Does Homework Time Need to Be Updated To Fit Your Child's Learning Style?
Take Sylvan Learning's "Homework Personality" Quiz at SylvanLearning.com
(Baltimore, MD, November 1, 2008) – It is widely understood that parents and educators believe students should complete homework the same way they finished their assignments last generation – in a quiet room with no distractions. In a world where multi-tasking is a vital part of most lives, is it realistic to expect all children to complete homework as a solitary task as soon as they arrive home from school?
According to the “MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: The Homework Experience” that was released on February 14, 2008, 30% of elementary school students report that they do nothing else while working on their homework, but only 12% of older students possess this studying habit. In fact, 90% of secondary students report multi-tasking while completing homework, including 70% listen to music, 51% watch television, 37% use email or text message, and 20% talk on the phone.
The proliferation of technology has changed the world – and has made study time vastly different than just a few years ago. Although today’s students are better multi-taskers and may be able to deal with multimedia "over-exposure” better than their parents and educators, can some students successfully learn while performing more than one activity?
A simple way to help your child with homework is by creating an atmosphere that works with your child to effectively tackle school tasks. “Because each student is unique, with different learning styles and academic needs, one child may need to escape from potential distractions in order to study while another student multi-tasks and maintains good grades. If grades slip, change the way homework is completed in your household and re-address your child’s homework technique,” states Richard E. Bavaria, Ph.D. and senior vice president of education outreach for Sylvan Learning. “The key is really getting to know your child’s unique homework style and helping him create a personalized learning plan that develops the skills, habits and attitudes needed for lifelong success.”
Do you know your child’s “homework personality?” How can you figure out the right homework formula for your child? To help parents decipher their child’s homework personality, the education experts at Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring at home to students of all ages and skill levels, have created a homework personality quiz.
Visit www.SylvanLearning.com/form_homework_personality.cfm to take Sylvan Learning’s fun quiz to discover how to inspire a love of learning in your child.
As parents help motivate their child throughout the school year, it is important to remember that homework is a shared responsibility. A student will be better prepared for classes if parents and educators work together to understand his personal learning style and use this knowledge to help the student excel in school and on homework. Parents should share their observations about their child’s homework personality with their child’s teacher(s).
By working with your child and his classroom educator to develop a plan to efficiently complete homework tasks, you will find higher grades, fewer homework headaches and a more confident child as a result.
For more educational resources for children in grades pre-K through 12, please visit www.SylvanLearning.com or call 1-800-31-SUCCESS.
