630.922.8100 Close Menu

Naperville, Bolingbrook & Plainfield

WSEA Tutoring - Tutoring for K-12 Students

Developing Good Homework Habits

Kids are more successful in school when parents take an active interest in their homework — it shows children that what they do is important.  Of course, helping with homework shouldn’t mean spending hours hunched over a desk. Parents can be supportive by demonstrating study and organization skills, explaining a tricky problem, or just encouraging kids to take a break. Here are some tips to guide the way:

  1. Know the teachers — and what they’re looking for. Attend school events, such as curriculum night & parent-teacher conferences, to meet your child’s teachers. Ask about their homework policies and how you should be involved.

  2. Set up a homework-friendly area. Make sure kids have a well-lit place to complete homework. Keep supplies — paper, pencils, glue, scissors — within reach.

  3. Schedule a regular study time. Some kids work best in the afternoon, following a snack and play period; others may prefer to wait until after dinner.  The key is to keep it consistent!  Routine is the key to less battles!

  4. Help them make a plan. On heavy homework nights or when there’s an especially hefty assignment to tackle, encourage your child break up the work into manageable chunks. Create a work schedule for the night if necessary — and take time for a 15-minute break every hour, if possible.

  5. Keep distractions to a minimum. This means no TV, loud music, or phone calls/texts. (Occasionally, though, a phone call to a classmate about an assignment can be helpful.)

  6. Make sure kids do their own work. They won’t learn if they don’t think for themselves and make their own mistakes. Parents can make suggestions and help with directions. But it’s a student’s job to do the learning.

  7. Be a motivator and monitor. Ask about assignments, quizzes, and tests. Give encouragement, check completed homework, and make yourself available for questions and concerns.  Provide guidance, not answers.  Homework is a great way to help children develop independent lifelong learning skills.

  8. Set a good example. Do your kids ever see you diligently balancing your budget or reading a book? Kids are more likely to follow their parents’ examples than their advice.

  9. Praise their work and efforts. Post an aced test or art project on the refrigerator. Mention academic achievements to relatives.

  10. If there are continuing problems with homework, get help.Talk about it with your child’s teacher. Some kids have trouble seeing the board and may need glasses; others might need an evaluation for a learning problem or attention disorder.

We, at WSEA, are happy to provide support for you and your student!  We can provide homework support, additional instruction & practice or even enrichment opportunities!

 




North Naperville Tutoring

(corner of Ogden and Iroquois)
1260 Iroquois Ave
Unit 306
Naperville, IL 60563

Call us at 630-922-8100