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You know the situation.
Your teen comes to you with a calculus problem or a grammar question or a science equation. He's frustrated and can't figure it out. You haven't done homework problems like this in 20 to 30 years. You're at a loss. You might even have that deer-in-the-headlights look.
Homework seems to be about as constant in life as death and taxes. So parents aren't too surprised when it starts coming home with their elementary and middle school student. However, when learners enter high school, helping with homework becomes a whole other story.
Lesson concepts become more difficult, homework gets more advanced, and parents are left feeling helpless. Don't struggle along!
Here are a few tips to help arm you for high school homework assistance.
Don't lose your cool. Your student is grumpy. Don't compound matters by adding your own frustration. Keep a level head and don't pull your hair out. Calm your agitated student before even examining the problem. Don't pre-qualify yourself for helping, either. Even if you don't know the answer, walking through it together step by step will help.
Don't give the answer. Tempting as it is, you shouldn't just give your student the answer. This is the fast, lazy way to help with homework. The result? Your student doesn't learn the material or why the answer is correct-and you've technically just cheated. Question each step in multiple step problems, examine similar problems, or review lessons to help your student find the answer.
Do encourage multiple attempts. Encouragement can make the difference between finding the solution and giving up. Re-work problems starting fresh. Try reading questions out loud or rephrase the question. Give your student time to re-try independently (without hovering). Praise perseverance, not just arriving at the right answer.
Do get additional help, if needed. Encourage your teen to talk to his teacher if you can't help with questions. Another option is to do tutoring if you notice a consistent struggle in a certain area. Peer interaction or a study group can also help. (Use caution with group study though, as you student could just be getting the answer from classmates and still not working the problem.)
Your teen comes to you with a calculus problem or a grammar question or a science equation. He's frustrated and can't figure it out. You haven't done homework problems like this in 20 to 30 years. You're at a loss. You might even have that deer-in-the-headlights look.
Homework seems to be about as constant in life as death and taxes. So parents aren't too surprised when it starts coming home with their elementary and middle school student. However, when learners enter high school, helping with homework becomes a whole other story.
Lesson concepts become more difficult, homework gets more advanced, and parents are left feeling helpless. Don't struggle along!
Here are a few tips to help arm you for high school homework assistance.
Don't lose your cool. Your student is grumpy. Don't compound matters by adding your own frustration. Keep a level head and don't pull your hair out. Calm your agitated student before even examining the problem. Don't pre-qualify yourself for helping, either. Even if you don't know the answer, walking through it together step by step will help.
Don't give the answer. Tempting as it is, you shouldn't just give your student the answer. This is the fast, lazy way to help with homework. The result? Your student doesn't learn the material or why the answer is correct-and you've technically just cheated. Question each step in multiple step problems, examine similar problems, or review lessons to help your student find the answer.
Do encourage multiple attempts. Encouragement can make the difference between finding the solution and giving up. Re-work problems starting fresh. Try reading questions out loud or rephrase the question. Give your student time to re-try independently (without hovering). Praise perseverance, not just arriving at the right answer.
Do get additional help, if needed. Encourage your teen to talk to his teacher if you can't help with questions. Another option is to do tutoring if you notice a consistent struggle in a certain area. Peer interaction or a study group can also help. (Use caution with group study though, as you student could just be getting the answer from classmates and still not working the problem.)
