Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

First we were told at Open House the only homework they would have is 20 minutes of reading a night. Of course that was BS. Tonight they had to each write there name 2x. Well it was pure torture. It took 25 minutes and several attempts at each letter and they would not listen to direction on how to do the letters. It was completly miserable for everyone. I understand homework will not be fun all the time, but we finished dinner at 6:45, spent 20 minutes with the home work, 20 minutes reading and then another 10 with them having to sign their name to the science code of conduct. They got do do 10 minutes of something fun tonight with them and then had to get ready for bed. They get home from school tired so even doing it then seems like ti would be miserable and then only one of us is home at that time to do it with them.

Any advise would be really helpful. I feel like a horrible person becuase we were getting mad at them for not doing the letters correctly and listening to us explain it. I don't know how to try and teach them and how to make them not hate homework and us in the process.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

I've found the earlier they do the homework, the easier it is. So no playing, TV, etc. until homework is done.

We do it at the kitchen table, pencils, crayons, glue, & scissory are in the pencil box & ready to go.

They do introduce more homework gradually to prepare them for next year.

As a twin, I can tell you that praising the one that's doing it right is helpful. Not necessarily comparing them "You made your T so straight! I like when you write neatly." not "can you make a "T" like your brother"...I'm sure you already know that though.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

Is this for Pre-K?

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

They are in K.

Guess we should try earlier and see if that helps. Basically todya was a disaster, we were anoyed and they were getting upset too. Totally the wrong approach.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

I wouldn't get bogged down with things like perfect handwriting (making each letter perfectly correct). Something like writing their names 2x really should have taken 5 min total. They probably write their names NUMEROUS times a day in school in a matter of seconds!

That said, setting up a routine everyday will really help you out. I'd also be surprised if your DC do not have any written HW this year. When I taught K, the kids had written HW every night (plus reading). Just remember what they are given for HW is (should be) comparable to what they do in school all day long -- and they do it by themselves, very likely!

Once you fall into a good routine, I'm SURE it won't be as painful as tonight.

(Disclaimer: This is from a teacher's perspective - my DD isn't yet in elementary school!!)

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

Sometimes, depending upon your family routine, changing the time for homework might help - some children are more receptive right after school - some right after snack - some in the morning, before school.

Maybe try a different time?

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

This is what we do:

Pick up at school, 20-30 min playtime at school, go home, wash hands, and have snack. gNext my ds gets his homework box with scissors, glue, colored pencils, fancy pencils and erasers and pencil sharpener. He is not allowed to use anything in this box except for homework and his sister can't touch it. We bang out hw before play or tv time. He is always eager to get done.


I think whatever time you choose can work provided your dc have a consistent routine so they know what to expect.

It did take several weeks for him to get the routine, but soon we had no issues.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

A little thing I used to do with DD to practice writing when she was younger was using dry erase markers and letting her write on our porch door or windows. Kids think its a hoot that mommy is letting them write on a surface that is not paper and it just wipes away easily. Now that she is in kindergarten I dont have to do to much supervising over homework....
We would also write out the alphabet with sidewalk chalk....get down with them and write something and see who can write it faster....make it a game instead of 'work'
Get the kids to practice this way and I guarantee that it will make homework time a breeze in no time

I know some days my daughter needs a little nap after school....sometimes just 15-20 minutes makes her a much easier child to do homework with

Message edited 9/29/2010 10:14:19 PM.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try different times and see what works better for them. Maybe right after even though they are tired would be better. I know for me I would hate to do work right when I got home but then agin, I am not 5. LOL

As far as what was sent home she was specific that they had to write the letters the correct way in pencil with the guide she had given us forming each letter from top to bottom, correct size, etc.

I also thought they would have homework bvut she also was very specific about them not having any other homework but the reading. SO that is what we made time for in our routine and then I open the folder and had to squeeze that in.

I swear I feel like I am back in school with all this paperwork and crap I have to **** through each and every night.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

I agree with the routine. Kevin tells me he doesn't want to do his homework every day and asks to do it at different times but nope - we do it now is my answer.

Our routine - come home, wash up, get a snack while watching a watch a half hour show to unwind, homework. He know once he does his homework he can play or go to the park or whatever basically he wants. No homework, no fun. It is a pain with complaints but he knows his routine and it is getting done and workng for now. We have a pencil box in the kitchen - glue, glue stick, crayons, pencil, pencil sharpener, etc. He grabs that and we set up at the table and do it. Kevin gets about 3 worksheets of homework often double sided (usually takes about a half hour - includes writing, cutting, drawing, coloring, tracing, etc) and we are suppose to read for 15 minutes. I usually read a book at some point in the day to him if we can and at night his dad will always read with him one book before bed.

I know after dinner he is a mess and he wants daddy time so after dinner would never work for me. I use to do that when he took speech and it was a miserable fight with lots of tears every night last year and never productive.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

Last year my second grader was giving me the worst time doing his homework. He would sit there and just distract himself with anything he could not to do it, and it would literally take him over an hour to do 5 minutes worth of homemork.

I started putting the oven timer on and we played a game -- see if he could beat mommy's clock. It actually worked!! He wasn't looking to be rewarded but maybe you can start a sticker chart and reward them with a little something at the end of the week.

And I agree with Barb -- the sooner you get it done, the better. Once they start getting too into the video games and tv, it's harder to break them away to do it.

Message edited 9/30/2010 9:42:02 AM.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

DDs 2nd grade teacher suggested to reward her with stickers for completing EACH assignment (instead of at the end of each night for completing ALL her HW).

So, she gets about 5 stickers each night and after she fills up 2 sheets (teacher gave me a few small sheets from a school supply store that just has about 20 boxes on it and a place for her name (should take about 2 weeks) she can pick a prize from a bag (that I have yet to create but will probably buy small things from her favorite stores like Justice and/or Claires.

Side note, DH and I are doing this incentive thing instead of just giving/buying DD things for no reason. At this point they it seems they don't appreciate things, they get thrown around the house, and it's a waste of $$ for little crappy things that kids happend to love. The incentive and earning stuff will hopefully work out better!

For my kindergartner I'm just not talking HW that seriously yet and she thinks it's fun at this point!

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

I agree with the idea of having a routine. I found that the more used to it they get, the quicker it goes.

One thing we do – which may or may not work for others – is to not sit with them the whole time. We’ll review the homework, show them how to do it (if necessary), do a problem or two with them – and then step away while they work on it. Once they are done, we’ll review it – if something is wrong, we’ll tell them that they have x number of things incorrect, and give them an opportunity to identify and correct. If they don’t recognize it or get it wrong again – we go over it with them to assist them in correction. If their work is super sloppy – they are asked to do it again neater. If it’s messy – but not a complete wreck – we’ll simply say ‘Are you proud of this work?’ – if they say no, they do it again. If they say yes, I’ll let them know that I’m disappointed because I know they can do better – but it’s ultimately their work and their responsibility so I’ll sign it.

I think stepping away and giving them that independence – while still offering guidance – helps keep my sanity and pushes them to rely on themselves a little more? Maybe I’m nuts.

I will say it DOES get better. Robbie's in 4th grade and all we do at this point is check it when he's done. Noah is no more than 10 minutes of time now that he's in 2nd! Just breathe deep and remember that it will get better.

Message edited 9/30/2010 2:28:25 PM.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

Posted by rojerono

I agree with the idea of having a routine. I found that the more used to it they get, the quicker it goes.

One thing we do – which may or may not work for others – is to not sit with them the whole time. We’ll review the homework, show them how to do it (if necessary), do a problem or two with them – and then step away while they work on it. Once they are done, we’ll review it – if something is wrong, we’ll tell them that they have x number of things incorrect, and give them an opportunity to identify and correct. If they don’t recognize it or get it wrong again – we go over it with them to assist them in correction. If their work is super sloppy – they are asked to do it again neater. If it’s messy – but not a complete wreck – we’ll simply say ‘Are you proud of this work?’ – if they say no, they do it again. If they say yes, I’ll let them know that I’m disappointed because I know they can do better – but it’s ultimately their work and their responsibility so I’ll sign it.

I think stepping away and giving them that independence – while still offering guidance – helps keep my sanity and pushes them to rely on themselves a little more? Maybe I’m nuts.

I will say it DOES get better. Robbie's in 4th grade and all we do at this point is check it when he's done. Noah is no more than 10 minutes of time now that he's in 2nd! Just breathe deep and remember that it will get better.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

The reason we are doing it with them was that the teacher specifically said to show them the correct way to write the letters. We have to see that they are going from top to bottom and the correct way, leaving them alone to do this and then checking we will not be able to tell with some of the letters how they did it and how they held the pencil. She also wants us to make sure they hold the pencil in the correct position.

I wrote a letter to the teacher asking her for some pointers and told her how long it took us and the issues with doing it and I asked her for her guidance and suggestions, so hopefully she comes back with soemthing that works.

Thanks for the advise.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.

Michelle - I already mentioned tracers to you.

Here is a link


Maybe for now have them trace for one and write for the other.

Message edited 9/30/2010 6:15:29 PM.

Re: Advice on how to make homework not so difficult.