Homework Tip #1: Provide a well-lit work area, equipped with needed supplies.
You can support your child's efforts to complete his or her homework by providing him or her with the right workspace at home. A good work area is one that has adequate space, is well lit, has the needed supplies (see list below) and is relatively free from distractions.
Homework Supply List:
-pencils/pens/markers
-pencil sharpener
-eraser
-white out
-glue/paste/tape
-writing paper
-index cards
-ruler
-scissors
-stapler
-calculator
-dictionary/thesaurus
(retrieved from www.parenting-ed.org)
Why Homework?
Teachers assign homework for three basic reasons:
1. To get children to practice skills or concepts they have learned in class (for example, practicing certain math fundamentals).
2. To prepare children for the next class (perhaps by reading a chapter in a book that the class will later discuss).
3. To give children the chance to work on a project that is time-consuming or requires outside resources (such as the library, the Internet, or you, the parents).
Early on, the main point of homework is to get children used to the idea of working outside the classroom, as well as helping them develop time-management and organization skills. Later in elementary school and particularly in high school, children who do more homework score better on standardized tests. It stands to reason that when teachers set high expectations for learning, including relatively high homework demands, children learn more.
(retrieved on 10/8/08, from http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5654,00.html)
