How You Can Help Your Child To Learn
Homework & Study Skills
The more interest you can take in your child's homework the better their results will be. Your support and encouragement will make an enormous amount of difference to your child's performance and achievement, and therefore their self-esteem and prospects in life.
If at all possible try to make sure they have a quiet room with good light in which to work. Subjects set homework weekly, which students write in their planners (the work is also often posted on MyClasses). Ask to see their planner regularly and feel free to use it as a means of communicating with the school.
As they progress through school the homework load increases but they may seek your help less as teachers encourage them to work more independently. Coursework is a key part of many of the subjects and may take a number of weeks to complete; encourage your child not to leave it until the last minute and then get in a panic!
Don't withdraw completely! Taking an active interest in your child's schoolwork and homework can certainly do no harm. If there's something your child doesn't understand, and you can't help directly, you can provide them with revision guides that explain subjects step-by-step, in language your child understands.
Homework Hints
Your child won't be able to concentrate in front of the TV: find a quiet room with good light.
Take an interest in their homework, but not too close, it'll sound like nagging!
Find out what they should be doing and when it's due to be handed in.
Help them to structure their time – it's a skill they will need throughout life
Study Tips
Reading something again and again is not the best way to make sure you learn and understand what you have read.
Instead, try to condense each paragraph down to just one sentence.
Or, try to explain it in your own words to yourself, or, better still, to your parents or a friend.
If you are having trouble memorizing something write it down and stick it on the fridge.
In fact, stick it in as many places as possible.
Or tape yourself and play it in the morning. Be careful it doesn't send you back to sleep though!
