1. MAKING HOMEWORK A SUCCESS

2. Why the timing for this talk.
Your child has moved from concrete operations to abstract operations. This means that the work is somewhat more difficult and involving. It may therefore take a little longer to complete.

3. Something else to take note of is that your son is no longer as compliant and eager to follow rules as he was before. He wants convincing reasons to do things.

4. Your son has developed new interests
Your son has developed new interests. These are likely to reduce the time available for homework. It is therefore important that you know him well so that you can guide him on how to manage his time.

5. At this stage you also notice that strong preferences for particular teachers. Those well liked always get their work done. Those with whom they perceive a problem do not always get their work done.

6. Another factor to look at is you, the parent
Another factor to look at is you, the parent. By now you have been doing this for a while and therefore no longer pay attention to detail or have fallen into a predictable routine. You are now ready to be duped and tested.

7. Objectives
Homework offers other benefits besides contributing to school achievement. Some of these include:
Homework teaches children how to take responsibility for tasks and how to work independently.
Homework helps children develop habits of the mind that will serve them well as they proceed through school and after.

8. Homework helps children learn how to plan and organize tasks, manage time, make choices and solve problems.
Homework is indeed revision and therefore can help a child catch up, improve in their academic performance or go ahead of his class especially when there is collaboration between the pupil, teacher and the parents.
Homework gives the teacher feedback.

9. Parental role in homework is cornerstone; it is at the heart of the child’s success.
What a parent can do

10. Know the requirements
Be aware of the frequency and the expected amount of time that your child should spend on homework each evening.
School policy requires that Maths, English and Kiswahili homework be given daily and that homework given can be done in about an hour.

11. How long should homework take?
The general rule is that children do 10 minutes of homework for each subject.
Therefore at Std 5 you should be looking at around 50 minutes of homework.
Knowing this means that you question when you are told that there is no homework. Share concerns with the teachers about amount, type and frequency of homework given.

12. Homework environment
It is unique to every child and every family. When deciding on this, consider:
Some children can work well in a quiet location and a desk in their bedroom or in the study. Other children would be easily distracted by the things in the bedroom/study and need to be removed from the distractions.
Some children may work by themselves while others need supervision to keep them on track.
Agree with your child on the location from which homework is to be done after considering all the pros and cons. The work place shapes the attitude towards homework.

13. Some not too good choices: car, office, study centre, club.
The library after 3.20pm and how the std 5’s are handling it. If homework is done in library does the boy study at home?

14. Establish a homework time
Set aside a time that suits your child and the family.
What is the routine upon getting home? (Snack, relax, get started, dinner….)
If there is no homework, the time should be used read, write, revise or do something academic.
This trains the child to appreciate that what he does at home is as important to his education as what he does in school.

15. Study your son’s school timetable
The day your child has sports he is more exhausted. Accommodate this fact when you schedule homework time.

16. Weekend homework
On Monday morning there are many No homework/incomplete homework entries on the behaviour sheet.
Ensure that Friday is a regular day; homework should be completed! Remember weekends can be unpredictable.
Foresee and plan for hectic weekends.
Do not leave homework for Sunday evening.
Saturday morning should be ‘academic time’

17. Minimise distractions
Work time should not be interrupted with snacks, television, or social calls.
Your example is important. Use the time to do some of your own work or to read.
All are in it. The work time is for the entire family regardless of age. Older children can get the younger ones to do something.

18. Be Positive
Tell your child how important his school work is. Your attitude becomes his attitude.
Over the years these are some of the things I have heard from parents:
‘He should manage his own life. I am too busy to keep checking if he has done his work.’
‘I have my own life and he is not going to interfere with it.’
‘I am tired when I get home from work and it is not my responsibility to chase somebody to do his work. He should know how to do his work.’
‘Don’t push him too hard.’

19. Think outside the box
When there is need to make changes organize for them.

20. Advise, DON’T DO The teacher wants to know how much your son knows.
Doing your child’s work only teaches him that when things are tough somebody else will do the work for him.
You are thus only making him more dependent!!

21. Review the work done
Sign the diary. Look at the work and sign against the work. Do not be mechanical. Attention to detail reinforces to the child that you interested in his work. Praise work that is well done and do not accept shoddy work.