4 strategies to do homework
The debate between parents, tutors and experts about the amount and usefulness of homework, since the subject caused stress and discomfort in families as well as in students has lost strength, but is not yet settled because there has been no agreement between all parties involved. For children who have to keep doing homework, there are a number of useful strategies that they should know.
The North American Institute for the Children's Mind, an independent non-profit organization, has published recommendations aimed at parents to facilitate the performance of their children's schoolwork. Although some are known by parents and students, we do not always put them into practice.
Four strategies to make it easier to make them
1. Have a place to do homework at home. It will depend on the number of rooms, having siblings, the size of the apartment or house. It should be a place, if possible, without environmental noise. From the outset it is ideal to have a desk in your room, although for some students it can be a reason for greater distractions than another space such as the dining room table or kitchen.
2. Enable the space to perform them. This should be large enough to have at hand the materials you need, such as the computer, calculator, pencils, paper, etc. and it will depend on the age to have a box, tray ... to keep them once used.
It is important to have the right light, whether it is natural or by means of a lamp or other lights oriented to the study space.
3. Set a fixed time to do homework. Students should be in the habit of doing homework at the same time each day. But this will depend on each person, since some of them need to "disconnect" from the school when they go out and have a snack before starting to make them and others, preferring to start them after leaving class.
You have to keep in mind that the later they start, it may cost them more, since they will be more tired from the school day.
4. Follow a daily schedule. According to the tasks that should be noted in the school agenda, the student should organize the work session by scheduling if it starts with the easiest tasks or of intermediate difficulty and continue with those that involve a greater effort and finish with some other activity creative or manual, how to draw a picture, search data in "Google", interpret a map, make a diagram, etc.
Tips facilitate homework homework
- It is necessary to pre-schedule breaks during the session from 15 to 20 minutes, to stretch the legs, rest, etc. although it is also true that there will be students who will prefer to rest when they finish their homework.
- The student must take into account that if he needs the timely help or not from the parents, he must know in advance what time he can count on his availability. Parents can help and supervise their homework, but not do it. Of course they should encourage them to do so and if necessary, schedule with them the time they need.
- According to the experts, the students of the first primary courses need about 15 minutes and those of Sexto, about 30 minutes. The ESO is sufficient between 1 and 2 hours a day.
Mercedes Corbella. Psychologist and diploma in Social Work.
