Helping Your Child With Homework

 

Happy New Year to you and your family! The RCS Staff is so excited to have your children back at school to start the second semester of the 2014-2015 school year. As I visited every classroom today, I saw children who were smiling and focused on learning. I believe they are excited to be back to school as well and that God is going to do amazing things here at RCS during the remainder of the school year.

A new year typically is a time for new beginnings and adjustments in our lives.  This is a good time to be reminded of how you can help your child continue to develop good homework habits.

Recently, I read an article by Dr. Kevin Braney and felt the homework reminders were so good that I’ve decided to share them with you. They are great tips for a students’ work environment, routines, and organizational approach. Dr. Braney says that making little adjustments to your parenting strategy will help maximize your child’s chances of academic success.

Here are Dr. Braney’s suggestions:

• Give your child ownership. Remember that it is your child’s schoolwork not yours. Be available to help your child when asked, but encourage your student to ask for help only after their best effort on their own.

 

• Reinforce effort. In school as in life, effort is much more important than outcome. Focus less on grades and more on tenacity, persistence, and task completion. Instead of just expecting your child to work hard in school, give genuine positive feedback whenever you see it.

 

• Be your child’s copilot. Instead of being the problem solver, help your child develop those skills. Look to your child to lead the discussion on approaches to academic work both in school and at home. Offer your suggestions only after your child has fully explored and shared their own.

 

• Focus on the endgame. The grade in a particular class is far less important than ensuring that your child will go on to be a successful learner in college and in life. By helping empower your child now with developing their own effective academic strategies and problem solving skills, they will be more prepared for success in life.

 

As our children develop and grow, so too must our parenting strategies. While your child will certainly struggle from time-to-time academically, what’s important is how your child meets the challenge.

 

Blessings to you and your family,

 

Mrs. Hoppe