This article is part of the following topics:   Back to School Helping With Homework Setting Expectations

Make Homework Time More Productive

Try these ideas:

Set homework goals. At the beginning of each homework session, ask your child, “What do you need to do today?” This simple question will help your child get focused on the task ahead. Later, have your child write a homework goal at the beginning of each study session.

Get comfortable. Some kids can need absolute quiet to study. Others can tolerate lots of noise. Some need to sit at a desk. Others work best when they’re sprawled on the floor. There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to do homework. Let your child experiment and see what works best.

Set a schedule. For most kids, homework time should average about ten minutes for each grade (20 minutes for second grade, 40 minutes for fourth grade). If they don’t have that much homework, they can read for pleasure, review, or work on an independent project. Block out homework time every day.

Identify learning styles. Children learn in different ways. Some learn primarily through their eyes—visual learners. Some learn through their ears—auditory learners. Some need to involve their entire bodies—kinesthetic learners. Experiment to see what type of learning is best for your child. Then help her plan homework activities that support her learning style.

Do a 5-minute check. At the end of each homework session, have your child get in the habit of checking homework. Is his name on his paper? Has he proofread the essay?

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