There are many components surrounding homework: some are to learn, study, and get a good mark, while another piece is just making the student sit down and do the work. The focus of this section of the blog is to explore tips and strategies to help children learn from, study, and finish their homework. Strategies regarding homework refusal can be found here.
Below are some homework and study tips that can help students be more efficient with their time and make studying easier. It is best if the child chooses two to four strategies that may work. If the strategies do not work, the child can review the list again and choose different options. Encouraging the child to choose is a key factor for inspiring motivation.
- Take Ten Minutes: When first sitting down to do the homework, take some time to put away loose papers into the proper folders. Use the next remaining minutes to quickly skim and/or reread notes or handouts from school that day. Reviewing the notes will help remember what was learned and may save studying time when the test comes around.
- Flip through the chapter before the lesson: When possible, review the chapter(s) before the teacher lectures about it in class. This gives the brain some new knowledge and it may trigger some background knowledge prior to the lesson.
- Read out loud: Our brain processes information in many ways, and by reading aloud the brain processes information by our sight as we read it, our mouth as we say it, and by our ears when we hear our own voice. This can improve focus and memory.
- Create questions while reading: While reading the student can generate and answer their own questions, maybe after every 5 or 10 pages, after every heading, or after each chapter. This forces the student to think about the information and think about what is important to learn. These questions and answers can then be used to study for an exam.
- Work, break, work, break: Set a timer and limit each work session to around 20-45 minutes. Then take a 5-15 minute break, and during the break move around, stretch, grab a snack or drink water, run in place, or do jumping jacks. These breaks will help stay alert to get the work completed and will also help to reduce procrastination.
- Skip problems the student is stuck on: If the student is stuck on a question or problem, circle or highlight it and then move on. It is best to spend the time and energy on the rest of the work. Take the more difficult problems to the teacher to help.
- Use the planner: Use the planner to save time. Keep it accessible all day and mark the current page/date for easy access. It should only take a few steps to get the planner and write down assignments and due dates. Also, use the planner to cross out the assignments have been completed.
- Get ready for school the night before: Most people are tired and feel rushed in the morning, so it is easy to forget things. Instead, gather all the binders, books, notebooks, and other supplies and put in the backpack the night before. The student can even set the cloths out for the next day. Limit decisions that must be made in the morning and save this brain energy for school.
- A homework routine: Another strategy is a homework routine to help homework go easily. Please review the tips and steps discussed on the section “I don’t want to do my homework” for more information.
The material above includes information from the National Association of School Psychologist article “Homework: A Guide for Parents”, the ADDitude website, and the Understood.org website.