Homework Help

Written by Judy Germick

While meant to reinforce and extend classroom learning, homework is often a source of confusion, frustration, and stress for parents and students alike.  Parents can help by making homework a priority and helping students develop good study habits.  This will also help students develop a sense of responsibility and a work ethic that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Here are some other helpful homework tips:

• Communicate with teachers. Keep in contact throughout the school year to stay aware of your child’s progress. Attend Parent-Teacher conferences. Ask how you can help your child succeed.
• Encourage good study habits. Make sure your child writes down assignments and due dates in a notebook or planner. If an assignment seems to be troublesome, send a note to the teacher, pointing out problem areas.
• Create a strategy.  On nights of heavy homework or major projects are assigned, teach your student how to break up the work into chunks. Plan out a schedule, including break times.
• Teach your student to be a strong self-advocate. Urge him or her to make the teacher aware of any difficulties they are experiencing in the classroom.
• Seek help. When a student consistently has a hard time remembering, understanding, or completing homework, underlying issues may be the cause. Our staff atStrategies for Learning is here to provide homework help as well as assessment and consultation, academic support, and remediation.

Strategies for Learning is also launching Homework Help Club at schools in the Oakland/Berkeley area. Strategies for Learning will coordinate with your school to provide on-campus support for students. If you are interested in having trained clinicians work with your child in a fun and supportive environment, among their peers, please contact Amber Nash, Clinic Coordinator.