Helping Your Child Independently Organize and Complete Their Homework
Helping Your Child Independently Organize and Complete Their Homework
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Homework is such a loaded word. Kids fear it, parents loathe it, and teachers assign it. Then there is the whole debate about its relevance in today’s society.
In an age where we can look up anything we want online, and have AI write all our papers, why should kids still do homework? Does homework still help with academic success?
When I wrote about promoting academic growth in children, among other things, I wrote the following about homework: Homework serves as a bridge between the classroom and home, reinforcing concepts taught in school. Setting aside time for your child to do homework, and ensuring they have completed their homework are the two most important things you can do during the week to help your child succeed.
Why did I write this? Parents have a hard time with homework help. Kids are frustrated, want to do something else, and blame the teacher. Academic motivation is low at home when there are so many other things to do for everyone. Can homework really help with academic success? Yes it can, and here is why.
When homework is focused on learning life skills, such as reading, writing, problem solving, independent thinking, communicating and critical thinking, it definitely supports academic success. It also supports success in life. It goes without saying that children who perform below grade in reading/writing/math skills have a very difficult time with academic success. They will also have a very difficult time out in the world – from jobs to financial independence.
If you look at homework as a way to practice thinking skills, skills that you will use forever, your mindset may change. Students complain that learning a particular formula in math is useless, but the process of applying it and problem solving how to make it work is a very important skill in life.
Ok, so for now, let’s just go forward that homework is useful and your child will be doing it. How can you make the whole process easier on your home life? Below I have an exercise that might help reduce some of the frustrations of starting homework. There are three basic steps:
Know what homework needs to be completed and by when
Sort the homework into categories
With guidance, let your child make choices and set time limits.
How Can I Find out What Homework is Assigned?
How Can I Find out What Homework is Assigned?
Most schools have some kind of system where they post information for parents online. The information ranges from what topics are being taught, what activities are happening that day (especially important if your child is absent) and what homework was assigned.
This system may be a very detailed one, or as simple as an email the teacher sends home at the beginning of the week. Spending time reading is usually a given, as is math practice (unless your child finished it during class.) Other types of homework vary from large research projects to completing a worksheet.
Many schools also require assignment notebooks for the students to write their homework in. If your child says they have no homework at all, I would encourage you to have them spend some time reading, and also some time discussing with you what they learned that day. I explain a fun way to do that in this video.
Once you have a written or oral list of what homework needs to be done, move on to the next step.
How Can I Help My Child Organize Their Homework?
How Can I Help My Child Organize Their Homework?
Set all the homework on the kitchen counter, table, floor or other semi-large area that is clear. Make sure your child has everything they need from school to complete the homework. If they don’t, you may only be able to complete part of it, or they will need to bring it home the next day.
This is also a good time to assess their backpack and organizational system. I have seen many school backpacks, and many “binders”. They come in all shapes, sizes and methods or non-methods of organization. Things may start out well in the beginning of the year, but as the year goes along, things seem to literally fall apart.
Sort all their homework into piles based on what they need to do. If something is needed for two different activities, have them set it with just one, knowing they can use it at any time. One you have the piles sorted, you will assign a ranking to each homework task based on the diagram (Priority Matrix) below. As you assign a ranking, move the homework to that area of the priority matrix.
In What Order Should my Child do Their Homework?
In What Order Should my Child do Their Homework?
One thing the priority matrix does not take into consideration is due dates. A test tomorrow trumps a project due next week. The matrix assumes all items are of equal importance.
One way to incorporate due dates, is to first sort homework into missing work, due tomorrow, and due in the future. Then complete a priority matrix for each due date. Missing work that is a skill-builder, such as math homework, often needs to be done before today’s assignment so your child can build skills. It may take some investigating on your part.
Once you have the needed items sorted into a priority matrix, I would then allow your child to decide if they want to start with the quick and easy, or something more challenging and get it out of the way. Allowing them to have a choice, and the ensuing discussion about due dates and time management goes a long way towards building independence.
Allowing for breaks between tasks is also important. Having a little “carrot” attached, such as asking them to name two things to get done before playing with a friend, or watching TV/playing a video game increases academic motivation.
Our daughter always wanted to finish everything immediately after school. Our son preferred to work on homework after dinner. Both were responsible in doing their homework, they just had different approaches.
How do I Deal with Homework Frustrations?
How do I Deal with Homework Frustrations?
All children will be frustrated by their homework at some point in time. Helping them create a plan ahead of time, versus in the moment, is the most useful, and beneficial, strategy.
On a night when there isn’t much homework, or on a Sunday in preparation for the week, discuss some possible scenarios and brainstorm ideas to try. Whether it is time of day, order of completion, or area of the house such as a homework station, create a plan and let them follow through.
Also create a plan for times when they don’t understand the homework, such as who they can ask, where they might find the answer, and when the teacher is available to help. Discussing this ahead of time will give you something to refer to when the situation actually happens.
Having a battle during homework serves no one. Both you and your child will only feel anger and resentment, and the homework will not be completed in a way that supports their academics (if completed at all.) It is far better to set things aside, agree to create a plan the next day, and move forward.
The priority matrix is a great tool for that because it allows your child to see and choose what they would like to work on and how long it should take them. This gives them control over their homework, instead of them feeling like you are controlling them.
As your child grows from year to year, they will build independence, and create new plans and strategies for completing homework. You are the guide on the side, supporting them, but also letting them own it.
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