Reply to How do kids at schools with 4+ hours of HW per night have time to get everything done?

Forum Index » Private & Independent Schools

Reply to "How do kids at schools with 4+ hours of HW per night have time to get everything done?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]It works out.  My son is now a rising senior - one sport, clubs, scouts and household chores.  The key is to teach your child to plan for the week (or 2 weeks) not just the next day.   He learned quickly after the first few weeks of Freshman year  his "middle school approach" generally looking at what's due the next day was not sustainable and will not work if he is active  We learned at back to school night that many of his teachers posted homework if not for the week, but the upcoming weeks -- one teacher even posted readings, etc for the entire semester (dear son did not share how homework was posted as he "had it under control").  Math teacher posted for a week or two but said but don't work ahead (or too far ahead) as pace of material may change depending on the class, but you can plan.  History teacher posted the general schedule of readings entire semester -- read ahead all you want -- some assignments/papers and timing may change around the edges.

Our family went "old school with paper and a clipboard -- Sunday night Father/Son meeting, making a plan for the week -- homework, games, practices, club events, meetings.   I know...I know...I know...we all have electronic family calendar, but there are a lot intangibles gained from looking at one screen together and writing it down.  Son learned to pause and think about what is coming up.   He learned to read and work ahead on a weekend afternoon or a "light" homework night.  At first we were very hands on with Sunday night planning, then he was more self directed and he would "brief us" --  by the middle of his sophomore year he did it on his own....and carried the practice  through his junior year.  I only asked that he leave his planning page and clip board out for me to glance at.  It was good to know when he had a heavy test or project week so I would not  nag over small chores and let him be....or I would help him get his laundry started.

He also used it as a tool to advocate for himself with teachers. He realized he had 2 tests and paper due all on the same day day.  We didn't know until after,  but he asked the teacher several days in advance for a one day extension on the paper.  He got two extra days.  Son said he was nervous asking as the teacher has a reputation as always saying "no"  (w/o extenuating circumstances) but  teacher said to son that is was his being thoughtful/planful in his request, scheduling time to meet, not asking the day before, and he showed that he was working on the paper.  Son admitted to teacher that he could get it done, but wanted to get it done right.  Important lesson...and a tactic he uses rarely, but knows he can.  A good teacher at a good school will take the time -- student need to show and take ownership

I will admit I  do miss seeing Dad and son at the kitchen island at first in very serous conversations on how to get it all done...guickly turning to joking and snacking over the laptop.   [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics