4 Questions Parents Ask About How
to Help with Homework
TEXT ANN DOLIN
M any parents face similar obstacles
to develop, but this skill can only take you so
when it comes to their students
far without learning how to get organized and
and completing homework.

prioritize. Organization starts when students get
Whether your child struggles
home: they should not immediately be focusing on a
with motivation, procrastination or study skills,
subject such as math, science or English. Rather, they
there are different ways to tackle it all. Here are
should take a few minutes to get organized with a
some parent FAQs regarding these struggles and
schedule of what they are going to do.

recommendations on how to help.

Organization should be the very first subject they
1. My child doesn’t write down his assignments
work on, and creating a task list of what they need
since he thinks he can remember them. What are
to do for the night can be very helpful. It also helps
some tools he can use to work on this?
to compliment them when you see them writing
This is a very common obstacle for students. The
something down to encourage them to continue the
best way to handle it is to allow your student to be
practice. the one to choose how they record assignments.

Whether by paper and pencil in an agenda book,
2. My child puts no effort into studying, but she
or by using an app on their phone, when kids
still gets good grades. I am worried she doesn’t
choose the method by which they will remember
have good study skills for the future. How can she
homework, they are much more likely to follow
develop these skills?
through with recording it.

This is a common issue for many bright kids, and
we see many students who get by putting little or no
Here are some suggestions for your student:
effort into studying early on in their schooling. As
• Use an app. iHomework and iStudiez Pro
the content gets harder, they have to put more time
are great for students to electronically record
into studying.

homework assignments.

• •
• Use an agenda. You can purchase one or one
Students need to understand that studying for a test
may be provided through the school. If your
is, in fact, homework. You can help them understand
child likes pencil and paper, this is a great route
this by asking your child how they plan on studying
to take.

or preparing for their exam. Talking out different
Take a picture of the homework. Have your
options signals to your child the importance of
child pull out his or her phone right before
creating a study plan before jumping right into
or after class and take a quick photo of the
reviewing. If they do not have a plan, study guides
homework listed on the board. This way, your
and study partners can help.

child can easily check it once getting home.

Here’s how:
Check the online system your school uses.

These are great homework portals for students
Study Guides
to ensure they know what is due and when.

Have your child create multiple copies of their study
Writing down assignments is an important habit
10 January 2016 washingtonFAMILY.com
10 February 2016 washingtonFAMILY.com
guide. They should copy the study guide at least