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Homework: Keeping the Ball in Their Court

January 15th, 2009

A homework tip from the “lazy mom” method:

Teachers always say be supportive of your child and the work they bring home from school.  I provide a well-lit, quiet place;  I make sure he has enough pens, pencils, dictionary, etc.  But sometimes,  my son will come to me and  say, “I don’t get this!” with total frustration in his voice.   My natural tendency is to sit down and try to work the problem and then explain it to him.

But, just like the lost item in the earlier post, as soon as I start to solve the problem, he will relax a bit.  Now HIS homework becomes MY homework.  So the first request I make of him when he asks me for help is, “Read the question to me.”  or “Read the instructions to me.”  9 times of 10, after reading the question or instructions out loud, he will be able to answer the question himself.  Most likely, he just didn’t read it carefully, and therefore, did not understand.

Whenever I see that my son tries to make his work MY work, I try to resist that first temptation to make it easy for him.  It is through the struggle and process to understand that he will learn.

Entry Filed under: Daily Routines for Kids