A is for Attitude

Your attitude – not your child’s! If you are positive aboutschool, learning and homework, that will rub off on your child.

Praise and more praise. Praise specific accomplishments. “You worked hard to finish those math problems” is more helpful tochildren than “Good job.”

Be a model. Have your own “homework” time to read, pay bills,etc. Let your child see you using a dictionary or looking forinformation you don’t know on-line or at the library.

Be clear about your expectations for homework and stick to them.

C is for Communication

Get to know your child’s teacher. Know what the teacher’s expectations and process for homework are:

• How is it assigned?
• How is homework collected?
• How is homework recorded and what are the consequences for late or missing work?
• When can parents expect to see returned homework?
• How is a parent notified of a problem?

Communicate with your child. She should know that you believehomework is a priority. Have daily conversations aboutschool. Rather than asking “What did you do in schooltoday?” Ask “What did you work on in Math?” “How did thebook you were reading end?”

T is for Time

Establish a homework routine with a regular time and place to do homework. Children do better with consistency.

Limit TV time during the school week for all family members. Thechild’s homework time can be family “homework” time.