Avoid negative comments, but contact the teacher if your child consistently gets 25 percent or more wrong on homework problems and assignments or if he or she never seems to have any homework. Provide your child with a convenient, quiet, and comfortable work area that is well lit, free of family traffic, and stocked with the materials needed to complete assignments. Some children study better with music or background noise, so try to accommodate your child's preferred learning style. Encourage the use of reference materials, such as dictionaries and encyclopedias, and provide a computer and a calculator if possible. You may also find it helpful to talk to the teacher, counselor, or principal if your child develops a consistently negative attitude toward homework, continually fails to fully understand or complete assignments, or fails to make any academic progress.
Homework is an essential component of the total educational program.
It should enhance the intellectual development of your child while creating greater interest and success in learning and studying. The computer has become a common and essential tool in learning many school subjects, particularly mathematics and science. Linda A. Milbourne is Associate Director of the ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She is also the AskERIC Coordinator for the clearinghouse. David L. Haury is Director of the ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education and Associate Professor of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.