"Homework Help: Tips for Parents"
By Rosalyn Snider, Executive Coordinator Sylvan Learning Center

Does homework cause anxiety and stress in your household? Now that students are settling into the new school year, it may be bene.cial to review their home study habits. Your child’s ability to successfully tackle homework assignments is often a crucial element that’s assessed during report card time. Can it be approached in a structured, non-threatening way? The following tips from Sylvan Learning Centers and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) will help to limit the homework battles and develop positive studying strategies.

Institute a regular “study hour.” Get out of the “do you have any homework?” line of questioning and instead, set aside a time to study each evening. Reserve 15 minutes afterward for quizzing or checking over the quality of the completed work. If your child has no written homework, the time should be utilized to review daily classwork and prepare for tests or projects.

Maintain a daily assignment planner. Insist your child carry and use an assignment notebook daily. Build in a reward system for properly completed assignments. Even big kids like to be rewarded! The proper use of an assignment notebook is the single best tool for helping your child succeed in school . . . and it is a life skill.

Plan ahead for projects. Set up a large calendar and develop short timelines for each stage of the project so procrastination does not set in. Call the project steps “weekly milestones” and celebrate when they are completed.

Help your child discover his or her individual learning style. There are visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), and haptic (doing) learners. If your child’s study environment compliments his or her personal learning style, study time will be utilized most effectively. Also consider the impact of other factors like lighting, temperature and noise levels.

Set reachable goals. It can be helpful for older kids to track their own grades. Together, set a goal each marking period for the grade your child would like to earn in each class. List what needs to be accomplished to reach the goal.

Enlist the help of teachers and school counselors. Never wait until your child is in danger academically before you request assistance. Teachers and counselors are trained professionals who will help develop ways for your child to succeed in school. Working together, as a team, any homework issue can be tackled.

Rosalyn Snider: Education Coordinator
As Education Coordinator, Rosalyn is responsible for inquires, parent conferences, diagnostic testing, assisting with the technology center, teaching, and marketing. She teaches Algebra, Math Essentials, and provides homework support in geometry and trigonometry. Rosalyn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and Urban Studies from Temple University.

Seeing students who reach their potential through hard work, motivation and use of Sylvan’s creative learning tools makes the teaching experience worthwhile for Rosalyn.

MAGGIE’S MEMO:
SYLVAN LEARNING CENTERS are located in Salisbury, Berlin, and Pocomoke. SYLVAN’s educational professionals provide remediation and enrichment in beginning reading, academic reading, writing, math, algebra, SAT prep and study skills. Individualized instruction, certi.ed teachers, and guaranteed results are hallmarks of the supplementary education that SYLVAN offers to help students catch up, keep up and achieve academic success.

MAGGIE SAYS:
Parents of SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER’s students made the following comments:
“My daughter really enjoyed attending SYLVAN. SYLVAN has wonderful and very helpful staff, and SYLVAN was a great experience for all of our family.”

“I have been totally impressed with SYLVAN’s plans and objective for my son. He earned straight A’s in Algebra II. I am convinced his success was due to SYLVAN!”

“SYLVAN was de.nitely worth it for our daughter and we recommend it to everyone!”