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This time of year, most families begin to think about the start of
school with excitement and anticipation. Young people start to wonder:
Who will I have for a teacher? Will I have any friends in my class?
What will the new year hold?
Parents
can play a major role in helping the new year start smoothly by preparing
their children for the rigors of homework and class
work.
According to Becoming a Nation of Readers: The Report of the Commission
on Reading, “A parent is a child’s first tutor in unraveling
the fascinating puzzle of written language. A parent is a child’s
one enduring source of faith that somehow, sooner or later, he or she
will become a good reader.”
What’s a parent to do? The basics make a big difference. Here
are some time-tested tips:
Breakfast: Make sure your child begins each day with a good breakfast,
and then try to arrange to have snacks and other meals at regular
times. This helps small bodies adjust and react at maximum capacity.
Schedules: Inform your child of your schedule at home and on the
job. This helps establish a sense of time, but also reassures a child
about
consistency and order.
Reading: Read with your child every day that you can. Newspapers,
short stories, books, and poetry can all be the basis of enjoyable
shared
experiences.
Homework: If possible, set aside a specific time each day for homework.
Tell your child that homework is a number one priority but remember
to be flexible if soccer practice or band tryouts fall during homework
time. Together set a new time for that day.
Don’t do your children’s homework, but be sure they know
you are available for help. Serve as a “consultant.” If
you feel that your children may be asking for help because they want
someone else to do the thinking, just say, “I think you can figure
this out on your own. You try first.”
Tests: When your children are studying for a test, discourage “cramming” the
night before. Instead, ask your children to bring a textbook home every
other night and teach you what they have learned in school. These discussions
could be held at the dinner table for everyone’s benefit.
When your children are preparing for a test, help them avoid panic.
Advise your children to study one section at a time. Encourage a
good night’s sleep and a nutritious meal before the test.
If your children are procrastinators and seem to do everything but
homework, it might help to set up a reward system. Also, let your
children take homework breaks every half hour to refresh their minds.
A tape recorder is a great study aid for children whose parents are
short on time. You can record a definition or question on the tape,
pause for about five seconds, and then record the answer. Your children
can then play the tape, have a chance to test their knowledge, and
get immediate feedback.
If your children are having trouble with an assignment, be careful
not to criticize. Find out what the problem is and try to help solve
it.
The most important point for parents to remember, at all times, is that their
positive attitude toward homework, teachers, and school can have great influence
on their child’s success. That’s the bottom line for all of us.
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