Going Back to the Basics in Education Pt. 5 of 5 - I am not able to assist my child with Homework- what other ways can I help? By Mrs. Dorothy Barron
Link to today's Parents Taking Charge in Education YouTube Channel Video Going Back to the Basics in Education - Pt. 5 of 5 Homework Assistance, Oh My! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEqdyhZSwMk&feature=plcp
We would have been remiss in our Going Back to the Basics in Education 5 Pt. Series had we not gone
to the root or where education begins – in or with the home. Understanding
such, what does a Parent do when he or she realizes, “I am not able to assist
my child with his/her homework.” You do not panic or throw in the towel (give
up).
Not being able to assist your child/ren with homework is a
dilemma many Parents face; barriers may consist of education limitations; the subject;
concept or methodology; lack of patience; your work hours or schedule, limited
time with the child, and/or etc. You may
not be able to assist your child/ren with homework, but there are other ways
that you may be able help your child/ren with performing better and succeeding
academically. We suggest a number of ways under our four (4) subtopics for your
consideration:
·
Ensure
that your child/ren have the tools needed to do a good job education-wise
o
Such may be things as simple as a notebook,
pencil and paper
o
Materials for that special project
·
Find academic
assistance; bookmark and share it
o
With the
internet so full of resources and resource material, do not wait or expect your
child’s teacher to supply all your child’s academic needs.
o
If you have a computer and discover exceptional
academic resources, bookmark it, talk to your child’s teacher and provide the
link to the teacher. Many Educators welcome quality academic resource
information; perhaps and possibly, such can be incorporated into your child’s in-school
learning curriculum experience or an afterschool homework program curriculum.
If your PTA/PTO publishes a newsletter, consider sharing the resource with
Parents (be sure to check attribution and other intellectual property
guidelines).
·
Provide
Support -
o
Support your child by providing him/her with
nutritious meals and snacks.
o
Find ways to continually show your child that
he/she is loved, secure and important.
o
You may not be able to assist your child with
his/her homework, but you can make sure that the homework your child completes is
presentable and neatly done.
·
Offer Encouragement
-
o
Sometimes little extras make a difference – an
item that makes a child feel special or of which the child can call his/her own
has a way of motivating the child to
give his/her best or do better, academically.
o
Praise and encourage your child to do his/her
best regardless of the subject and/or difficulty with the subject; sometimes,
it takes time to master a skill.
o
Provide opportunities for the child to spend
time doing activities of which he/she is very good at and enjoy doing; this
point cannot be stressed enough. Often such serves to “de-stress” the child and
re-affirm that even if he/she is not very good at one thing; he or she is very
good at another or others (and can prevent the child feeling as if he/she is a
failure).
o
Be an example; sometimes settling down nearby in
a chair with a book or your own paperwork can give you child a sense of
relevancy and keep the child grounded.
This concludes Parents Taking Charge in
Education 5 Pt. Series, Going Back to the Basics in Education. Remember, little
and/or basic things can often make a positive difference and impact.
Illustration by Niks
Mrs.
Dorothy Barron, Founder
E-mail:
barron.dorothy@yahoo.com
