Homework Tip

When your child does homework, YOU do homework. =) Show your child that the skills they are learning are related to things you do as an adult. If your child is reading, you read too. If your child is doing math, balance your checkbook. =)

Homework News

First of all, thank you so much for making the time to come to conferences. In our busy lives, I appreciate the time to touch base with you! =)

Secondly, you may notice that homework looks different now. We started the year with a lot of review & practice of high frequency words, and now we're starting routine spelling lists. Practicing our words is now part of the homework. The first two nights are working with letter cards to build the words. Wednesday and Thursday are practicing writing the spelling words, and Thursday is a practice spelling test with an adult. We'll have our spelling tests in class on Fridays.

The math looks a little different as well. It's still a page of math per night, but I feel like we're ready for work that is more rigorous. =) Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Back to Reality

I loved our winter break SO much! But, I'm happy to be back to a routine. I like schedules, procedures, and order. :) Speaking of routines, does your family have a homework routine? Good study skills can make a big difference in school performance, and it's important to start building good habits now.

Here are a few tips to establish a successful routine:

1. Find a quiet, comfortable place. This needs to be a place away from distractions like television, computer, and so forth.

2. Have materials ready. It might be fun to decorate a box or basket to keep materials neat and orderly. Some supplies that should be available are: pencils, erasers, crayons, scissors glue.

3. Have a set time to do homework. Finding a consistent time can be challenging with soccer, basketball, dance lessons, etc. However, make an attempt to complete homework about the same time every day. Your child will probably be tired when he/she comes home from school and would benefit from a snack and short break to recharge his/her batteries before tackling homework. Using a timer is helpful if you have a child that struggles with time management. Kids with shorter attention spans may need to do half of the assignment, take a break, then complete the rest. Of course, getting a good night's rest is vital! Complete the homework early in the evening if possible. Have your child pack his/her backpack and be ready for school long before bedtime. This will lower the chances of panic and chaos in the morning!

4. Be involved! Check the Monday Folders every Monday. Examine the weekly homework, review schoolwork that has been sent home, and talk with your child about their day! :) Some of the homework assignments may require your assistance and involvement. It's my belief that the time spent establishing routines now, will pay off in the future!

5. Encourage your child to do his/her very best. In 2nd grade, the purpose of homework is to help your child develop organizational skills, learn responsibility, and reinforce skills we're learning at school. If your child has tried their best, and is still having trouble completing the assignment in a reasonable amount of time, please let me know!

Want some more ideas on how to help your child with homework?

Helping with Homework

Helpful tips from the US Department of Education.