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Homework Tips For Students
1. Use your Chaboya Tracker to keep track of every assignments due date.
2. Do your homework in a quiet, well-lit area.
3. Get lots of sleep - at least 8 hours every school night.
4. Try to study in the same location every night to improve your organization.
5. Do not watch TV when you do your homework. Ask others to turn down the music and television.
6. Ask your parents, brothers or sisters, friends, and teachers for any help you need.
7. Make sure you feel comfortable with the room temperature you are studying in.
8. Sit on a comfortable chair when studying.
9. Start homework at the same time everyday to improve your organization.
10. Keep materials like paper, pens, pencils, rulers, and calculators nearby.
11. Finish your homework as early as possible to relieve stress.
12. Take short, five-minute breaks at least every thirty minutes to relax your brain.
13. Complete homework of your least favorite subject first.
14. Use a drawer or folders to store old assignments and notes.
15. Finish your homework early.
16. When other students ask questions, pay attention.
17. Feel free to ask your teacher questions before, during, and after class.
18. As hard as it may be, do not distract yourself or others.
19. Always study in a well-lighted area where there are no distractions.
20. Don't study on an empty stomach.

Homework Tips for Parents (adapted from http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/ ) | Top |

Turn off the TV set. Make a house rule, depending on the location of the set, that when it is study time, it is "no TV" time.

What about the radio? Should it be on or off? Contrary to what many specialists say, some youngsters do seem to function all right with the radio turned on to a favorite music station. (Depending on the layout of your house or apartment, maybe an investment in earphones would be worthy of consideration.)

Certain rules should be set about the family phone during study hours. The more people in the household, the more restrictions on long and unnecessary phone calls are needed. A timer, placed next to the phone, can help to control the length of calls so that the telephone will be available if it becomes necessary to call a schoolmate to confirm an assignment or discuss particularly difficult homework. I would encourage your child to have a classmate or two that they can call to get help or confirm assignments.

Designate specific areas for homework and studying. Possibilities include the child's room or the kitchen or dining room table. Eliminate as much distraction as possible. Since many young people will study in their own rooms, function becomes more important than beauty. Most desks for young people really don't have sufficient space to spread out materials. A table that allows for all necessary supplies such as pencils, pens, paper, books, and other essentials works extremely well.

Consider placing a bulletin board in your child's room. Your local hardware store sells wallboard that might not look too pretty and isn't framed, but a 4 x 3'section is inexpensive and perfect on which to post pertinent school items. You might want to paint or cover it with burlap to improve its appearance or let your child take on this project.

Encourage to use the Chaboya Tracker for writing down assignments so that there is no confusion about when certain assignments must be turned in to the teacher.

Keeping general supplies on hand is important. Check with your child about his needs. In fact, make it his responsibility to be well supplied with paper, pencils, note pads, notebook paper, et cetera. Ensure that your child takes these items to school everyday.

Regularity is a key factor in academic success. Try to organize the household so that supper is served at a standard time, and once it and family discussions are over, it's time to crack the books. If the student doesn't have other commitments and gets home reasonably early from school, some homework can be done before supper.

Consider you child's developmental level when setting the amount of time for homework.  While some students can focus for over an hour, some are unlikely to last more than 30 minutes on a single task.  Allow your child to take breaks, perhaps as a reward for finishing a section of the work.

Organize study and homework projects. Make the Chaboya tracker be an automatic way to stay organized.

Teach your child that studying is more than just doing homework assignments. One of the most misunderstood aspects of schoolwork is the difference between studying and doing homework assignments. Encourage your child to do things like:

* take notes as he's reading a chapter
* learn to skim material
* learn to study tables and charts
* learn to summarize what he has read in his own words
* learn to make his own flashcards for quick review of dates, formulas, spelling words, et cetera

A home dictionary is essential, but if it is kept on a shelf to gather dust, it won't do anyone any good. Keep it in an accessible place and let your child see you refer to it from time to time. If the family dictionary is kept in the living room and the child studies in his room, get him an inexpensive dictionary for his exclusive use.

During a homework session, watch for signs of frustration. No learning can take place and little can be accomplished if the child is angry or upset over an assignment that is too long or too difficult. At such times the parent may have to step in and simply halt the homework for that night, offering to write a note to the teacher explaining the situation and perhaps requesting a conference to discuss the quality and length of homework assignments.

Should parents help with homework? Yes-if it is clearly productive to do so, such as calling out spelling words or checking a math problem that won't prove. No-if it is something the child can clearly handle himself and learn from the process. And help and support should always be calmly and cheerfully given. Grudging help is worse than no help at all! 

Read directions, or check over math problems after your child has completed the work. Remember to make positive comments - you don't want your child to associate homework with fights at home.

Call the Homework Hotline to confirm you child's homework assignments.

Report Cards? To save shocks and upsets, gently discuss from time to time "how things are going at school- with your child. Something casual, such as "How did the math test go?" "How did you do on the history report?" "Need any help?" are questions that aren't "third degree" but indicate interest. All Chaboya students are required to return the day after report cards are issued with their parent's sinature on the report card.

Page last modified Sat, Dec 1, 2001 by the Chaboya WebMaster