Your student has likely started bringing home a plethora of papers and online assignments all with various due dates. The to do list quickly lengthens between school, extracurriculars, family time, and so on. You may already be wishing for summer's return, but don't pull your hair out yet!
When it comes to homework and projects, it's fair to acknowledge the value they can hold. The practice of doing homework itself can strengthen a student's time management skills, encourage responsibility and play a vital review role in grasping content.
While important, we also know that added work comes with its own challenges for some. The "simple" act of using an agenda, communicating assignments/tests and making to-do lists are all actually major organizational steps. Some folks do not master these skills until well into adulthood, so it is understandable that for a large majority of kids, these steps do not come as naturally.
For those students struggling to self-start or organize, homework can become a source of anxiety. Feeling overwhelmed can show up in their confidence and in their submitted work. All of this can leave parents feeling unsure of how to help.
Good news! If you are here right now, you and your child are NOT alone. These skills can be improved with practice and with a great academic support system like a beam tutor.
Through one-on-one, private sessions with their same tutor, a deeper understanding of your child's needs and the root of their struggle can be easier to pinpoint than in a large classroom. Is a child lacking general motivation because of what they view to be "pointless" concepts? Or do they have the intention of completing an assignment, but procrastinate the process and in turn, usually do not meet their full potential? What fuels the procrastination? Fear of doing it all wrong? Do time management skills need improving? Or a simple elimination of certain distractions? Is there something deeper going on emotionally?
The beauty of tutoring sessions is that they are a consistent, carved space for accomplishing work and building these very skills. A self-conscious child can ask questions without feeling embarrassed in front of peers. It is an amazing process to witness a student become empowered by their improved abilities. We know this will carry into the classroom and even years down the road in a career.
Here are a few other simple strategies to help your student tackle schoolwork with more confidence:
Create a shared academic calendar AND include their tutor in access. If a test is scheduled two weeks out, have your student add it to the calendar, and then also add set times on the calendar dedicated to their study time for that specific test. Include check boxes or stickers (for younger age) for your student to mark when each day's tasks are completed towards their goal. Getting organized together goes a long way. Continue this step before the start of each new week so they form a habit of organizing.
Encourage your child to use an agenda at school, and/or a homework app to keep assignment dates organized in the classroom.
If possible, set dedicated homework time and explain those timeframes with your student for the week ahead. Maybe most days that means homework is done after a snack/break once home from school or after practice, but then discussing together that the game on Thursday means homework will be done later, and split around dinner, can help eliminate some of the panic. You have a plan for that day, together. Sometimes it's okay to have to decline other invites so that they aren't in a crunch to finish work or lose sleep.
If your student struggles with time management, consider setting a (quiet) timer for breaks during this homework time. This allows them to keep an eye on what they are accomplishing within a certain timeframe while still getting needed mental breaks.
Have a designated homework space at home free of distraction, but also somewhere they can't fall asleep while reading.
Consider less screen time before homework to help keep their mind clear. While it can be a fun distraction, social media can also be a source of added emotional stress. Sometimes we don't even realize the role it plays on our mood. A sudden dive in emotions can certainly affect a teenager's motivation to do homework. Reverse its control, by letting screen time be a reward after completed tasks.
Celebrate achievements big and small! Most kids want to hear that you are proud of them, even if they roll their eyes.
If a procrastinator, try setting an earlier due date with your child. They can check in with their tutor throughout the process and meet their own personal deadlines with enough spare time to make improvements to work (if needed) before the actual classroom due date. It takes a little last-minute pressure off. As they learn to manage time better, this process can be weaned.
Help them break down a big project into smaller sections. This makes the task as whole, less daunting and also easier to find a starting point. If they focus on one piece at a time, it typically improves work quality and their understanding of content. They can think more clearly when they feel less overwhelmed.
Parents we know you are extremely busy and pulled in many directions. It is not easy doing ALL the things while also setting your child up for success. Having a dedicated tutor working with your student takes some of that weight off of your shoulders.
We truly believe that your child can SCORE big academic goals with the support of a beam tutor. If you would like to learn more about our program, please reach out today.
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