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Why do kids need home work? 1. Individual practice 2. Independent thinking 3. Work completion 4. Creativity and enhancement 5. Building in Homework time for higher level learning

Change the word “Homework” into what I call Brain-training Activities Try these: Card games-War, 99 Jenga Math or Spelling Dice Games Stare, Concentration cards & memory Collection

Changing your view of home work and possibly facing your past trauma about homework can work wonders! KUDOS for being here with me tonight!

Skills are not genetic. They are learned over time and through repetition and practice especially when it takes place in the comfort and security of home.

Skill-building Activities Colouring and drawing Tag Team Reading Movie in your head Rush Hour Keep a calendar Skip Bo Professor Noggin I Spy

How much is too much ? When it’s all work completion. When it’s every day. When it’s too repetitive. When you can’t understand the directions. When it keeps coming back. When it takes too long. When you can’t see the purpose.

When do I call for help? Call the teacher and ask as soon as possible. Set up communication early. Do not be afraid to ask. Remember that your trauma is over and ask. Difficulties at home may indicate learning problems which need to be identified.

Set up a comfortable place for you and your child to use. It should be away from distractions and high traffic areas. It could be a bedroom or the dining room or even a hallway. Reading quiz questions and discussions can even be done in the car on the way to somewhere 1-11

2 Decide which adult will work with the child. Usually one parent can relate better to one child. For instance, one parent to help with math and the other with language. If you’re a single parent, you could ask for relief from a family member or neighbor. Even teachers have difficulty helping their own children with homework, so don’t feel intimidated.

3 Establish a safe supportive relationship in a comfortable place to provide a positive learning experience at home. By making it comfortable for the adult, it becomes comfortable for the child.

4 Set a time that fits YOUR schedule. By doing this you are less stressed and able to bring calmness and clarity and focus on the work to be done. Your attitude and demeanor at this time speaks volumes to your child.

5 Remember! The person with the Math skill may not always be the best match to help the child with Math. The best match Is the most regulated (calm) person who can read the instructions, give the best explanation and be there to encourage and correct and remain calm and consistent.

6 Make sure that you and your child have both had food, water and a break (relax or activity) from the workday before tackling homework. Do it as early in the evening as possible to avoid the before bed battles. Avoid the last minute Sunday night battle by setting the time on Friday evening or early Saturday.

7 If there seems to be too much homework, contact the teacher to find out his/her purpose for assigning the homework

8 If the instructions are hard to follow contact the teacher. Ask for the instructions and purpose for your own understanding as well as your child’s. Things are different from when you went to school, so don’t be intimidated. A parent who is a grade 4 teacher may well have difficulty helping with grade 8 Math.

9 If your child is forgetting and avoiding homework, contact the teacher to let him/her know. Identify learning problems to get the help the child needs at school as soon as possible. Avoidance can be a signal for learning problems or it can signal a need for better communication between home and school to head off a procrastination problem.

10 If homework becomes a battle in your house, hire a tutor. A “homework battle” is not worth risking your relationship with your child, yourself, and the rest of your family.

Extra tidbits: Use a kitchen timer for breaks and homework time to avoid “timekeeper nagging” problems. Try to limit your child’s exposure to the TV as a break before homework. 11

New Growth Family Centre Inc. 211 Birmingham St West. Mount Forest, Ontario N0G2L Ask Us About Our: Adult Coaching Program Respite Learning and Activity Program Respite Support Day Program In-service Staff Training and Field Placement for Teachers, EA’s, SSW at New Growth Family Centre Inc