Most children will face homework challenges from time to time, though some students struggle more than others. Since most families will have to deal with this struggle during this new school year, we thought we’d address the problem ahead of time and offer up some tips that might help.
Problem: Rushing to get it done
It could be that the work is boring, too repetitive, or that there’s something more fun to get to after a long day at school. But the problem with rushing is that parts of the assignment may be missed, that the work may be messy, or that there may be too many incorrect answers.
Strategy:
Try approaching the assignment in a different way, or break up the assignment into smaller bits just to mix things up.
Problem: Taking notes
Whether it’s an actual struggle with writing, reading, or issues with organization, note taking can be challenging.
Strategy:
Show your child how to use the outline method of note taking. To do this, the lesson is broken down into main ideas, then further broken down into subtopics and then details. You don't need to use Roman Numerals, just be sure to indent the subtopics and details. This is a clean and organized method which many find very useful.
Problem: Time management
Let’s face it, we’re all busy, have too much to do in our daily lives, especially during the school/work week. Your child’s week is no different so when faced with a big pile of homework to be done, they could use help budgeting their time.
Strategy:
Set a specific time and workspace for getting homework done. Plan for blocks of time to get the work done, but build break time in too. Twenty-five minutes on and then a five-minute break works well for many middle and high school students. Make and use checklists, because it feels great to cross off a task when an assignment is completed. You can also consider using a homework timer to help your child get a better sense of how much time they are spending on homework and to stay on track.
Problem: Lack of good study skills or effectiveness
Why is this a problem? Your child could actually be spending more time working away at assignments than is necessary.
Strategy:
Create a distraction-free study space. Encourage your child’s efforts by pointing out their strengths in order to give them confidence. Recognize their weaknesses or challenges and help them to find ways to adapt during homework time, include your child in the brainstorming of ideas. Help your child to prioritize, whether it’s starting with the easier work first or working with due dates in mind. Help your child to organize their work, and how to break assignments down into smaller steps.
Problem: Trouble with Recall
Some children will study hard, but when it comes time for the test, they can't recall what they learned during prep. This could be caused by an issue with working memory, inattention, or even test anxiety.
Strategy:
Different people have different learning styles (visual, written, auditory, etc), so try to make sure that you child's study strategies fits in with their personal/preferred style. Explore working memory boosters such as mnemonics and even muscle memory, when appropriate.
Problem: Trouble learning how to work independently
It’s important that your child knows that they can ask for help, but they will eventually have to be able to do the work by themselves.
Strategy:
Encourage your child to set realistic goals, and to think out loud while working on homework. Being able to meet those goals will help them to be more self-confident and will lead to more independence.
So, take a realistic look at your child’s challenges and strengths and try to create a personal study strategies that suit them. If, however, despite your best efforts, your child’s challenges need to be addressed by a professional tutor, contact Foundation for Learning.
