I know many parents that endure the nightly homework battle with their kids, and I wish I had a cure all for that. What I can offer is a few tips for the youngest learners to encourage Healthy Homework Habits. Believe me, the expectations you set NOW, will make a big impact later.
1. Set a time and place for homework (and make it a routine)!
2. Have them start the most difficult work first, and finish with the "easiest".
3. Have a basket with the tools they will need (pencils, erasers, calculator, ruler, etc.) and be strict that it's for homework only-not playing!
4. Get them started, but don't sit over them the whole time. Linger in the area doing other things so you are available to answer questions.
5. Focus on them giving their "best" effort, versus getting hung up on "perfect" results.
A fun "game" I always play with young elementary students is I ask them to put a star or smiley face next to their "best" one, and erase and retry the one that "looks sick and needs to go to the doctor"...sounds silly, but it works! This is teaching them to think critically about their own work, which is a skill that will be very important as they get into the upper grades It is also giving them the power to acknowledge their 'not so great' work, rather than feel like mom or dad is always critiquing them.
Still frustrated? I will share a few more tips tomorrow!
Looking for more tips and resources? See all of Sweet Harper's child development and education related posts here.
Looking for more tips and resources? See all of Sweet Harper's child development and education related posts here.
Posts
2 comments:
will you come do homework with my kiddos every day? it's the time of day that i loathe the most. though it is getting better, i must say.
great tips! I posted it on facebook for our fans to read!!
Great tips!!
Post a Comment