Many teachers report that there are tremendous barriers to getting parents involved in homework. When parents get home from work, dinner is often first priority. By the time they are ready to help with homework, they and their children may be tired and stressed.
Unfortunately, students whose parents do not help them with homework, or are unable to do so, may be at a disadvantage.
"I communicate with parents about homework, and let them know that if they look at a child's homework, they will understand what's going on in the classroom," offers Marcia Varner, a third-grade teacher and a member of the Temecula Valley Education Association.
Shannon Hilton concentrates on a homework assignment at Fairview Middle School.
"I tell them that if they see their child struggling at home, their child is likely to be struggling in the classroom."
To make sure parents are keeping tabs on their children's work, she has them sign all homework assignments.
"I give my students homework on Monday for an entire week, so parents can select what days they will sit down with them," says Maria Castellanoz, a third-grade teacher in Salinas. "This way, parents can plan ahead to help their kids. If they are busy or have to work one night, they can anticipate this and help their child the night before." If a child can't get help, she fears, he or she is likely to just throw in the towel.
Assigning a few fun projects that can involve the entire family is one of Kathy Falco's strategies, especially when her fourth-graders are off-track at the year-round school where she teaches in Stockton. "Some parents love it when you send home directions about how they can help, especially when it involves making models of something like Spanish missions. Some parents can't wait until the presentation and want to see whose is the best."
Teachers also suggest varying the types of homework and letting children apply things they have learned in school to real-life situations, such as calculating their Little League batting averages, the square footage of the bedroom or other personal statistics.
Some see homework as biased in general against poorer children, whose parents may not have time or resources to help them.
"Children in my district live in crowded conditions where doing homework is difficult," says Jose Govea, an independent study teacher in Los Angeles. "They may not have a quiet, well-lighted place. They lack resources such as books or online access. They do not have the resources to produce quality homework. I do not excuse them from the responsibility of doing what they are supposed to do, but I understand their circumstances." To help them compensate, he might copy pages of an encyclopedia for students or loan them reference books to "level the playing field."
"High-achieving kids in Beverly Hills have access to 300 to 400 books in the household and the Internet," he explains. "But kids on the lowest rung economically have access to an average of only 0.5 books per household, including cookbooks and the Bible."
Many children whose first language is not English are facing an increased emphasis on homework because they attend underperforming schools where there is immense pressure to raise test scores.
"Where I work, low-income immigrant parents may not be able to help," says Catherine Torres in Santa Maria.
"The parents may be stuck at the third-grade level of education and not be literate in their own language."
"I have one child transitioning from Spanish to English who has no one to help him with his homework," says Castellanoz. "His parents are divorced and his father has custody of the three children. He is living with another family that has three children. He talks about how hard it is for him to sit down and get help."
Even when parents are not proficient in English, there are things they can do to help their children with homework, says David Herrera, a third-grade teacher and member of the Ravenswood District Teachers Association.
Herrera, who works at a Title I school and hosts Family Math Night and Family Reading Night once a month, offers strategies to parents on homework and study skills. His goal is to make them feel comfortable in the school environment, as well as influential in their child's success.
"One of their major concerns is not being able to help their children with homework assignments in English," says Herrera. "They don't know what to do except tell their child, 'Do your homework.' They may not be able to help with all assignments, but they can be supportive."
Among his suggestions for parents who don't speak English:
- Ask questions. "Ask children specific questions about what stories and books they are reading. Ask about characters and plot."
- Measure reading fluency. "Measure how many words per minute the child accurately reads. Whether it's in English or Spanish, you might be able to count the number of words and listen to them."
- Check over and sign homework every night. "Even if you aren't able to help with an assignment, you can ask the child to explain what it is and show interest."
"It helps for teachers to tell parents what their child is working on, what their child needs to study, and how much time is required," says Herrera. "Let them know you have resource books, or where they can find them, so their child can complete homework assignments.
"Teachers have to make parents feel included and feel that they are in control of what goes on. It will make a big difference if they do."
