Homework
Homework…. that is certainly a word that conjures up a lot of feeling in most people!
Maybe we remember doing homework when we were in school, or think of the battles
we have had with our own children about doing homework.
When a child has a chronic illness, all of the typical homework concerns are combined
with the challenges of having to miss a lot of school and having more homework than
usual. Not only does the student have more homework, he may be tired or not feel
as well as usual.
Add in the fact that the child and parents are making lots of trips to and from
the doctor or hospital, the family is trying to balance work and the activities
of other children, and homework may become a big challenge in a family with a chronically
ill child.
Do not despair!
There are many things you can do to increase your child’s chance of succeeding in
the homework department – and your chance of maintaining your sanity!
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that your child’s homework is one
thing for which you do not have to be responsible. You must keep
track of daily medications, doctors appointments, temperatures, diet concerns, supporting
your child with an illness and other family members, and much, much more. On top
of all that, you should not expect to spend several hours each evening overseeing
homework completion.
Communication → Balance
One of the challenges of having a chronic illness and continuing school is finding
balance. It is essential to keep up with school work, but equally important to continue
to ‘have a life’. With good communication with your child’s school staff, it is
possible to accomplish both.
Talk to your child’s teacher, counselor or school principal if you think the amount
of homework he brings home is overwhelming. A good rule of thumb is 10 minutes of
homework per night for each year of school. For example, if your child is in the
third grade, it is appropriate to expect about 30 minutes of homework. If your child
is spending several hours per evening on homework, it is time for a school conference.
Excessive homework will cause unneeded stress on your child, you and the entire
family.
For high school students, the challenge becomes more intense as 6-7 individual teachers
assign homework. Be sure to encourage your high school student to talk to teachers
about realistic homework expectations. It is best if your student can do the negotiating
himself, but do not allow him to become overwhelmed or to get so far behind he feels
he can never catch up.
Most teachers are very willing to work with the student once they understand the
needs and concerns. Again, the key is balance – you want your student to be expected
to do enough homework to continue to be successful in school. The work that may
be considered to be ‘busy work’ or work to fill extra classroom time should be eliminated
from the expected tasks of the student who is missing a lot of school.
It is essential to understand that homework should only be assigned after a student
understands the concepts of a new lesson. Homework is an opportunity to practice
newly learned skills; it is not a time to learn those new skills independently.
The student should have opportunities for direct instruction by a teacher and guided
practice, with the teacher overseeing the child as he does the work, before transitioning
to homework.
Individual Educational Plan (IEP)
A 504 Plan or IEP should include parameters for determining appropriate amounts
of homework. If a student is absent from school for several days or weeks due to
illness, it is difficult to make up all of the work as homework. The student will
need a teacher to present lessons and teach the concepts of the lessons. A tutor
or special teacher should be provided to help the student get caught up on
missed
assignments. Homework should be kept to a minimum, and should be assigned only after
it is determined that the student understands the concepts presented in the lessons.
If your child is hesitant to do a reasonable amount of homework, you may need to
define your expectations to him. A homework contract may be a good way to take the
stress out of homework time. The contract defines the expectations of the student
and the parent(s), and removes the opportunity for argument. This type of contract
works especially well with older elementary kids and secondary students.
Taking the stress out of homework will be beneficial to everyone in your family.
For more ideas on how to make homework time a pleasant experience, check out these
Links.
For more information, please contact:
Kathy Davis, MSEd, PhD
kdavis2@kumc.edu
(913) 588-6305