“Homework” might not be one of the most welcomed words in a student’s vocabulary, but it’s a necessity of their learning process. Homework helps reinforce material and skills that are taught in class, introduce material for future lessons and teach students how to apply learned skills to new or multiple subjects.
At our school, parents and guardians are an integral part of the learning process, and are encouraged to be active participants in homework assignments. Numerous studies show that parents can have a positive impact on how a student values homework. Parents can even speed up a child’s learning by becoming more active in supervising homework.
Seeing how children handle homework is a direct indication of how they are doing in school. If a child is struggling and taking a lot of time to complete homework, that’s a good time for a parent to contact his or her teacher so everyone can work together to help the student. The more active a parent is in a child’s education, the better the student’s chances of being a well-rounded citizen, which is something we emphasize at La Paloma Academy.
Here are some tips for parents to maximize their child’s at-home learning with homework:
- Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework with no distractions like TV, visitors, etc.
- Be positive about homework because children will pick up your enthusiasm and be more motivated.
- When possible, during homework time, parents can perform tasks that utilize skills the student is practicing (balancing checkbook for math, writing letters for reading/writing, etc.) to show real-life uses of homework skills.
- If the homework assignment includes parental involvement, cooperate, but if the assignment is to be done by the student alone, stay at arm’s length.
- Keep in touch with your child’s teacher, and know what the purpose of his or her homework is and what the class rules are. Studies show that the more active a parent is with a child’s homework, the better the communication is with the school.
