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From the Desk of Bill Cirone...
November 5, 1999
Homework Tips
Many children have trouble working for long stretches of time without a break, especially in the evening when doing homework.
Sometimes it’s better to plan for a two-hour homework session, with frequent breaks, than a one-hour session without stopping.
A kitchen timer can be used to keep breaks to a reasonable length of time, like five or 10 minutes. Breaks can be used to get a snack, play a Nintendo game for a few minutes, shoot baskets, or get some other quick form of exercise. It’s best to schedule breaks after a specific task has been accomplished, rather than after a set period of time. Otherwise children can daydream the time away and still get a break.
It can also help to make a game out of work completion. Have children estimate how long it will take to complete an assignment. They can "place bets" for how long it will take. Some parents like to set a kitchen timer where the child can’t see the amount of time set and then they challenge the child to "beat the clock" to see how quickly a math problem can be completed, for example. You want to allow plenty of time, though, because some children could get the wrong message that speed is more important than accuracy.
It’s also important to help instill a work ethic. If a task takes more time than your child can sustain, even if it’s broken down into smaller steps, or if you child "gets stuck" and can’t seem to go on with a particular project, have him switch to another assignment rather than stopping work all together. Then have him take a break at an appropriate time after or during that other assignment. If there’s enough energy left when everything else is completed, it can be a good idea to revisit the first project and see if a little more progress can be made before calling it a day.
Remember that the primary purpose of homework is to give children independent practice with a skill they have already been taught. The expectation is that children should be able to complete almost all homework on their own. It’s important to sustain the critical skills of diligence and work completion.
© Santa Barbara County Education Office
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