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Parent Resource Center
Helping Your Child With Reading and Homework
How can I encourage my child to read?
 Read aloud to your child often. Start reading to your child when he is a baby and keep reading as he grows up. As your read, talk with your child. Encourage him to ask questions and to talk about the stroy. Ask him to predict what will come next.
Encourage your child to read on her won. Children who spend at least 30 minutes a day reading for fun develop the skills to be better readers at school.
Set aside quiet time for family reading. Some families even enjoy reading aloud to each other, with each family member choosing a book, story, poem or article to read to the others.
Visit the library often. Begin making weekly trips to the library when your child is very young. See that your child gets his own library card as soon as possible.
Buy a children's dictionary and start the "let's look it up" habit.
Make writing materials, such as crayons, pencils and paper, available.
Ask family members and friends to consider giving your child books and magazine subscriptions as gifts for birthdays and other special occasions. Set aside a special place for your child to keep her own library of books.
Get help for your child if he has a reading problem. If you think that your child needs extra help, ask his teachers about special services, such as after school or summer reading programs. Also ask teachers or your local librarian for names of community organizations and local literacy volunteer groups that offer tutoring services.
If you are uncomfortable with your reading ability, look for family or adult reading rpograms in your community. Your librarian can help you locate such programs.
How should I help my child with homework?
Talk with your child's teacher about homework policies. Make sure you know the purpose of the homework assignments, how long they should take, and how the teacher wants you to be involved in helping your child complete them.
Agree with your child on a set time to do homework every day.
Make sure that your child has a consistent, well-lit, fairly quiet place to study and do homework.
Make sure the materials needed to do assignments - paper, books, pencils, a dictionary, encyclopedia, computer - are available. Show your child how to use reference books or computer programs and appropriate web sites. Ask your child to let you know if special materials are needed and have them ready in advance.
Talk with your child about assignments to see that she understands them.
When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers. Doing assignments for your child won't help him understand and use information or help him become confident in his own abilities.
If you are unable to help your child with a subject, ask for help from a relative. Also see if the school, library or a community or religious organization can provide tutoring or homework help.
Check to see that your child has done all the work assigned. Sign the homework if your child's school requires this.
Watch for signs of frustration or failure. Let your child take a short break if she is having trouble keeping her mind on an assignment.
Reward progress. If your child has been successful in completing an assignment and is working hard, celebrate with a special event - reading a favorite story or playing a game together - to reinforce the positive effort.
Read the teacher's comments on assignments that are returned. If a problem comes up, arrange to meet with the teacher and work out a plan and a schedule to solve it.
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