As a teacher and now private tutor, I get asked a lot of educational questions from parents. But parents wanting to help their child with homework is a universal question I get asked, regardless of grade level. This is a 4-part series on homework help for parents.
The most common concerns I hear from parents about homework are the following:
- It takes my child too long to do homework.
- I never know if I should help her, or let her figure it out on her own.
- I want to show my child a different method than she was taught at school, especially in Math.
- It’s always a battle with my child to get it done.
This is Part 3 in a 4-part series on homework help for parents, and today I will address #3 above. To ensure that you receive each story in the series, please subscribe to our RSS Feed.
- It takes my child too long to do homework.
- I never know if I should help her, or let her figure it out on her own.
- I want to show my child a different method than she was taught at school, especially in Math.
- Your child is probably learning Math in a very different way than you were taught in school. Although this can be very frustrating for parents, try not to show your frustration to your child. If you are constantly telling her that “your method is better”, she will become very frustrated and confused. Two of the most important adult role models in her life right now (her parents and her teacher) are teaching her two conflicting methods, and this can be overwhelming for some children.
- Try your best to learn the method your child has been taught at school. In Math, you can consult the textbook if there is one available, or sometimes there is online support available for certain programs. Sometimes teachers will send home parent homework help newsletters which outline the methods they are learning in class. Your child might be your best resource to teach you the method.
- Ask if there are any parent information sessions at the school to support parents in helping their children with their homework. Many schools hold these sessions near the beginning of the school year. If you do not have access to a parent session, ask the teacher if she can explain to you the method they are learning in class.
- If you feel as though your child is having a lot of difficulties with learning a certain method in Math, ask the teacher if she thinks it would be okay to show her another way. If the original method is really not working for your child, she may learn better in a different way. Be sure to include the teacher so she knows that you are working with her, not against her.
- Education is constantly evolving. Even though you might think that your method of ex: long multiplication is easier, faster, or more logical, it is important that your child not be conflicted in her methodology, especially if it happens to be an area she already struggles in. Do your best to help your child in the way that she is being taught at school to minimize confusion.
Stay tuned for Part 4 in the homework help series… coming soon!
If you have any homework tricks that have worked with your child, I would love to hear about them-please post a comment at the bottom of this page. Thanks!
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