Signs for lazy-homework-doing-dieases AND tips for those who have it to get ri of

Do any of these situations occur in your home?
1. You and your children engage in nightly battles over when homework will be done.
2. Your children rush through homework assignments, with sloppy, incomplete results.
3. Your children "forget" to bring their homework assignments home.
4. You do more of the homework than your children do.
5. Your children take forever to finish their homework assignments.
6. Your children insist that they are able to do homework while watching TV, talking on the phone, and listening to the stereo.
7. The first time you hear about a major project is the night before it is due ... and it is not finished.
If you answered YES to one or more of these questions, you need to do the following things:
1. Set up a proper study area in your home. Equip this study area with a HOMEWORK SURVIVAL KIT. Here are some essential items: pencils, pens, erasers, markers, notebook paper, tape, hole punch, scissors, glue or paste, stapler, ruler, protractor, compass, index cards, paper clips, dictionary, folders, calculator.

2. Establish a DAILY HOMEWORK TIME. Children cannot regard homework as something to be done after all other activities are finished. This mandated homework time will help you deal with SPEEDERS, who race through the work with little or no effort, and FORGETTERS, who fail to bring the work home.

3. Take steps to encourage your children to do their homework independently. Check to see that your child is doing homework at the proper time. Suggest that your child call a "study buddy" if he/she needs help. Give your child help only after he makes an effort on his own. CAUTION: Do not do the work for your children. Use your child's AGENDA BOOK to help plan the steps necessary to completing long range projects.

4. Consistently praise your child's efforts. Tell your child specifically what you like about what he is doing or what he has done.

5. Use additional incentives if necessary. The minimum time required to earn a reward varies with the age of the child.
For children in grades 4 - 6, one to two weeks is recommended, and for children in grades 7 - 12, two to four weeks is recommended. Specify the number of points that must be earned to receive the reward and specify the reward.

6. Communicate so your children really listen. Do not argue, beg, or threaten. Look your child in the eye and say. "In this home, your number one responsibility is to do your homework. There will be no more arguments about it. You will do your homework during the DAILY HOMEWORK TIME, and you will do it to the best of your ability."

7. Take a firm stand. When told that he cannot have any privileges until he finishes his homework, a child may be upset. Experience may have taught him that this tactic will make his parents back down. No matter how irate your child becomes, stand your ground CALMLY and follow through by insisting on your expectations.

8. Contact your child's teacher if you continue to have homework problems. The teacher is your partner in the homework process. Both you and the teacher can communicate through short notes in your child's AGENDA BOOK.

9. Work with your child on STUDY SKILLS. The AGENDA BOOK has a good section on study skills. If your child has a report to write, break it into the following steps: A. pick an appropriate topic B. do fact finding research C. determine questions you want to answer about the topic D. take notes about the topic E. write an outline of the report F. make a rough draft of the report; check for accuracy and make corrections as needed G. write the final draft of the report.


How can.you help your children learn how to study for tests?

1. Determine what the test will cover.
2. Organize all study materials.
3. Schedule time for studying.
4. Use effective study techniques.
a. write important information on index cards.
b, review homework and class notes.
c. review study questions, past quizzes and tests.
d. review highlighted portions of the textbook.
e. make a list of sample test questions.
5. If the test comes directly from a the class textbook, follow
these steps:
a. survey the chapter.
b. make a note of headings of each main section.
c. read the summary at the end of the chapter.
d. read through the study questions at the end of the chapter.