Choosing a good space for your child to do homework and study.
Organizing an efficient and well-stocked study and homework area will help your Learning Disabled Childwork more effectively.
Preparing a good study space for your child is an important part of preparing your child to be successful for school. It is important to create a study area that is free from distractions such as television or noisy siblings and is free of clutter. If your child needs frequent assistance to stay on task or for help with problem solving, make sure the space is located in a convenient spot where you can be accessible as needed.
Choosing a Homework and Study Space
Talk with your child about his work space, and where practical, allow him to make choices about how it 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 school supplies she needs. To avoid distraction, however, it is also important to avoid providing so many supplies that the student becomes distracted by them. Only the essentials should be placed in the immediate work area.
Choosing appropriate reference materials is a very important task. You may want to talk with 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. If your student is familiar with the types of reference materials used at home and school, she will be able to use them more efficiently and effectively. The school or local public librarian can offer suggestions on specific encyclopedias and other reference books that are appropriate for 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. If your child will be using the Internet, you will need to be close at hand to help him search with appropriate terms, sift through irrelevant material, and to keep him from straying into distracting materials. If you feel that using the computer is a priority, consider using CD-ROM reference materials when possible.
Homework Help Websites
Internet resources offer a nearly unlimited library at your fingertips. Here are some websites with excellent services and content to assist children with homework. Remember to always supervise your children as they work online.
Discovery Education offers a free homework help site that includes searchable 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.
