What to Do If Your Child Has Too Hard Homework
Helping with homework will become a part of daily life when your child reaches school age. It’s easy for the first couple of years, but you know that one day your child will have a task that will baffle him and you. Luckily, you have other options besides searching Google for the answer while your child is not looking.
There is no shame in asking others to help your child understand their homework. Forcing yourself to try to help them when you are out of gear can be frustrating for you and your child. Using the resources at your disposal takes the burden off everyone and helps your child learn the material.
Working with the school
Feel free to ask your child’s teacher. They most likely want your child to do well in their class and can point you to legitimate online resources or brush up on concepts your child is learning. They can even share their lesson plans or point you to the correct version of the tutorial they are using so you can get your own .
Check to see if your child’s school offers programs that they can attend after class ends, such as a homework club or another group where teachers or volunteers provide guidance.
The National Education Association sets out how much time your child should normally spend on homework:
10-20 minutes per night in first grade and an additional 10 minutes for each grade thereafter (eg 20 minutes for second grade, 120 minutes for twelfth grade). High school students can sometimes do more depending on which class they are in.
If you feel that your child is spending too much time on their homework, The New York Times suggests working directly with your school. Contact your child’s teacher or school principal directly. If you can engage other parents in the conversation, you are more likely to reduce your homework to a reasonable amount.
Find a tutor
If you cannot get help from your local school or if your child will benefit from direct one-to-one instruction, find a tutor. You have several options for a dedicated tutor:
- Private Tutor : Someone who tutors part-time while working in another job or attending school. Your local college is a good place to find such a tutor.
- Full Time Private Tutor : Someone who tutors in their full-time job and often has a client list. A friend or family member of yours may recommend a tutor for you.
- Tutoring Services : A company that provides tutors to help your child with homework or other academic skills. Yelp or your friends and family can help you find tutoring services in your area.
Dominic Ciccarelli, Education Expert at Kumon North America, shares the top things to look out for when evaluating a tutor or tutoring service:
- The ability to measure and accurately diagnose strengths and areas for improvement, rather than relying solely on the student’s report card or parental feedback.
- The ability to link areas of improvement to a step-by-step curriculum to achieve an intended outcome or goal.
- Success stories. Can the provider confidently demonstrate its teaching effectiveness or the effectiveness of its curriculum using student examples?
- Individual lesson plans based on the child’s ability.
Supporting your child with a regular tutor or tutor can help him achieve both short and long term goals. You can also continue to use this service during your vacation or summer break to make your transition to school easier.