When your child comes to you with a homework assignment, helping them can sometimes feel like a daunting task. As a parent, it\u2019s important to find balance, supporting your child\u2019s learning without doing the work for them. This post offers four strategies parents can use to assist their child with homework in a way that builds strong study habits and independence:<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t tell\u2014ask questions instead!<\/p>\n
Prompt them to think critically about a task by asking questions like \u201cWhat do you think the first step should be?\u201d or \u201cDo you have any ideas for how we can visualize two groups of five?\u201d<\/p>\n
Encouraging them to try out potential solutions is important, even if they\u2019re wrong, as it allows them to learn from their mistakes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Break up hefty assignments into manageable chunks!\u00a0<\/p>\n
After writing out each section of the assignment on a to-do list, you can estimate how long each task will take and create a homework schedule for the night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If they have a longer task to complete, you can break it down into weekly steps. For example, for a science project, the following steps may apply: choose a topic, make observations, finalize the hypothesis, design the experiment, conduct the experiment, analyze data and draw conclusions, and create the poster board.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This approach makes the work feel less overwhelming and helps your child stay organized and focused, introducing them to crucial time management skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sometimes, stepping away from an assignment can help us see the big picture more clearly!\u00a0<\/p>\n
If your child is struggling with a particular question, encourage them to take a 15-minute break. This will help them (and you!) avoid feelings of frustration. Ultimately, we don\u2019t want any unnecessary conflicts or tears at the dinner table.<\/p>\n
A quick snack or a few minutes of lounging on the couch can do wonders for their motivation, and you\u2019ll both come back to the assignment with a fresh perspective.<\/p>\n
You might not know how to help them with a certain subject, and that\u2019s okay! After all, elementary and middle school were a long time ago.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, Education.com has a wealth of lesson plans<\/a> to refresh your memory. Whether you\u2019re looking for a walkthrough on dividing fractions or a summary of potential and kinetic energy, these lesson plans<\/a> offer explanations and step-by-step instructions parents can use to teach a new subject to their child.<\/p>\n
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