Homework. It’s a word that means something different to everyone.
For some, it brings up nothing but bad memories. For others, it never really existed in the first place.
No matter the status of your relationship with homework, it couldn’t hurt to get in touch and have a chat for old times’ sake.
Since everyone sees homework differently, this is a very important discussion to have with your child. However, not every student is comfortable talking about school, especially when it comes to homework. This post aims to provide a voice for those students who would rather not talk about homework but still wish you could understand their point of view.
Here are the top 5 things kids want you to know about homework:
5. There isn’t enough time to do homework
Though it might not always seem like it, kids have busy schedules.
They have classes to worry about, friendships to maintain, sports to play, and YouTube videos to watch. How could they possibly find time to do homework?
For kids who haven’t learned how to manage a schedule, it can seem impossible. It isn’t necessarily a skill that is taught in school, and it can’t be assumed that kids are born with the ability to perfectly organize the events in their lives. If there are only 24 hours in a day, how can students fit everything in?
This is where the guidance of a tutor can make a huge difference. A tutor can help students learn the importance of creating a schedule and sticking to it without making it feel like extra work. This will allow them to stay organized and on top of everything both within and outside school. When a proper schedule is made, it suddenly seems like there’s more time in a day, and that allows for the completion of homework.
4. They don’t teach you how to do homework
When teachers assign homework to their students, it’s mostly assumed that kids will know what that means and will know how to do it. However, it isn’t always that simple.
When a student is used to doing work in the classroom where they might have the opportunity to ask questions when they get stuck, it can be difficult to try and finish work on their own. Some also struggle to find the motivation to do homework if they aren’t confident they can do it properly, and some avoid it altogether because they fear it will take them too long.
The concept of homework is an important theme among our ‘twisted’ tutors, and they have a variety of tips and tricks that can set your student on the path to success. When students are taught effective techniques that can help them work independently and stay focused on a task, homework becomes a lot less scary and can actually help a student in the long run.
Tutors know how to bridge the gap between schoolwork and homework, and that can make all the difference.
3. Homework seems pointless
Sometimes students completely reject the idea of homework.
“School work is supposed to be done at school, so why am I taking it home with me?”
This sort of attitude doesn’t necessarily mean the student is being lazy. They simply see no value in doing homework, and that isn’t their fault. Homework is often portrayed as evil in many popular shows and movies, so this certainly doesn’t help matters.
How can you show your child that homework is useful?
When students understand that homework has a purpose, they can start to see it in a new light. It isn’t meant to be a punishment, and a tutor can help students come to this conclusion. Homework allows students to develop good habits surrounding individual studying and provides them with an opportunity to get involved with independent exploration.
When kids are shown all of the fun activities that constitute homework, they will be a lot more likely to do it on a regular basis and learn beyond what the curriculum is teaching.
There is also a concept known as reverse homework. Reverse homework involves a student independently learning a new topic before it’s actually introduced in the classroom. This allows students some extra time to come up with their own understanding of an idea before the teacher rushes through it in a lesson. This can be especially helpful for subjects like math and science that involve a lot of studying and practice to master.
Check out our math tutoring and science tutoring pages to find out how our ‘twisted’ tutors can help with reverse homework and regular homework today.
2. Homework isn’t mandatory
Some students argue that homework isn’t
absolutely required in order to get through school. Kids can manage without doing any homework at all. However, students in this position stand to gain a great deal through starting to do homework.
In addition to improving their grades, students will develop important life skills such as perseverance, problem solving, commitment management, and, maybe most importantly, curiosity.
Students who adopt the mindset of, “I don’t have to, so why should I?” run the risk of having that mentality show through in other areas of their life. Putting forth the minimum effort required, especially when one is more than capable of going above and beyond, is a problem that can be solved by discovering the satisfaction of doing great work.
A tutor can help your student experience this gratification by working on projects that they’re passionate about, encouraging them to go the extra mile at every opportunity. This will help them develop strong habits and realize how beneficial it can be to strive for greatness, even in something like homework.
1. “Just do it” doesn’t work
When a student hits a wall during a homework session, they feel like they can’t do it. No matter how many times they hear them, the words “just do it” won’t help them solve the problem. Situations like these can be frustrating to deal with, but they can be handled by approaching them in a different way.
If your student ever feels like they can’t do their homework, try to find the root of the issue. Do they have all of the resources they need? Do they know what is expected of them? Do they have an example to refer to? Was the homework properly explained? Asking questions such as these can make your child feel like you’re working with them rather than against them, and it will help you both come to an understanding of what is going on.
Sometimes, students lack the confidence to follow through with their work. They might be afraid of doing it wrong, so they stop doing it altogether. Working closely with a tutor can help fix this issue, as your student will have many opportunities to make mistakes and hone their understanding in a safe environment. Positive reinforcement will ensure that your student builds the self esteem to conquer their current and future homework, and that will take the pressure off of everyone involved.
Get the homework help your child needs
Homework can be a real challenge, but it doesn’t have to be! If you think your student could use a little help with their homework, don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about a plan that works for both you and your child. Our ‘twisted’ tutors will be more than happy to help in every way they can.
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