It's also wise to consult the classroom teacher, so that you can work out a coordinated strategy for dealing with the problem. Every teacher has her own method of dealing with homework. However, the school may have standard guidelines for the number of minutes students are expected to devote to it. If the teacher doesn't cover homework expectations during her review of the curriculum on Parents Night, be sure to ask about them. Try to take the long view.
Some children have a chronic problem finishing homework, doing it neatly - or doing it at all.
This cannot be solved overnight, or even in one school year. After you have provided a suitable environment and a reasonable accountability system which you can review with your child periodically, try not to worry excessively about the problem. Just because a problem can't be solved immediately doesn't mean it will never be solved. Susan Fleming, an author of children's books, a member of the Lesley University faculty, and a parent, has also been a public school classroom teacher and an editor of teaching manuals. All rights reserved.