Strategies for Helping Your Child with Organization, Study Skills, and Homework

1. Strategies for Helping Your Child with Organization, Study Skills, and Homework Presented by Deb Popson January 16, 2008 Some information taken from “Study Skills” by Kelly Wingate and “Homework Without Tears” by Lee Canter

2. Organization

3. Tips for Students on Organizing Your Materials • Get everything ready for school (backpack, clothes, lunch, etc.) before going to bed at night and keep it in a consistent spot. • Write down assignments in the same planner every day and bring it home. Check it every night after completing homework to be sure everything is completed. • Look in your desk every day before leaving school to make sure you have everything you need. • Follow teacher directions about where to put papers returned to you.

4. Tips for Students on Organizing Your Materials • Don’t leave anything in your desk or backpack that you don’t need for school (trash, toys, old papers). • Keep all your home study materials in your study spot (paper, pencils, calculator, etc.). • Have a grownup help you stay organized daily. • Make a special time daily to do your homework. Keep to that schedule.

5. Time Management Tips for Students • Be ready when you sit down to study – have all books and materials in your study spot. • Do the hardest assignments first – save easiest for last. • If you get sleepy or can’t concentrate, get up and take a break – move around or get a snack.

6. Time Management Tips for Students • Study using techniques that match your learning style. • Study for a few nights before a test – review what you learned in the morning before school. • If you are absent one day, catch up right away – don’t get behind!

7. Organizational Tools • Planner • Binder • Folders – color coded w/books • Notebooks – color coded w/books • File tabs • Pencil case

8. Study Skills

9. Learning Styles: • Visual – learn by seeing • Auditory – learn by hearing • Kinesthetic – learn by doing Everyone learns differently – study in ways that are most helpful to you!

10. Visual Learners • Highlight or underline main ideas. • Make an outline or map of main ideas. • To study for a test, do something you can see – lists, drawing, copying words, etc. • Use index cards to make flashcards – separate into “know” and “don’t know” piles, play memory game, etc. • Use a computer or draw on a chalkboard as you study. • Use assignment book to write down assignments daily, • Never watch TV while you are studying!

11. Auditory Learners • Read aloud instead of silently. • Tape record items to study and play the information back – recite along with tape. • Use music to help you learn – put information to a tune you know or make up a song or poem. • Have another person quiz you and review information aloud. • Study in a quiet place with no distractions.

12. Kinesthetic Learners • Use objects (like coins, beans, blocks, etc.) to help you understand math. • Trace spelling or vocabulary words in sand or salt or use magnetic letters to spell words out on fridge. • Use maps, globes, puzzles to study history and geography. • “Teach” the information you must learn to someone else using a chalkboard to write or draw the information. • Have someone talk through the information with you while you do something active: shoot baskets, jump rope, walk around, etc. • Take breaks often during study time. • Have adult help you develop a system to stay organized.

13. Study Environment(should be comfortable, but not too relaxing) • Place: • Choose a place where you are able to write neatly and stay alert. • Study in the same place every day. • Light: • Use good overhead lighting that is not too dim but not so bright that you must squint. • Sound: • Find a quiet place where you aren’t interrupted by others, the radio or TV, or other noises. • Temperature: • Find a comfortable spot where you are not too hot or too cold. Where is your study spot? Does it meet the criteria above?

14. Learning Strategies • Categorize information by grouping information into groups of similar ideas. • Using sequencing skills to put information in a time order. • Find the main idea in the paragraph you are reading. Find details to support main idea. Highlight main ideas and outline or map out information read. • Use context clues to find the meaning of new words. Use a dictionary if context clues don’t help. • “Use illustrations and charts in the textbook to help you understand information read.

15. Reading Directions Carefully Taking Objective Tests Matching True-False Completion Multiple Choice Taking Essay Tests Note-taking Strategies Mind Mapping Outlining Listening Skills Verbal cues Presentation cues Memorization Techniques Test-taking Strategies (see handout)

16. Parents Can Help with Study Skills • Help child manage time to complete assignments – discuss steps needed for longer assignments – help them get started on big assignments. • Give practice tests. • Help avoid last minute cramming – review nightly with your child. • Talk with your child about how to take a test. • Read instructions carefully • Keep track of time • Do easy ones first • Don’t spend too much time on one question

17. Parents Can Help with Study Skills • Talk about assignments. • Do they understand what to do? • Do they need help in understanding the assignment? • Do they have everything needed for assignment? • Does the answer make sense? • Watch for frustration. • Give constructive criticism. • Praise and encourage!!

18. Homework

19. Purpose of Homework • Review and practice what was taught • Prepare for next day’s class • Learn to use resources – library, websites, reference books, etc. • Explore subjects more fully than class time permits. • Applying skills learned to new situations. • Integrate different skills learned into a single task (project/book report). • Teach students to work independently. • Encourage self-discipline and responsibility. • Create understanding between families & teacher. • Provide opportunities for increased communication.

20. Homework Amounts • Depends on age & skill of child. • Recommendation: 10 min. per grade level: • K - 2nd: 10 – 20 minutes • 3rd – 6th: 30-60 minutes • 7th – 9th more time – amount may vary from night to night

21. Homework Tips for Parents • Help your child choose a homework drop spot for completed homework – guide them to always put completed assignments in the same spot. • Set up a study area – have child do homework in the same spot every night. • Create a homework survival kit – keep all supplies in the study spot. • pencils, pens, writing paper, colored pencils, markers, crayons, ruler, pencil sharpener, erasers, glue, tape, construction paper, stapler, hole punch, scissors, paper clips, index cards, folders, dictionary, planner. • Schedule daily homework time – same time each night - be sure all other activities stop at this time.

22. Homework Tips for Parents cont. • Allow your child to let you know when homework is too frustrating – be sure they’re not just trying to avoid doing work. • Encourage your child to do homework independently – this will teach them develop independence skills such as how to follow directions, begin and complete a task, manage time. Monitor that homework is being done – only give help if child has shown a real effort to do the work first. • Motivate your child with praise. Each night praise your child about some specific accomplishment – focus on a goal they have set. • Use a long-range planner with your child to help them successfully complete longer projects. Teach them how to break the assignment down and distribute it over the period of time given for the project.

23. Homework Tips for Parents cont. • Have your child take necessary breaks – study 20 minutes, take 5 minute break. • Limit homework time to the amount the teacher says it should take to complete. • Never give a child more than a few answers on any assignment – if they still don’t understand, write teacher a note letting them know child is having difficulty. Don’t do homework for them. • Talk with the teacher if child struggles with homework – arrange for tutoring if needed. • Step back if you feel yourself losing your temper or patience. Don’t let your frustration make your child feel stupid for not understanding.

24. Homework Summary • Show that you think education and homework are important. • Monitor assignments. • Provide guidance. • Talk with teachers to resolve problems.

25. Homework Related Problems (see handouts for strategies to utilize) • What to do when…. • Children do not do their best work. • Children refuse to do homework. • Children fail to bring assignments home. • Children take all night to finish homework. • Children will not do homework on their own. • Children wait until the last minute to finish assignments. • Children will not do homework if parents are not home.

26. Work With Teachers to Resolve Problems • Talk with teacher early in the school year before problems arise. • Contact teacher as soon as you suspect a problem. • Request a meeting with teacher to discuss concerns – explain what you think is going on. • Let teacher know if our child finds assignments too hard or too easy. • Work out a way to solve or lessen the problem. • Keep communication open and clear. • Follow up to make sure plan you set-up is working.

27. Talk With Teachers to Resolve Problems • Tell teacher when you have concerns. • Child refuses to do homework • Instructions are unclear • Can’t help child get organized to finish assignments • Can’t provide needed supplies/materials • Can’t understand purpose of assignments • Assignments are too hard or too easy • Homework is assigned in uneven amounts (none one night, to much another) • Your child has missed school and has assignments to make-up

28. Resources • Nat’l PTA - www.pta.org • US Dept. of Ed. – www.ed.gov/pubs and www.nclb.gov/parents • Nat’l Info. Center for Children & Youth with Disabilities – www.nichcy.org • Nat’l Institute of Child Health and Human Development Clearinghouse – www.nichd.nih.gov • ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education – www.ericec.org • No Child Left Behind – www.nochildleftbehind.gov • Office of Special Ed. And Rehabilitation Services – www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS • Math/Reading sites – www.aplusmath.com; www.AAAmath.com;

29. True success comes only when you make a commitment to be excellent.

30. Comments /Questions? • Upcoming parent sessions • Reading or math workshops • Available community resources (LIU 18 will host) • Information posted • HASD Website (upcoming events), flyers, newspaper • Coming soon: Special Ed. Link off HASD website