Using Teacher Experience to Guide Work at Home

For example, if your primary grade youngster refuses to do any academic work unless you are sitting with him, ask the teacher if your child is able to work independently at school. What has the teacher found to be helpful in getting the child to do independent work? How long is the student able to keep at the task? How often does the teacher “check in” with the student or offer encouragement?

Let the teacher know that you are questioning how much support to provide your child with homework. You want to be consistent with the successful strategies at school. If your child is more independent at school than at home, the teacher’s remarks will be a good starting point for a conversation with your child. You will be able to quote the positive comments from Mrs. Smith to your child while discussing how homework is the same as independent work at school. The teacher likely can also help you if your child is unwilling to do independent reading at home.

On the other hand, the teacher may be relieved that you have come forward with the problem at home because the same thing happens at school. Both of you can problem solve together and try to use the same approach. Your child will benefit from the partnership with the important adults in her life. It might be enough to touch base weekly as you and the teacher try a consistent strategy, whether the goal is to bring home the homework, complete it with the level of independence consistent with the age of the student, turn the homework in the next day or just do the 20 minutes of reading per night.