October 10, 2017
The parental end-goal with respect to homework is to have children take full responsibility for their assignments; to truly succeed, their motivation needs to come from within. Achieving that ideal may take years of patience and a healthy dose of self-restraint, but there are some tried-and-true strategies that Mounds Park Academy, a private PreK-12 college prep school in Saint Paul, recommends.
Many parents ask, “What should my role be?!” The most critical factor in assessing the appropriate parental role in homework is a child’s age. Typically, parents need to take a much more hands-on role with Lower School students than they do in later years, as their children are learning what it means to be in school and the responsibilities that come with it. In Middle School, students are studying subjects with ever-increasing intensity and complexity; more is required of them every year. The Upper School is where the academic preparation from elementary and middle school plays out and pays off.
The information below offers several overarching recommendations for parents, across the grade levels, and then outlines some more specific guidance.
Your Role PreK-12
Today’s children confront myriad distractions; it’s no longer just the sibling sitting across the kitchen table. Cell phones, iPads, laptops, social media, streaming videos, and the sibling across the kitchen table all provide ample and at-the-ready distractions from the task at hand. Below are some recommendations to keep your child, of any age, focused.
- Create a homework space free from technology and interruption. Provide an environment that is conducive to doing homework (i.e. quiet and consistent place). Collect the cell phones and other electronic devices until it’s a tech-free zone. To the parents of teenagers, this may seem like a daunting, if not impossible, proposition. But a device-free zone is best for student learning.
- Cheer on kids to help motivate them. Kids of all ages appreciate encouragement. Compliment how focused they are, how proud you are of their accomplishments, and how hard they’re working. Believe in your student’s capability and resourcefulness.
- Leave the pen-to-paper to them. When you’re explaining a concept to your child, sometimes it’s just easier to use the pen and show them how to solve the problem. But resist the urge to do that. Offer support to the student, but don’t do the actual homework. Children need to own their work and feel a sense of accomplishment from a job well done. The goal is for it to be more efficient to work independently than it is to get help.
- Set a good example. You may not have homework to do, but you can help model positive behaviors that help your child develop good homework habits. Limit your own screen time, develop healthy sleeping habits, read for pleasure, and manage your own distractions when there are tasks that you need to complete. Talk to your child about your own habits and share ideas that help you.
Your Role in Lower School
In the early school years, there is typically not much assigned homework, though daily reading is often expected. Some teachers have a reading log to track stories or minutes, others may have students keep a reading journal.
- Establish a consistent routine for homework. Many teachers and pediatricians recommend that students tackle their homework right after school while they’re still in “school mode.” But many kids need a break at the end of the day. Some kids have a chance to do their homework in an extended day program. Regardless, try to establish a routine of when homework is completed so they know what to expect.
- Check your child’s backpack and the teacher’s emails. Parents need to keep up with the teacher’s communication. They also should check student folders every evening, read notices, and respond in a timely manner. Regular backpack clean-outs can be useful in helping students—and parents—stay organized. If students have assignment books that you need to sign, getting into the routine of checking the folders nightly will help you complete your assignment!
- Foster a love of reading. Because reading is so critical to a child’s future academic success, encouraging a love of reading is paramount for parents. Kids should pick out their own books for their at-home reading and should read whatever interests them. Parents should continue to read to their child and with their child or select a book to read as a family, even after they learn to read on their own. Also, make sure that all parents are helping to model healthy habits by reading regularly for pleasure.
- Have your child complete the reading chart. Regardless of how reading is tracked, your child should take the lead in completing the information required. Determine with your child where the best place to keep the form is: On the refrigerator? On her desk? Where she reads? In his backpack? Give your child ownership of the reading log, though it’s likely that they’ll need some help in remembering to complete the assignment.
- Have your child take a break if frustrated. If a child is frustrated and angry about a problem or certain aspect of their homework, it often is best to just take a break. In the early school years, it’s important that children remain positive about homework, as it will only get more complex and harder to complete as the child progresses through school.
- Talk to the teacher if homework is an issue. Homework should not be a stressful time for families. Homework in the Lower School should not take more than about 10 minutes per grade. If you find that homework is taking too long for your child to complete or if it’s creating stress for your child or family, talk to your child’s teacher.
- Ensure child has playtime, downtime and family time. We tend to overschedule ourselves and our children. But more important than yet-another extracurricular activity is to ensure that every child has a chance to play, to relax and to spend time with family: playtime, downtime, and family time.
Your Role in Middle School
The transition from the Lower School to the Middle School homework level can be a challenge for some students. As the homework gets more complicated, it will obviously take longer to complete. It will also take organizational skills to keep it all straight.
- Don’t over-schedule your child; make time for homework. Middle school homework will take longer, and it’s important to leave time for that in the schedule. It’s hard to strike a balance between providing extracurricular opportunities for your children and ensuring that they can complete their school work and maintain healthy habits. Let their success and mental health be your guide.
- Stay nearby during homework time. Middle school children should be more independent in tracking their own homework and making sure it’s completed on time. But they still might need some help on specific questions and appreciate your being around to answer them. Let your child know you’re there, in case they have questions.
- Help develop a plan for tracking homework. Get your child into the habit of reviewing the assignments for the evening right when they get home. Or, even better, look ahead and make a plan for the week.
- Encourage your child to start bigger projects right away. Middle school students start to have longer-term, project-based assignments. Some kids (and adults!) wait until the last minute to look at an assignment, and then they won’t have the time or right materials to complete the project. Encourage your child to at least review the assignment right away so they know what it entails and what they’ll need and divide assignments into shorter, more manageable segments.
Your Role in Upper School
Hopefully, by Upper School, your child has developed strong homework habits that have grown with them as the intensity and volume of homework have increased. As a parent, your role in an Upper School homework, really becomes like a coach: you’re there for encouragement and support and some instruction, but they need to be internally motivated to succeed.
- Show interest in the assignments. Ask your child to explain the assignment, particularly bigger projects, and ask what their approach is going to be.
- Help create an enjoyable working space. Upper School students may have two-to-three hours of homework a night. Help your child create a space that they enjoy.
- Minimize the distractions. Given the prevalence of social media, it’s worth mentioning again how important it is to help your child understand the importance of removing distractions when doing homework. Teenagers might try to convince you that they need to have their friend’s help or they need to listen to music to do their homework. You know your child, so you will have the best understanding of their propensity for getting distracted.
- Share the family schedule to help with homework planning. Family meetings aren’t for everyone, but they do help establish clear communication related to the family schedule. Upper School students’ projects often take more planning and coordination, so it’s important to let your child know the family schedule so they can plan their work accordingly.
As a parent, you are your child’s greatest advocate, cheerleader, and coach, with respect to life and homework. Encourage your child as much as possible, while ensuring they take responsibility for their work. The groundwork that you set in the early school years will pay off in the Middle and Upper School years, as the work becomes more challenging and time consuming. As important as homework is, however, nothing is more important than the mental, physical, and emotional health of your child.
If you are an Mounds Park Academy parent, and you have questions related to homework, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or Division Director. We welcome your input. If you are a prospective MPA parent, please contact the Office of Admission to learn more about MPA at admission@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5577.