Anonymous wrote:It depends on the child, OP, so do what you think is best!

My 7 year old has an ADD/executive functioning disorder and needs help with organization and staying focused.

17:30 here. Both of my kids (ages 7 and 9) have ADHD and we have always worked with the teacher on organization strategies. I still stay out of the homework. Kids need to learn consequences.

It depends on the child, OP, so do what you think is best!

My 7 year old has an ADD/executive functioning disorder and needs help with organization and staying focused.

I go over the questions with him, ask him what he wants to say (and help him organize his thoughts before he puts it on paper), and then check in regularly with him to ensure he is actually writing instead of dreaming. Then I go over it with him, and make sure he understands and corrects any factual mistakes.

The teacher gave back homework piles at the end of each month last year - so it is up to me to correct mistakes immediately and educate my child as much as possible, otherwise the misunderstandings will not be taken care of in class!

He is a grade ahead in every subject now.

What does staying home have to do with it? I work, and I work with my son every single night. I don't help with the things he should be doing, but go through all the organization, make sure he's got a reasonable schedule for getting through the week, and then sit not too far away while he works. I also do work with him on every single spelling assignment (sheer hell), but it is worth it because he is improving.

I agree with PP 19:49 but I will say this - in both K and 1st grade, my DC's teachers handed back a month's worth of homework at one time, so not sure the teachers were even seeing based on missed homework problems what concepts my DC may not have grasped in a timely fashion.
Also, to OP - homework is a nightmare in our house. DC hates doing it, wants time to play, read and relax before dinner and does not want to zit and do boring worksheets. Also DC is easily distracted it takes 3x as long to get a simple worksheet finished- so while I don't help with the actual worksheet, I do try to get him focused on it. I am dreading this part of school starting back up!

if homework is a problem the teacher should deal with it. the teacher needs to see what the child struggles with and if homework in general is a struggle, the teacher should also know this. If your child refuses to do her homework, she will deal with the consequences. Take yourself out of the picture.

A 7 year-old shouldn't have the kind of homework that is a struggle. If your child is always forgetting things the teacher should be working with him on organization skills.

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. I don't deal with homework. I think homework is ridiculous in large part. My child does her own homework. If she has trouble with a question, she knows to circle it and skip it. When she finishes the rest of that assignment, she goes back to any skipped problems and sets a timer for 5 mins per problem. Most of the time she gets the answer. If she doesnt she knows to ask about it.

That sounds like a great approach! My DD's teacher told the parents NOT to help with math homework. She asked that if the child can't figure it out, they circle or star it and ask the teacher the next day. I think it often turns out that several kids are confused about the same thing. They prefer that we not teach them the "old folks'" way of doing the math.

It's a nightmare. I hate it. Even if I am not helping them they hate it. It is a struggle. My 7 year old fell asleep during homework before dinner. Then I would wake him for dinner and then he has homework. He is tired and grumpy. Often I have to wake him in the am to do it. When they forget the book or bring the wrong one home, since they all look the same, they get very upset and feel like a failure.

I don't really understand homework. If you can't get it all done during the day add an hour to the school day.

Absolutely not. I don't deal with homework. I think homework is ridiculous in large part. My child does her own homework. If she has trouble with a question, she knows to circle it and skip it. When she finishes the rest of that assignment, she goes back to any skipped problems and sets a timer for 5 mins per problem. Most of the time she gets the answer. If she doesnt she knows to ask about it.

Agree with PPs. It's really important they do the work by themselves. They need to finish it, and you can check to see that, for example, that the worksheet is complete, but don't go over each problem and help them to the correct answer. I had multiple teachers emphasize this to me. Teachers explain it this way. They need to know if the kid is truly understanding a concept. If the kid comes back with homework that is done, but incorrect, the teacher doesn't view that as "oh, Junior must be dumb" but "hmm. I need to go back and review that concept, perhaps find an alternative way of explaining it.
You aren't doing your kids any favors by doing homework with them. (And, yes, as a bonus it will be far less irritating for you!)

Do them a favor. Make them do it independently. They need to learn to make mistakes and do things on their own. They will be happier and you will, too.

My DC stays in Extended Day and does his homework there. It's awesome!

I really really liked this book:

Homework Made Simple

for kids whoa re struggling with homework, especially due to executive function disorder, although they ideas are useful for any child.

Don't do it with them because you are SAHM, do it with them only if they truly need your help. With the 6-year-old you might need to sit down occasionally and go over it with them, but the 10-year-old, unless they are really struggling at school, should be able to complete it themselves and bring to you to be checked.

I don't do homework with my kids. Therefore, no hell. They (ages 7 and 9) are responsible for their own homework.

Ii am a SAHM so I feel like should be doing iT with them (6 &10) I have no patience. Kids are no peaches either! What has everyone e,se been doing.