Monday, September 9, 2013

It's That Time of the Year Again!

Welcome back to school! It's that time of year when mornings a crisp but afternoons are golden,  binders are clean and organized, and there is still enough sunlight to play after school before starting homework! We all know what it's like to face a fresh season, ready to set the world on fire! But often, after the new-ness of the school year wears off, kids hit a rut. How can you stay on top all through the school year?

Organization is key in all walks of life! Help your child create a system of organization. The more invested your child is, the better! Organization depends on many things. What is your child like? My daughter was an organized child. She liked to write her assignments down and complete them in priority-order. She used a desk, instead of her lap. She kept separate notebooks and a file box where she could save important information for use later. My son couldn't find his homework in the middle of the modge-podge he called a room. He often forgot to write his assignments down and his binder and folders looked like a paper-bomb had just gone off in his backpack. Where my daughter could function with stacking trays, file folders and a bulletin board in her room, my son needed to sort his papers and work on his homework in the dining room, where we could keep an eye on him and not allow his papers to get lost. We used a paper cubby labeled by subject and other topics such as "keep", "throw out" and "ask the teacher". Starting the year out organized is important, but it is equally important to stay on top of it. Children often do not have a natural ability to stay organized. They need guidance and modeling. For example, sometimes homework can be overwhelming after a long day of school. When a child says, "I have so much homework tonight!" Ask the child, "Would you like me to help you figure how what to start with?" Often, they do not know what to start with or they put off the task they feel is the most difficult.  It is also important for the teacher to help monitor organization. Ask if the teacher schedules time for notebook checks, locker and desk clean outs, and has students help keep the classroom orderly and neat.

It seems silly, but choose a homework start and finish time. As the school year progresses, children and families get busy with sports, family functions and holidays. Pick a time to begin homework and pick a reasonable time to stop, even if homework is not done. If too much homework has been assigned, let the teacher know. Sometimes, especially with departmental teaching, teachers do not consider or even know what others have given for homework. Sometimes, what takes one student 10 minutes, takes another 30 minutes. Be realistic about how long it should take for the night's assignment and pack up anything not finished so the teacher can adjust the amount of homework accordingly. If a child creates a habit of starting homework at a certain time, it will be easier to transition from another activity (TV, play, etc...) and the child will be less likely to argue or "dread" the task. Time your homework period in between preferred activities. For example, after play time, but before dessert or story time.

Homework can become monotonous. Allow movement breaks and, if your child is having a hard time with a skill or concept, try explaining or demonstrating things with hands-on examples. If a child has a trouble staying with a task, allow movements but limit them in number. You could provide a number of tickets that the child "turns in" to take a break. When the tickets are gone, the child must focus and finish his/her work.

Some children need complete quiet when working on homework, but others fare better with music. Research shows that certain types of music promote learning and productivity. While some children prefer music with lyrics, others may function better with only instrumental. In order to know whether or not music would be helpful, experiment. My son, with an auditory processing disorder used to tell us that he could hear every little noise in the house, including our small dog's nails click-clopping on the wood floor. Providing classical music in the background helped him focus on his work.

Should you check your child's homework for accuracy? Homework should consist of a review or reinforcement of a skill or concept that was taught at school.  It's usually hard for parents not to correct their child's work when they see he/she made a mistake. We want our children to understand the concept or skill being reinforced. There are times when parents must intervene and help their children complete an assignment. In fact, some times parents understand how their children think and approach work better than teachers, who are just getting to know your child. On the other hand, teachers want to know if a child is spending more time than typical completing homework. If a child is regularly having difficulty with homework assignments, it is important to let teachers know. In that instance, observe the child when working and allow the child to bring the finished assignment to school. Email or jot a not to the teacher, explaining what went wrong. For example: "Justin didn't seem to understand the math homework last night. It seems like he consistently forgot to regroup when necessary." Unless the teacher knows your child is struggling, she may move on before the child is ready.

Create a peaceful home environment, where children can share their concerns, worries and successes regarding school. Sometimes, children do not know the words to explain what is bothering them in school. Make time to review the day and ask leading questions. For example, instead of "how was school today?" try "What are you learning in math?" "What was the most/least favorite activity today?" Encourage children to share, but don't immediately contact the teacher if your child is upset about something. If your child is old enough, help him/her to learn how to discuss any problems with the teacher, perhaps role-playing or scripting out what the child can say. Follow up at home and find out what happened and discuss the matter with the teacher when you need to.

It's important that children have time and opportunities to focus on non-school activities, as well. Sports, art, music, crafts and other hobbies not only round out children's lives, but allow children to excel in something other than academia. A child might spend a lot of his time thinking "I'm not good at...math, writing, etc...", but having a chance to feel good about something they are "good at" makes everything feel better! Hobbies not only provide physical, creative and emotional outlets, they can help your child develop leadership skills, social graces, determination and dedication. Organized hobby activities can help children learn organizational skills and time management. My daughter, a gymnast throughout her school years, had to manage homework, school clubs and gymnastics practice 4 days a week. She learned out to use a schedule and manage long-term projects out of necessity.  She was busy, and the requirements for the gymnastics' team were rigorous. Yet she loved it and was willing to make it work. She benefited socially, academically, and physically. And at 26 years old, she still looks back fondly at her 13 years, knowing she learned life skills that continue to benefit her today!

Of course, there are many, many other strategies and helpful hints. Just as no two children are alike, not every technique or strategy works for each student. Sometimes, it's a matter of trial and error, observation and tweaking.

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