Parents Helping with Homework Could Hurt Them

My morning routine always includes a news update from the Today Show. I will admit it is not exactly the hardest hitting news each day, but I love their balance between human interest and global segments. This morning they discussed The Broken Compass, a new book trending in American about how providing too much help, or helping too often, can actually negatively impact your student.

The book analyzed surveys of American families taken by the US Department of Education over the past thirty years. The ideas of parents "taking the reigns" or "taking over" during homework time, thus not allowing the child to do most of the work, dominates and is considered to be counterproductive to the cause.  The goal would be for the kids to do as much work as possible, with you as a support system, so they can independently complete tests and quizzes successfully when in class (and away from the overhelping parent).

The Today Show joked about their own personal experiences in helping their own elementary kids with homework, but who can honestly say they have not uttered these same words at the end of a long day: "Let's get this over with" or the frustration you feel when something so clear to you isn't clear to your child,  "It's right in front of you! The answer is right there!"

At Mathnasium of 4S Ranch, we provide the support system at homework time. Students will work with an instructor on a sampling of problems, and once they show understanding are released to complete some work independently. This builds confidence in the concept. Instructors then return to check over work and reteach if necessary.  When kids walk out our doors they know they were the ones doing the work, not us, and their success in the classroom improves.