Homework Help: November 2009
November 1st, 2009 by Laura CottonMy 15-year-old is a cheerleader who hardly studies. By the time she gets home from practice, it’s 7 p.m. and she is too worn out to do much of anything. I don’t want her to fall behind. Ideas?
You’re not alone. Many parents find it difficult to help their children balance school work and athletics. It’s unclear from your question whether you have talked to her about her study habits or not, but you need to make it clear exactly what you expect from her. Do you want her to get all As and Bs? Or are Cs acceptable? The higher you set your expectations, the more time she is going to need to achieve them. You should also ask your daughter how she feels about the amount of time she spends on her school work. More than likely, she is going to say everything is fine. But a quick phone call or email to her teachers about her academic status will give you a clearer picture. If the teachers say that yes, your child is falling behind and doing poorly on tests and quizzes, then you need to intervene. The time to help your child make positive changes in her approach towards her work is now. Your efforts during the first three months of school will set the tone for the entire year.
There are other ways you can help improve study habits. If the issue is a lack of time, consider talking to her coach and arranging a way for her to attend fewer practices each week.
You also need to see that she spends more time studying on the weekends. Talk to her teachers and see if they can email homework for the week so she can start on it as soon as possible. Or consider hiring a tutor who can work with your child. Oftentimes children who are resistant to their parents’ efforts are much more receptive to an outside influence. In addition, a tutor can provide a way for your child to learn at her own speed, focusing on the subjects in which she needs the most help.
Most importantly, tell your child that she is expected to complete all of her homework each night. If her lack of interest in school work continues, tell her she may have to quit cheerleading completely. Inform her that she has one week to change her habits. If you don’t see some change, call the coach and let her know your daughter will not be attending practice for a while. Sometimes tough love is the only way to love.
I have an 8-year-old who hates to read. She will do anything to avoid it – even her chores. What are some ways to make reading more enjoyable?
One of the best ways to get a child reading is helping her find a book (or series of books) that she enjoys. A love of reading can’t be forced, but it can be found. Take her to a bookstore or library and ask someone at the reference desk to help your daughter find a book that sounds interesting to her. Children often respond better to book recommendations when they are given by someone whom they consider an expert.
After you get her the book, create a cozy reading corner in your home. Tell your daughter that, at a certain time every day, you are going to read with her in that corner. Then, when you read with her, take turns reading paragraphs or pages. Help her pronounce words she doesn’t know and ask her the meaning of any words that you think she might not have learned yet. Also, encourage her to actively thinking about what she is reading. Pause and ask her questions, “What do you think will happen next? Do you like the main character? Is this book realistic?”
In addition to these suggestions, it is very important your daughter sees you enjoying you own reading time. Children are inclined to imitate their parents, whether they want to or not. Seeing you read will help her to recognize that reading is not a task to be endured, but rather an opportunity to step into someone else’s world.
Laura Cotton, MFA, MA, is a professional tutor and an instructor at the University of Memphis. She can be reached at laurawriter@gmail.com.