try these tips from expert tutors to help your student get back on track and help you take back your evenings.

7 Ways to Take the Hassle Out of Homework
 

By Amy Crelly

2. Clear a quiet space. TV, toys, gaming, text messages, the Internet, IM… modern students are surrounded by temptations. A distraction-free zone just for schoolwork can go a long, long way toward helping kids concentrate. It might be at home, at a friend’s house, the library, a teacher’s room after school—whatever works! 

3. Provide guidance, not answers. When your child asks for help, just giving the answers is easy. If only it helped, right? Instead, try asking questions: Will you read the question out loud to me? What section of the chapter covers that? How could you use the index to find that section?

Guide them toward making their own discoveries. This will give them the confidence, and the tools, to face challenges on their own—and ask you for help less and less!

4. Head off frustrations. If you see your child showing signs he’s getting frustrated, give him some time out. A well-timed break lets kids recharge and refocus on their assignments.

5. Check your attitude. Nobody expects you to perform like a PBS kids’ show host. Just try to stay positive about schoolwork. “I used to commiserate with my kids,” says Jason Adair, a local dad of two. “I’d say things like, ‘Math sucks, it’s hard…’ That didn’t really help. Now I’ve made a conscious decision to be more positive, and I see how much my attitude matters. If I tell my son that math is fun, he believes it. If I tell my daughter that German is cool, she’s into it.” If your child is in tutoring, the tutor's enthusiasm can have the same effect.

6. Try tutoring. Kids aren’t the only ones who get frustrated. There’s an art to teaching, especially when a student is discouraged by a subject. So, don’t take it personally if you’re finding it tough to play tutor at home—on top of the dozens of other things crowding your to-do list each night. Do turn to the experts. 
A good tutor will not only know her subject inside and out, but she’ll also know how to break it down to fit your child’s learning style. “Make sure you find a tutor who has an experienced track record in the desired academic subject area,” advises Elizabeth Scales, of College Nannies & Tutors in El Dorado Hills.
 

Just finding the right tutor can make studying more fun. “Make sure your student and tutor have a good workable bond,” advises Scales, adding, “Your student will learn more and have fun doing it if he enjoys being with the tutor.”

 7. Celebrate the little victories. Everybody likes a pat on the back when they do a great job. If you see that your child has worked hard and done well with a schoolwork challenge, celebrate that success. A simple trip out for pizza or a movie is a great way to reward their efforts.

“Just be sure that the reward is earned,” says Joe Coradetti, Center Director of LearningRx of Folsom. “Set realistic goals as a measurement for a reward,” Coradetti suggests, “and be prepared to hold back that reward if the goal is not met.” The real value of any reward, he points out, should lie in the achievement itself.

These tips first appeared in SP's October 2009 issue ("Homework Help for Parents"). For more sanity-saving school tips, search our archives, or check out our Education & Enrichment Guide to find local tutors, enrichment activities and more.