ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

How to Organize Time for Homework After School

Updated on September 28, 2012

Homework Time

Sticking with a consistent schedule means less homework headaches.
Sticking with a consistent schedule means less homework headaches. | Source

Kids' Homework

Homework is a fact for most grade school children and their families. There are different approaches as to when and where homework should be done, but the most important factor is being consistent with your approach. Setting a schedule and expectations will help your child complete his homework effectively and timely. Homework does not have to be a headache!

Schools vary on the types and amount of homework that is sent home. As a parent, your voice counts if something is not working. Don't be afraid to speak up if your child is receiving too much homework or inappropriate homework such as busywork or material that is not on the right level. Homework should be a extension of what is taught at school.

Homework Schedule

To start a homework schedule, you will need to select a time in the afternoon or evening for it to be completed. Ideally, homework should be done right after school, and after your child has had a snack. But, this is not always possible, depending on your family's schedule. In some households, it makes sense to do homework right after supper. These are some things to consider when selecting the best time for homework:

  • If your child needs some downtime after school, encourage him to read or play outdoors. Some parents might stop at a park or playground on the way home to let the kids have some free time.
  • Consider limiting electronics such as TV, computers and video games until all homework is completed.
  • Don't allow friends over or phone calls until homework is out of the way.
  • If your child commits to an after-school activity, discuss how homework will fit in on those days. Don't overschedule!

Homework Location

Finding the right spot for homework is important, and you can pick a good spot with your child's input. These are some things to consider:

  • Choose a quiet area with few distractions.
  • Good lighting is important.
  • Use a sturdy table and chair to avoid slouching.
  • Consider a portable lap desk and comfy chair.
  • Stock a bookcase or tote with all necessary school supplies such as paper and pencils.
  • Multiple children may need separate spots.

Homework Notepad

Make sure your child keeps track of what homework he has each day. Invest in a mini composition notebook or small notepad for assignments to be written down. Some teachers print out homework assignments or email important dates for tests and assignments.

Homework Resources

As your child gets older, there may be opportunities for him to work on his homework before he even gets home.

  • Study hall during school - If your child does have a study hall period at school, make sure he is using that time wisely. It may be a good chance to get help from a teacher if there are questions.
  • Homework club after school - Some schools offer a supervised space for homework after school either as part of the after-school program or as a separate group.
  • Study groups with classmates - Your child may want to be a part of a study group with other classmates that meets either at school, the library, or in the students' homes. Just make sure they really are studying and not just socializing!

Too Much Homework

If you set up a good homework schedule, but still have problems with the amount or type of homework that is being sent home, talk to your child's teacher. A good rule to follow for how much homework a child should have is ten minutes for each grade, with a maximum of 1 1/2 hours for high school students. So, your 4th grader should not have more than 40 minutes of homework each night. These are some tips that have helped other families.

  • Some schools send home one week's worth of homework all at once. The student then has the responsibility of planning when to complete the work. He can do a little each day, or all at once, freeing up the rest of his week.
  • If you question the quality or amount of homework, then schedule a meeting with your child's teacher or principal. If the problem is widespread, talk to other parents and bring up the issue at the next PTA meeting.
  • If your child has an IEP (individual educational plan) and is struggling with homework, see what type of accommodation may help. My daughter has reduced homework due to her anxiety disabilities.

Don't forget that you are your child's best advocate and your voice counts in his education. Schools appreciate feedback on what is going well and what is not, so work together for the best results.

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)