Your child brings home an English worksheet, and you feel nervous. Maybe your English is not strong. Good news: you do not need to be a teacher. You need to sit beside them and ask good questions.
Start with what they know
Ask the child to read the question out loud. Often, they can start alone.
Read it to me. What do you think it means?
Do not give the answer
If you give the answer, the child stops thinking. Ask a smaller question instead.
Which word do you know here?
Use the book
The answer is often in the lesson. Look together.
Let us find the example in your book.
Keep it short
Twenty minutes is enough. Then stop, even if it is not perfect.
Praise the work, not the result
Say, "You worked well." Not, "You are so clever." Effort is the thing to grow.
Talk to the teacher
If homework is too hard every week, tell the teacher. That is useful information, not a complaint.
Words to remember
- homework — school work done at home
- example — one case that shows how to do it
- effort — the work you put in
- praise — to say good things about someone
Questions & answers
Q: What if I do not understand the homework?
Say, "Let us look together." You can use the book, or ask the teacher the next day.
Q: Should I correct every mistake?
No. Choose one or two. Too many corrections stop the work.
Q: How long should homework take?
For young children, twenty minutes is plenty. If it takes an hour, speak to the teacher.
Q: Should I use a translation app?
For one word, yes. Do not translate the whole page, or the child learns nothing.
Q: My child cries over homework. What should I do?
Stop the work and talk. A tired or frightened child cannot learn. Tell the teacher, and try again tomorrow.