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Answers to Your Toughest Homework Questions

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Parents want their children to get good grades in school. Unfortunately, not every parent knows how best to help their child meet academic challenges, including completion of homework. So, how can parents maximize their child’s chances to develop the skills, habits and attitudes needed for lifelong success?

Sylvan Learning offers this tip sheet to help answer frequently asked parent questions about homework.

Why do teachers assign homework?

• Teachers use homework to reinforce daily academic skills learned in the classroom, practice for tests, develop good work habits and critical thinking abilities, and encourage a love of learning new subjects.
• Homework is a way to supplement classroom learning and ensure students understand a lesson.
• Research indicates that children who regularly complete their homework, on average, build a better foundation of fundamental skills and obtain higher grades. By having this academic foundation and building a solid work ethic, students are better able to achieve academic success in the upper grades, college, and, ultimately, this leads to greater career options, greater wealth and lifelong success.

How much time should children spend doing their homework?

Educators generally agree on these guidelines:

• Grades K-2: 10-20 minutes per day
• Grades 3-6: 30-60 minutes daily
• Middle and high school: The amount of homework will vary by subject. In addition to daily assignments, older students may also receive long-term projects, such as term papers, that may have deadlines weeks away. The key for academic success for teenagers is organization and planning.

Discuss your child’s classroom homework policies with his/her teacher(s) and ask how much time each expects students to spend on homework nightly.

When I ask my child if he/she has homework, he/she says he/she already finished or none was assigned. How can I ensure homework is completed?

• Assume homework is assigned every night or studying is required.
• Make studying, not just homework, a daily habit. Even if a student does not have an assignment due the next day, he/she can use that time to read, review his/her notes or organize his/her backpack.
• Ask younger children to show you their work so you can check it and help them correct their mistakes by working on the answer together. Ask children to explain the reasoning for their answers. This develops critical thinking skills.
• Be curious, not critical. If a parent is too critical, a student may lose enthusiasm for learning. Kids want to please their parents. When they feel discouraged, they give up. Instead of judging your child’s homework, show him/her that you are interested in his/her schooling by asking questions. Turn homework into a nightly conversation.

How can I create a homework environment that is conducive to learning?

• Create a homework zone. Set up an area in your home for studying, complete with a dictionary, paper, pens, etc. Make sure the area is free from distractions and that all study tools are within your child’s reach to keep him/her focused on homework.
• Identify goals. Help your child set personal and attainable goals for each class and help him/her identify the steps needed to reach each goal.
• Set weekly milestones. For big projects or exams, buy a large calendar and help him/her set short timelines to ensure projects and studying aren’t left until the night before.
• Know your child. Because each child is unique with different learning styles and academic needs, it is important to personalize the learning process. Students may learn in different ways on different days. Take Sylvan’s Homework Personality Quiz to discover how to personalize homework time for your child.
• Celebrate your child’s successes. Congratulate your child for his/her effort and improvement.

A student will be better prepared for classes if parents and educators work together to understand a student’s personal learning style and use this knowledge to help the child excel in school and on homework.

*Free sessions offer valid at participating locations for new enrollments only. Excludes group instruction courses. Other restrictions apply. Can not be combined with any other offer. Call individual locations for complete details. Offer expires 4/20/10.