Help with homework by organizing an efficient and well-stocked study and homework area will help your Learning Disabled Childwork more effectively.
Organizing an efficient study space helps with homework by:
- Reducing distractions;
- Reducing time lost looking for supplies or reference materials; and
- Developing good organizational and work habits.
- Limiting Distraction - Help with homework by placing study areas away from the television.
- Giving your child input on how the homework area is organized can help him think about they way he works and may help him sprout ideas for improving.
- If your child is using a computer to help with homework, monitor her work to ensure she is on-task and that what she is viewing is appropriate.
Choosing the Right Space Helps with Homework
Talk with your child about his homework space, and where practical, allow him to make choices about how the homework space will be arranged. Some students need the structure of a desk and chair, and others prefer a bed and a lap desk or a beanbag chair. As long as the student is completing the work, and he is comfortable, let him choose. Regardless of where he sits, ensure there is adequate lighting and a firm writing surface with enough room to spread open a book and also to write.
Stock the homework space with reference materials and supplies for studying all of your child's subjects.
It is also important that your child have have ready access to homework supplies she needs. To avoid distraction, provide only what is needed. Only the essentials should be placed in the immediate work area.
Choosing appropriate reference materials is a very important task in homework space organization. Consult your child's teachers to find out what types of materials are provided at school. If possible, choose materials that are similar to what your child uses during the day. The school or local public librarian can offer suggestions for materials at your child's reading level.
Consider providing "low tech" reference materials such as a dictionary and encyclopedia. Online resources are good as well, but there are some benefits of books that are usually not duplicated on the web. Looking up words in a dictionary, for example, helps students develop alphabetization skills. Having an encyclopedia in book form allows students to have several books and related articles visible at once for easy reference.
Computer and Internet Resources
Computers and Internet resources offer unique features that, when used under the right conditions, can be excellent sources of homework support. When using the computer and the Internet, remember that a dial-up connection can be painstakingly slow and frustrating for students with learning disabilities. Be available to help him search with appropriate terms, sift through irrelevant material, and to keep him from straying into distracting websites. If you feel that using the computer is a priority, consider using CD-ROM reference materials when possible to reduce time sifting through irrelevant material.
Homework Help Websites
Internet resources for homework help offer a nearly unlimited library at your fingertips. Here are some websites with excellent services and content to assist children with homework.
Discovery Education offers a free homework help site that includes references for Art, Music, Computer Science, English and World Languages, Health and Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, and Math. Links to News, Reference, Search Engines, and even Recess Resources are provided.
http://school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/bjpinchbeck/
Infoplease supplies free homework references for Geography, History, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Reference tools include almanacs, atlas, dictionaries, encyclopedia, and biographies.
http://www.infoplease.com/homework/
Homeworkspot.com includes reference books, subject area helps by school level, a parent and teacher resource area, and even science fair resources.
Fact Monster by Info Please offers a colorful, easy-to-navigate homework site with an easy, colorful layout that will appeal to the elementary and junior-high set.
The Homework Help Forum has been setup exclusively for students with simple homework questions. Anyone can ask questions, and questions are almost always answered within a couple days. A Jiskha.com certified teacher will often take time to answer some of the questions on the forum.
With careful planning, you can use these tips and tap into your own special knowledge of your child to create a workspace that supports his success in school.
