Struggling to help your child with homework? This presentation provides easy to implement tips for helping your child with homework.

1. HOMEWORK: A Parent’s
Survival Guide
A Conversation with Jon
Erickson
Independently owned and operated. ©2013 Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.
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3. The Homework Battle
Although homework is
worthwhile, helps develop good
study habits, and can even be
associated with greater
academic achievement, many
children resist it. Why?
• Confusion
• Frustration
• Fear of failure
What happens?
• Parents bargain, nag, and
make threats, or do their
child's homework.
• Children complain,
procrastinate and cry.
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4. Sources of Homework or
School Frustration
organization Difficulties
in school
Lack of skills
Poor
Fear of
failure
Lack of
Motivation
Lack of
Confidence
What solutions have you tried at home?
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5. The Three Cs
A framework of encouragement
that teaches children independence.
• CARE
• CONCERN
• COMMUNICATION
“Children need to know that their family
members think homework is important. If
they know their families care, children have a
good reason to complete assignments and to
turn them in on time.”
U.S. Department of Education
Helping Your Child with Homework
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6. The Huntington Formula
Expectations Commitment Strive
To achieve success, three things must happen:
– Define agreeable Expectations
– Commit to achieve expectations
– Strive to fulfill expectations
According to the Harvard Family Research Project, a strong form of
parent involvement is expectations. Parents who hold high expectations
for their children, communicate them clearly, and encourage their
students to work hard in order to attain them can make a significant
difference in their success.
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7. The Huntington Method
 BE POSITIVE!
 Establish a homework
routine
 Take small steps
 Praise effort
 Be specific with praise
 Stay up to date on
homework assigned and
handed in
Remember: follow-through is the key to a successful
homework experience.
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8. The Study Space
Well lit
Stocked
with
supplies
Comfortable
Quiet space
Turn off
electronics
No cell
phones
Remove
distractions
Make study time consistent and a household priority!
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9. Homework Expectations By Grade
K-2
• ½ hour
3-6 • 1 hour
7-8
• 1 ½ hours
9-12
• 2 hours
The National PTA
recommends that
students spend 10-20
minutes per night in the
first grade and an
additional 10 minutes per
grade level thereafter. *
•Source: US Dept. of Education http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/homework/part.html
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10. Most Common Homework Problems
1. Does not do his or her best work.
2. Refuses to do homework.
3. Fails to bring homework home.
4. Takes all night to complete
assignments.
5. Waits until last minute to do
homework.
6. Won’t do homework on his or her
own.
7. Won’t do homework if you’re not
home.
8. Your individual concerns.
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11. PROBLEM #1:
Does not do his best work
Solution:
• State expectations (and
use the three Cs): that he
must do his best on
homework.
• Institute mandatory
homework time.
• Make him redo the work
until acceptable quality.
• Strive to meet
expectations and offer
support and praise.
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12. PROBLEM #2:
Refuses to do homework
Solution:
• State expectations (and
use the three Cs) that
he must complete
homework.
• Set consequences: no
homework = no
privileges.
• Check knowledge and
skills.
• Work with teacher.
• Enforce mandatory
homework time.
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13. PROBLEM #3:
Fails to bring homework home
Solution:
• State expectations: your child
must bring home all work for
your review.
• Have child use homework
planner to copy all
assignments and work with
classroom teacher.
• Enforce mandatory
homework time.
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14. PROBLEM #4
Takes all night to do assignments
Solution:
• State expectations
(and use the three Cs).
• Create an environment
conducive to learning.
• Review expectations
and set a time limit for
homework.
• Break down tasks into
chunks and try “beat
the clock” game.
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15. PROBLEM #5
Waits until last minute to do homework
Solution:
• State expectations:
define time frames for
completion.
• Discuss benefits of NOT
procrastinating.
• Use a calendar or
planner.
• Organize time to work
on bigger projects.
• Establish goals for
completion before the
deadline.
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16. PROBLEM #6
Won’t do homework on his own
Solution:
• Gather information
about the child’s fears
or problem.
• Give the child time to
solve the problem on
their own.
• Break work into steps.
• Don’t help every five
minutes.
• Praise efforts.
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17. PROBLEM #7
Won’t do homework if you’re not there
Solution:
• State expectations:
homework must get
done.
• Enforce mandatory
homework time.
• Make sitter aware of
homework routine.
• Monitor homework
time.
• Check work, praise
effort.
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18. • Be consistent and firm.
• Establish and uphold structure.
• Remember that homework takes parent-teacher
collaboration.
• Use a homework planner/calendar to stay on track.
• Use the homework monitor.
• Make homework time mandatory.
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19. Huntington’s Keys to School Success
READING
Tips to make reading a priority:
• Read each day.
• Read on the go.
• Download books, use a tablet, a Kindle, Nook
or other e-reader .
• Share interesting news and current events.
• Visit the library often.
19 • Set a good example.

20. Huntington’s Keys to School Success
WRITING
Tips to incorporate writing
into daily life
• Encourage writing in a journal
or diary.
• Have children write notes,
letters, lists, etc…
• Encourage storytelling and
writing.
• Summarize newspaper articles.
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21. Huntington’s Keys to School Success
MATH
Tips to connect math to real life
• Use math in the kitchen.
• Use math at the grocery store.
• Use math to calculate sports
statistics.
• Play math games, Sudoku or
online games that help make
math come to life.
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22. Huntington’s Keys to School Success
LIFE SKILLS
Remember, parents:
• Be concerned.
• Be consistent.
• Communicate effectively.
• Use life skills to teach reading, writing, and math.
• Instill a love of learning by example.
• Make everyday experiences a time for learning.
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23. HOMEWORK:
The link between home and school
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24. HuntingtonHelps.com
800-CANLEARN
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