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



three times, which leaves them with blank copies to
Helping them get started on Sunday nights can
use. When a student fills out (not just reads) a study
reduce procrastination and help your child feel less
guide at least three times, they tend to do better on
overwhelmed. their tests.

4. It takes my student a long time to complete his
Study Partners
homework because he is not focused on it. How can I
Another great idea is to have your student use
help him stay focused?
Google Hangouts or Facetime with a study partner.

We like to call these kids “Super Bowl Kids” – the
This helps create accountability for both students
game is on for four hours, but they only play football
and does not make them rely on their own notes.

for an hour. Your student may have a half-hour
Furthermore, it forces them to speak aloud the
writing assignment, but they are toiling away for
content and hear the content repeated back to them,
hours working on it with no result. Sound familiar?
which will solidify their knowledge of the material.

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It is not that the student is not working diligently
3. My child struggles with tackling long-term
during that time – they are just distracted. Research
assignments, so he procrastinates. How can I help
shows that when projects feel big for kids, they often
him start his projects early?
procrastinate more.

We see many students who procrastinate, especially
with long-term projects. These students feel
If you have a “Super Bowl Kid” on your hands, a
overwhelmed, underprepared and are not sure how
timer is your best ally. You can use the timer on the
to get started.

microwave oven, on your phone (but be careful with
this – that could be distracting, too!) or a specialty
How can parents help? Make Sunday family dinners
timer. Set the timer for 15 or 20 minutes and
the jumping off point for planning. Schedule 20
encourage your child to work as hard and as focused
minutes before or right after Sunday dinner to
as they can for just that amount of time, and then
Check One:
❏ Okay As Is
review any upcoming assignments for the week. You
Approved by:
can ask, “What is due this week and what is coming
_________________ up?” If your child says, “I have a test on Friday” or
Changes that
“I have a science project due ❏ in Needs
two weeks,”
changes and on ad)
is a great way to suggest forward (Mark
thinking backward planning. You can
then Sent:
ask, “How can
Date take a break.

Ann Dolin, M.Ed. is the founder and president of Educational
Connections Tutoring (www.ectutoring.com). Her team of tutors
helps students with content knowledge, academic strategies and
study skills. They travel to students’ homes throughout Northern
VA, D.C. and MD.

you break down that project into smaller tasks?”
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