Tips and tricks for stress-free homework and lesson review

The key thing to remember is that homework and lesson review are two separate activities, though both are important to do well in school.

• Homework refers to written exercises that help students put what they’ve learned into practice.
• Lesson review is where students study new concepts and learn them by heart, an exercise that requires using their memory. Assigned reading falls into this category.

• Expands on work done in class
• Consolidates learning
• Helps students develop a work method
• Fosters autonomy
• Etc.
   

• Allows parents to keep track of their child’s progress
• Keeps parents in touch with the school
• Allows parents to see their child’s efforts
• Helps pinpoint areas of difficulty
• Etc.
   

Your child is ultimately responsible for their own learning, but you still have a crucial role to play. Your encouragement and participation are important sources of motivation.

The more fun your child has when reviewing lesson material, the more productive their review sessions will be. If they lack interest and motivation, they likely won’t retain much information. That’s why you should try to find an effective review method that’s creative, stimulating, and tailored to your child. Here are some examples of activities that will help your child learn while having fun:

• Write vocabulary words on a whiteboard or window
• Trace vocabulary words on a flour-covered surface
• Spell out words on your fridge using magnetic letters
• Make giant vocabulary flashcards and stick them on the bathroom mirror
• Throw dice and add, subtract, multiply, or divide the numbers
• Clap out rhythms when memorizing grammar rules, times tables, etc.
• Write songs about lesson topics
• Perform dramatic readings of lesson material for friends and family
• Walk around the kitchen table while reciting verbs
• Take one step forward with every right answer until they reach the other side of the room
• Handle an object (e.g., ball, paper clip) while reciting their times tables
• Act out the story they’re reading using only their hands
   

During review sessions, don’t be afraid to ask your child questions. Trying to explain why they think a word is written a certain way, or why two and two makes four, will help them remember the information later on.

Example:

Parent: “Why do you think the word ghost has a silent H?”
Child: “I think it’s because ghosts need to be extra quiet to sneak up on people!”