Category: Homework

Kid Home Sick? Keep Schoolwork Up to Date with These 10 Tips

4/7/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image © Lyn Lomasi via Flickr.com

When your child is sick, it's easy to slack off on schoolwork. But doing so could put your child at risk of falling behind. Of course, when your kids are at their worst, you can't possibly give them school assignments. But when they are sick - especially for long periods of time, there are going to be moments when it's appropriate. Being ill can actually be the perfect time to keep schoolwork up to date. If your child is well enough to watch TV or play, she can probably do some learning too.

Ask the teacher for a packet and/or materials. This may seem like a no-brainer. But when your child is ill, a million things may be running through your mind. Stop by the school and ask the child's teacher for a packet of makeup work. If you know approximately how long your child will be away, get the work for those days. If you homeschool, then you are likely already prepared in this department.

Take advantage of happy moments. If your child is sick, they may not quite be up to schoolwork. Take advantage of the happier times where it's possible. That's when it's the perfect time to introduce some schoolwork. If your child is going through a difficult procedure, the school work can wait until a more cheerful moment.

Learn through play. While sick or going through complicated medical procedures, your child might not exactly be ready to hit the books. But educational play can do the trick in those instances. Put on puppet shows (younger children), play board games related to his current studies, play with manipulatives, and more. These things keep your child's brain active and focused on current lessons, but may not be as stressful as other forms of study.

Take schoolwork to doctor and hospital visits. This may sound odd and out of place. But kids get bored during doctor appointments and hospital stays. There is always lots of waiting time in between things. Schoolwork helps relieve the boredom and also helps ensure your child doesn't fall behind in school.

Watch relevant educational videos. This is a simple activity you can do with a child who cannot move much or who is unwilling to. This prevents unnecessary stress while your child is ill. But if you choose videos related to the current lessons, it also serves the purpose of keeping learning levels intact.

Listen to relevant music and audio. Music is a great way to instill lessons in kids. It's fun and if your child has to lay in a hospital bed, at least he can listen and maybe sing along. Many musicians are being more creative with learning songs. You can find just about any topic, such as multiplication, recycling, manners, and so much more.

Use flashcards. Many use flashcards for basic math and alphabet skills. But they can be used for pretty much any topic. They are small and can be done one at a time. This is important when you have a sick kid because if you need to stop at any point or do things in tiny increments, it's easier to keep track. Just take things one card at a time if you need to.

Tell stories. Oral stories also can be great learning tools. You and your child can come up with the stories together if possible. If he is not feeling up to it, you can do all the story telling. Be sure to focus on things your child is learning in school, while keeping it fun and lighthearted.

Read books. Reading is of course very good for the brain. It's also a good way to keep that knowledge flowing when your child is sick. She will have plenty of time to read, no doubt. If she's not well enough to read, you can read to her. Look for books related to what she's learning in each school subject.

Do relevant crossword puzzles and other pencil games. If your child needs to lay in bed all day, crossword puzzles and other puzzle games are the perfect solution. If the lesson is U.S. presidents, look for a crossword on that. The best source for customizing them in this way is online printable and homeschool websites. There are a wide variety of topics out there only a search away.

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Create a Library, Classroom, and Playroom All in One Room: The Read and Play Class

10/23/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

When you have children, you likely want to have a library, a classroom, and a playroom. Here you'll learn how to incorporate all three into one special room that you and your children are sure to enjoy for years to come. As a homeschooling mother, as well as a live-out nanny, this type of room is vital to our household. This is a room I have created more than once. Even in households where the children are not homeschooled, a classroom area is beneficial, as it gives a designated and comfortable area for completing homework assignments, as well as reading, crafting, and playing.

Step 1: Choosing The Room

Some people might only have one possible room to create this space in. Others will have a few selections. Remember that extra bedrooms can be used as well. The ideal location of the room is on the first floor. However, if you do not have an extra room on your first floor, the second floor will work as well, providing you are not doing childcare out of your home. An in-home childcare facility must be operated only on the first floor. If your kitchen has room for a table
and you also have a dining room, consider using the dining room for your playroom/classroom/library, or what I like to call the "Read & Play Class". When you choose your room, be sure to choose the largest room available. This can be done in a small room, but larger rooms are ideal for maximum storage and use of materials.

Step 2: Choosing and Applying A Theme and Colors

Some people prefer a theme and some color and others don't. A popular theme is to just use the primary colors (red, blue, yellow, green) in all the furniture and to accent the walls with decor that matches those colors. If you want some color to the wall for this theme, but don't want it too loud, I suggest using a pale version of one or more of the primary colors. It could also be done in a teacher theme, which usually uses the primary theme, mixed with rulers, pencils, paper, and other teacher-related accent items. You can find many of these items at a variety of different stores, especially during "back to school" season. Whatever theme you choose, be sure it fits well with the ages of your children and also with what you plan on using the room for. Be sure that if you're going to paint, you do it while the room is empty. Cover the floor with a plastic tarp or other paint protector. Let your paint dry thoroughly with the room well-ventilated before placing anything inside the room. Save any accent items and art for the last step.

Step 3: Choosing Or Gathering Furniture - What You'll Need

There are key items that you'll need and some people may prefer to add extra pieces of furniture that are geared toward their personal needs. The basic pieces of furniture needed are a desk for each child (or a large table/desk that will seat all the children), bookshelves, craft unit (usually a unit comprised of shelves, drawers, and cabinets), toy storage units, comfy seats (this can be pillows, bean bags, armchairs, a loveseat, chaise loungers, or whatever fits into your family's lifestyle preference), and a "circle time" rug where the children can sit around you for stories and other activities (pillows can be placed in a convenient area for taking out during this time). If you will be creating activity centers for each subject, you will also need a table and chairs for each station.

This room may sound expensive, but if need be many of these items can be gathered from family, friends, around your house, at yard sales, thrift stores, and even on someone's curb waiting for trash pick-up(providing it's in good shape). Another option is to find out if any area schools or daycare centers are closing. Sometimes they just give away items to anyone who needs them, or at the very least, sell them for cheap.

Remember to be sure you have enough shelf space for all the books, with extra room for display. Be sure that all the toys will be able to put away neatly, with extra room for display and for adding more with time. To be sure this will work, it may be easiest to sort books and toys before picking furniture. Below, you'll see how to choose and/or gather books and toys, as well as how to place them. That should help you determine what you need. Also be sure you will have enough room to store craft supplies and school supplies with extra room to add more later. If there will be a computer in the room, go ahead and set that up when setting up the furniture and allow for a pice of furniture to accomodate the computer and any accessories.

Step 4: Arranging Furniture For The Best Look And Convenience

The furniture will need to be arranged to look appealing, but also in a manner that will allow for easy access. First, arrange the furniture in a way that is appealing to your eye. Next, consider whether all items will be easily accessible once put away. For example, craft supplies should be as close as possible to the craft area. School supplies and computer supplies should be as close as possible to the desks. Everything should be arranged in an appealing, but accessible way. Some may get it on the first try. Others will want to experiment with new ways until they have found one that will work.

Step 5: Choosing Or Gathering Books

Choose some books that fit well with your theme and decor to display as open books standing on the shelves. You may already have some appropriate ones in your home. Look through the books in your house to see what you can find first. The amount you will need will depend on the size of your shelf, as well as the number of shelves you'd like to display the books on. There will be more about arranging the books below.

I also like to hide a few new books the kids will like in with the old for the kids to find later. First, set aside the new books, including the display ones. Sort the other books into stacks according to size and type. In otherwords, put all paperbacks of one size together and all hardbacks of one size together. Do not mix paperbacks and hardbacks. If you have any books that belong in a series, keep those together.

Step 6: Choosing Or Gathering Toys

Depending on the ages and stages of the children that will use the room, the toys will vary. If you already have kids, chances are you have the toys you need already. Some people still like to buy a few extra just for fun. I like to place them along with the old toys and see how long it takes the kids to find them. Gather all the toys you have and sort them out by category. For instance, all building blocks should go together and all cars should go together. Dolls and their accessories should go together. Make piles of each toy category. You may need help from the kids over 5 (or capable of sorting accurately) with this one if there is a considerable amount of toys.

Step 7: Arranging Books, Supplies, and Toys Neatly, but Accessible

Now that you have the furniture picked out and the toys and books sorted, it's time to begin putting everything away. For the toys, start with one category at a time, placing it in the drawer, shelf, or other area you have designated for that category. Continue in this manner until all toys are put away. Some toys you will want to leave out for easy access, such as a favorite pull toy or just toys you want on display. Set these aside as you go along and save shelf space for them. When you are finished with the other toys, set up your display toys. There may also be stand-alone toys. Consider these part of your furniture because they will take up space as well.

Once the toys are finished, you can move onto the books. Arrange the books by type (paperback together, hardback together) on the shelves. Start with the tallest books first. Then, end with the lowest on the end. Remember your piles should already be sorted by size and type, so this will be fairly easy. Don't forget to leave empty shelves where you want to display books. Some may choose to do this only on one shelf. Others may want a display on every other shelf. It's all about personal taste. If the display shelf is out of reach of children, you might consider adding some of the accent pieces mentioned in the theme section.

Put away all crafts and school supplies in their designated areas. Be sure to leave space for adding more later. Supplies will likely grow over time.

Finishing Touches:

Once you are done arranging the furniture and putting away all the toys, you may have accent items you want to add such as picture frames, decorative boxes, or other knick-knacks. Place these in the spot/s you deem appropriate. Just be sure they are out of reach of the children. Remember, this is mainly a room for children. Although other family members will likely use it to read and study, center the focus around the children and keep it safe. If you have a place for circle time, this is the time to store away any pillows you will need to take out during circle time. A low, roomy cabinet works best for this.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Is Homework Reducing Learning and Play Time for Kids? Should Homework Be Eliminated? Pros and Cons

8/15/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

The subject of homework has long been a debate among parents and teachers. Some teachers believe it is essential, while some find other ways to add to the curriculum. There are parents like myself who feel it takes up valuable time. This time could otherwise be spent reading, playing, or learning in other ways. As a mom, homeschool teacher, and former public school parent, I've seen it from more than one side. I've also done research over the years, as well as asked opinions of teachers. My research and opinions below are accompanied by recent conversations with three teachers.

Homework vs Study Time

Besides what is being taught in class, kids may need or desire to do extra research on their own. They also may want to read unassigned books for the pure enjoyment of reading. However, when homework takes up a substantial amount of time, this may not be possible. The student may tire or run out of time before extracurricular activities or bedtime. Children should be free to explore and learn as much as possible and too much homework may hinder that process. My personal thought is that study time needs to be reevaluated and should be done freely versus being assigned. I expressed some of my thoughts on how to do that in another writeup: "Should Current Homework and Study Methods be Reevaluated?"

Ann W, a teacher and parent, shared the following with me:

"There are several negative effects of traditional homework assignments, especially upon elementary school children. In my experience as a parent and former public school teacher, I've seen both sides to the issue. If homework lacks substance or too much is assigned, children become increasingly frustrated and may develop a bad attitude toward school. In our own experience, homework took four hours of time to complete. Not only did this take away from our family time together, it also reduced the amount of time our child was able to devote to individual reading.

"Down time and actually having the time to read for pleasure can refresh and prepare a student for further learning. Excessive homework, such as writing 20 spelling words 25 times each by a child who can spell all the words correctly and has a fine motor disability, creates a stressful atmosphere and is a waste of precious time. That is just one of the reasons, among many, that we eventually chose to home school our daughter."

Benefits or Drawbacks?

This is the area where it seems the answer varies depending on who you ask. Not all teachers agree and not all parents agree. According to an article on Scholastic.com, there is not credible evidence to suggest that there is a tangible benefit from homework. In fact, in that same article, there is evidence of a no-homework policy working well for students. The argument given by one teacher is that homework is essentially the same as if an adult went to work and then came home and kept working for several more hours. Some may in fact do this, but why put so much pressure on anyone, especially children?

Then, there are those who argue there are indeed benefits. For instance, Sandra Peterson, a teacher, tutor, and home educator shared this with me:

"Especially in the subject of math, homework is, in my opinion, essential. Homework is one of the best day-to-day assessment tools a teacher can utilize. Daily homework can alert a teacher to comprehension problems early enough that the lesson can be re-taught. This is important in math since one concept builds upon another. If the student does not understand how to find factors, they may not understand how to reduce fractions or make equivalent fractions from two fractions with unlike denominators. Many students learn best by practicing skills in a lesson or by summarizing what they have learned in an essay. Not that homework is rote learning, but homework can provide one more opportunity to cement those concepts in the brain. Homework can also be utilized to allow the student to express his individuality, especially in the creative writing portion of the language arts curriculum."

When Can Kids be Kids?

Another argument against homework is that often kids are spending so much time on it, there is no time left for anything else. What about extracurricular activities? What about family time or just regular kid time? When my kids were in traditional school, by the time my oldest was finished with homework, she had no time to do anything but eat dinner and prepare for bed. Yes, learning is extremely important. But so is downtime, fun time, and fitness. All have benefits and all are necessary. If children are spending all their time on homework, where is the time for any of this?

High school teacher Amanda Herron told me what works for her students:

"I teach on a block schedule, instead of traditional, which means our students have four classes a day (instead of eight) and stay in one class for 90 minutes (instead of 55). I rarely, if ever, give homework because I feel that as an effective teacher I should cover what I need to in 90 minutes. Research does back up that daily practice of concepts helps with memory retention, but I feel that in 90 minutes my lessons should teach the concept and offer practice time. By doing traditional 'homework' assignments in class, the students have peer coaches and teachers to ask questions and get help. Especially at the high school level, few parents can help on homework assignments. Also, our students have such full, high-stress lives. At my school, we have a high teen parent rate, added to the necessity of after-school jobs for essentials like gas (and unfortunately for some of my students, family groceries due to the high-unemployment in our area). Colleges are looking for sports, extra-curriculars and community service. If every teacher assigns an additional 45 minutes of homework, our students (with only four teachers) would need an extra three hours in their schedules.

"The average schedule for one of my students:

7:00 a.m. ~ Bus stop.

7:40 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. ~ School day

3:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ~ Sports (football, basketball, etc)

5:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. ~ after school job or baby sit children/siblings until parents get home from later-shift jobs

"There is no time in my students schedules for homework every night. They would not be finished until after 1:00a.m. At schools with traditional schedules (more classes meeting in a day) that could go longer. So, I'm not a fan. I get a better result from my students by keeping practice and project times in class and I have no problem doing this and still covering my state-mandated standards."

What is Being Taught in Class?

A final question that I struggle with often: "What's being taught in class?" If a child is learning for hours throughout the day, why is it necessary to then come home and repeat the process? Haven't they been learning all day already? As someone who has had children in public school and has educated them at home, I have seen things as both a parent and teacher. Whenever we are homeschooling, I have found the children complete more lessons in less time than when they attended traditional school. That's why I struggle so much in understanding why it's necessary to repeat lessons during a time that should be family time.

Because of homeschooling, the performance of most of my kids has increased. They sometimes complete two grade levels per subject every school year. This is without having extra work to complete at the end of the day. Because of this, I'm left to wonder why traditional schools need to assign extra work outside of class. Shouldn't the length of their school days compensate for that? I have the utmost respect for educators and believe most do have the students' best interests in mind. It's just something I have yet to understand, based on research and personal experience.

*Thanks to Amanda Herron, Sandra Peterson, and Ann W for your opinions.

**I originally published this content via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Kid Home Sick? Keep Schoolwork Up to Date with These 10 Tips

Create a Library, Classroom, and Playroom All in One Room: The Read and Play Class

Is Homework Reducing Learning and Play Time for Kids? Should Homework Be Eliminated? Pros and Cons

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