Let’s be honest, homework time can be a struggle. Homework is often the source of frustration for both kids and parents, but there are homework strategies that can alleviate some of this stress. Below are six tips to make homework more manageable at home and study habits stronger at school.
Designate a distraction-free area as the “homework zone.”
First things first, you need a proper place to complete homework. Creating a distraction-free study environment can help your child stay focused when completing schoolwork. It can also help you keep track of all the necessary materials your kids need for projects, preventing late night runs to the store for glue sticks and markers.
Don’t do it all at once.
Breaking daunting tasks into smaller steps makes them much more manageable. If you know your child is responsible for learning 20 spelling words each week, plan on mastering five words a day rather than trying to tackle them all at once. Come Friday, your child will be ready to take the test without feeling overwhelmed. For weekly homework assignments, designate a day for each subject. Monday is math day. Tuesday is reading.
Take handwritten notes during lessons.
In our ever-increasing electronic world, some schools have moved to 1:1 initiatives that grant all students access to a personal, school-issued device. While there are many benefits to all students having access to technology, students who handwrite their notes tend to process the ideas more thoroughly, leading to higher quality learning. Handwriting notes during class will make it easier to complete the homework out of class.
Set mini-deadlines.
Major unit project due in a few weeks? Sit down with a calendar and set some deadlines to keep your student on task. Not only does it ensure he will have plenty of time to complete the project, but it will give him a sense of accomplishment throughout the process. Using a calendar or checklist to keep track of all homework is a great study habit to practice from an early age.
Use flashcards.
A tried and true method going back decades, for material requiring rote memorization flashcards are still one of the most effective resources. Research shows that writing down information helps you retain it longer than just reading it. Because of this, the physical act of creating flashcards helps students learn the material more thoroughly. If your student is more likely to study using a phone or tablet, there are free sites where you can create your own flashcards or search pre-made study sets. Quizlet and StudyStack are two great options.
Make a game out of it and study on the go.
There are an endless number of educational apps you can download to your devices to help your student study skills on the go. Most of these apps function as games, making studying fun. There are apps to practice handwriting skills, math, vocabulary acquisition, problem-solving and more! The better your student is at these skills, the easier it is to complete homework testing those skills.
