Homework Tips for Families

Set aside daily family time when each family member is engaged in quiet activities while your child does homework. Starting quiet time when children are young establishes the expectation for doing homework and gets them into the routine of studying.

Establish a time and place where homework is to be done. Make sure the table or desk is in a well-lit area and that needed materials such as paper, pencils and crayons are available.

Make sure your child understands all assignments. If needed, work through the first question or problem together. If your child does not understand an assignment and you are unable to help, have him or her call a friend.

Check over the completed assignment. You may need to sign and date it.

Each day ask whether there is any homework. Even when there isn’t any, the simple act of asking conveys that you consider homework to be an important responsibility. If no specific homework is due, this is a golden opportunity to read together, write a story, take a walk or just talk.

Don’t forget to praise your child for homework efforts.

(Johns, J.L, and Lenski, S.D., (2005) Improving Reading: Strategies and Resources. IA, Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.)

Increasing Reading Fluency through Echo Reading

Your child learns to read fluently by reading with a more skilled reader using a strategy called Echo Reading. In school your child reads with their teacher and other readers. Reading along with a skilled reader is both fun for your child and a good learning experience. Echo Reading is described below. Try it with your child.

1. Choose a book that your child can read easily. To find out whether your child can read a particular book, open the book and have your child read a randomly chosen page aloud. If your child stumbles on more than one word out of every ten words, select an easier book.

2. Place your child on your lap or near you. Hold the book together with your child.

3. Read the book with expression in a soft voice. Have your child read with you. Encourage your child to read with expression.

4. As your child’s reading becomes more fluent, decrease the volume of your voice until he or she is reading alone.

5. Congratulate your child on his or her reading. Remember your child is learning to read and may make many errors. It’s practice that counts.

Key Elements

Whenever you are reading a story with your child, ask the following questions to uncover major story elements.

Setting:

Where does the story take place?

When does the story take place?

Does the action of this story occur in different places? If so, where?

Characters:

Who are the people or animals in this story?

Are some more important than others? If so, which ones?

What words does the author use to describe the characters or animals?

What other words can also be used to describe the characters?

Plot:

What happens in the story?

What problems or difficulties are solved?

In what order do the major events happen?

Who or what started the events in the story?

(Johns, J.L, and Lenski, S.D., (2005) Improving Reading: Strategies and Resources. IA, Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.)

Motivating Your Child to Succeed in School

Show interest in your child’s learning. Ask about what is happening in school. Ask to see papers and discuss them.

Work with your child on setting daily goals that are attainable. Write the goals and post them in a prominent place.

Help your child envision and make long-term goals.

Instill in your child the idea that achievements are usually the result of persistence and hard work, not luck or ability.

Show caring and love if your child makes a mistake or fails. Help him or her see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.

Use words and actions to demonstrate faith in your child’s ability to learn and achieve.

Look for successes in your child’s efforts and acknowledge them.

Recognize, praise and celebrate your child’s successful completion of a goal.

Model for you child language that conveys positive expectations, such as I can, I will, I want to, I understand, my goal is, and so on.

Frequently stress to your child the importance of learning and education.

(Johns, J.L, and Lenski, S.D., (2005) Improving Reading: Strategies and Resources. IA, Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.)