If you’re already cringing just thinking about after school battles, it’s time for a homework fix. It’s so simple and easy to put this quick switch in place. Every family will love their less stressful afternoons!
Fast & Easy Homework Fix for Every Family
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Homework that stretches on for hours and hours. Fights and yelling because your child just can’t seem to get it right. Not quite understanding the assignment.
It’s all a thing of the past with a quick and simple homework fix.
Two words: time limit.
Yup, a teacher is telling you to limit homework time. Seriously, do it. Setting a time limit is essential to keeping sanity during homework time.
Best of all, setting simple homework time limits is backed by the NEA and the National PTA! So, you’re 100% golden and research-backed.
Simple Homework Fix: Time Limits
The basics are pretty simple. Ten minutes per grade level is the recognized standard. It’s pretty easy!
Take whatever grade your child is in and multiply by 10! So easy!
Homework Fix: What’s Included
Parents share that they have found teachers who assign the entire time to math, making reading extra. Or start out meeting the basic time limits, but add in “extras” like spelling or social studies.
Your child’s grade level time limits should include everything: math, reading, spelling, social studies, science, take-home projects, and studying for tests.
Yes, flexibility is fine. Going over, say, the 40-minute limit (4th grade) occasionally is totally fine. But it’s definitely shouldn’t be a regular thing.
Design your homework routine after school to fit everything. Allow X minutes for math, another bit for reading (including worksheets), and so on.
Homework Fix: Breaks & Keeping Time
Most kids can’t, and shouldn’t, sit still for the entire time limit. That’s totally fine!
Build in short breaks for your child. Eat a quick snack, dance together, or just zone out. You could schedule your breaks in between homework assignments. If you notice your child getting wiggly, you could also go ahead and pause, too.
Don’t count the time of your break against the homework time. Instead, stop the clock and then start back up again in a few minutes.
If you’re getting stuck on a math problem, you should include time spent on research, reteaching, or puzzling it out. This is time actively spent on the assignment.
Many kids today have tutors or go to after school programs. These are great ways for kids to keep up, or get ahead!
Count tutoring time as homework time, and then some. Ask your child’s tutor to work on homework first, and then tackle reteaching after. The same goes for programs that meet after school, too.
Homework Fix: Telling the Teacher
While keeping to these time limits is best-practice, not all schools or teacher are on board. But you have the research on your side!
Let the teacher know your homework philosophy at the start of the year. Explain in person or via email exactly how and why you’ll be handling homework.
Then, on nights you don’t understand or finish all the homework, use a sticky note to share what happened. Send a follow-up email, too.
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If you notice a lot of problems understand or finishing homework, it’s time to Talk to the Teacher. Share your concerns and observations, then work together to problem solve!