Homework - For Parents
Originally Published August 2013
Now that we have begun another school year, it is a good time to think about how to support your child’s homework completion and your peace of mind on school nights! Organization is the key to success.
One of the most important skills for our kids to develop is organization. Unfortunately, it can be one of the most difficult and can take quite a bit of time and effort. Each of us has our own system for keeping organized, and we can help our children to develop such systems for themselves by providing examples and practice. We can also provide tips to help keep them on track. Here a just a few:
Complete the planner (paper or electronic) each day and check off each assignment in the evening when it is completed. Have your child check off the assignment as he/she puts it into the binder/folder and then into the bookbag or once it has been submitted electronically.
For worksheets and handouts, write the due date in the top right or left corner of the worksheet.
For longer assignments and projects, create a work plan with dates and write each of those in the planner or post in an electronic calendar to help guide your child as he/she works toward completion.
Have your child use the planner/calendar for more than homework. Take time each weekend to add in sports practices, music lessons, work, and other events that will also take time in the evenings. This act will help your child begin to see the value of planning ahead.
For younger children, periodically go through your child’s binders, folders, and bookbag. Take time to eliminate items that are no longer needed and reorganize papers that need to be kept. If your child tends to be more organized on his/her own, you may need to do this monthly. If your child needs more help with organization, you may want to do a weekly check of his/her work.
For secondary students, have your child take time to reorganize his/her locker, folders, binders, or electronic files at the end of each grading period. If your child keeps note electronically, have him/her create a folder system to keep work filed by class and date. Begin to model the way adults manage work.
Finally, be patient. There are some children who are just naturally organized. That isn’t the case for most children, and adolescence tends to be a time when many children begin to become disorganized. Remember, they have quite a bit going on with more teachers, more work, more activities, and let’s not forget hormones. So have a plan to help your child remembering that developing these skills takes years.
