Student Homework Help: A Guide to Avoiding Homework Headaches



Posted: Wednesday, August 19, 2009

by
TutorFi.com/DinaDeYoung

As a parent, you may be experiencing the "homework headaches." Is your child struggling to keep up with his math homework? Does it take hours after school to complete one worksheet? Is he resistant to doing his homework? Does he require your assistance on most of his assignments? Is he working hard, yet seems to get nothing accomplished? Is he acting out in frustration? If any of these scenarios sound familiar a few student homework help tips have been provided below. These guidelines may ultimately help your child succeed and eliminate your homework headaches.

#1- If your child is easily distracted, it would be best to designate a study spot for him that is free of distractions such as siblings, TV, and toys. Equip the study area with any supplies that your child may find necessary to complete his homework. Establish a routine in which there is a regularly designated time for homework and stick to it until it becomes a habit. Let your child take a short break after a period of focused effort and achievement. Then he can return to his homework for another period of focused effort. Be sure to discuss any attention issues with his teacher, so that she can be sure to eliminate potential distractions in the classroom and/or offer suggestions specific to your child.

#2- If he is staying focused and diligently working on the assignment, yet still regularly taking 1 to 2 hours each night to get it completed, it is time to discuss this with his teacher. Your child is probably struggling at school as well. You may be able to brainstorm a student homework help game plan that may assist him both in the classroom, as well as at home. The teacher may allow you to shorten assignments that seem to be overwhelming. For instance, say he is working on a math worksheet with several multiplication problems. If he is able to correctly answer the first 2-3 problems, you could then cross out and mark with your initials the remaining multiplication problems so that he can go on to the rest of the page. Often covering up all but one or two problems until they are completed may take away the overwhelmed feelings a student may have in facing an entire page of math. Once the problems are completed, uncover a few more and continue doing this until the page is done.

#3- There may be certain concepts that your child has never fully grasped. Failure to grasp such concepts can become a stumbling block toward further growth. Check with your child's teacher and see what areas of weakness she notices and if she has suggestions on how you can build up your child at home. For example, if your child is learning 2 digit multiplication and division problems and has not mastered the multiplication tables, he will struggle to keep up with the class. Therefore, practicing at home with flashcards or multiplication games can be very beneficial.

#4- If your child's grades are dropping and he is getting discouraged, it may be time to hire an online tutor to step in and assist your child. Through a one-on-one session, your child's tutor can assess whether he understands the concepts being taught and can go back and re-teach if necessary. Once your child has a firm foundation in the essential concepts, he can progress and gain confidence.

With individualized student homework help to assist your child in the specific areas of his struggle, he can experience success in his education.

Dina DeYoung is a licensed elementary school teacher currently homeschooling her three children and running an online tutoring business. She invites you to 
get a free report on 16 Proven Ways To Motivate Your Child To Do Better In School...

Plus, receive a live demonstration inside her unique 1 on 1 online classroom.

 

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