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It’s probably one of the age-old challenges for teachers, parents and tutors alike—the average student just doesn’t like doing homework. But the fact remains that homework is a crucial part of the learning process and needs to be done. Growing up, most of us didn’t like homework, but we recognized or learned quickly that it was a necessary part of schooling and we did it.

Whether students lack the motivation, don’t care about their grades or don’t see the real value in it, the excuses for skipping out on homework are numerous. If homework time turns into a fight every night in your house it’s time to get to the bottom of it. Talk to your child and find out why homework is such a struggle. They may have never really thought at length about this, and making them put it into words may lead to some important revelations.

In the meantime, here are some of the classic excuses for trying to get out of homework, and how you can try to work around them.

What’s the point?

Students who use this excuse are having a hard time seeing the relationship between homework and the real world. They need to be taught that homework goes beyond practicing the material learned in class and is also a lesson in responsibility and time management. This cycle of assignments and deadlines put them in practice for their eventual career and builds responsibility skills.

Homework turns into an argument!

Homework is one area where students can exert control and ignore their parent’s instructions. Whether they realize it or not, students often use homework as a power play when they feel like they don’t have control over other areas. The best way to address this is to give your child some more control. A good way to do this is instead of giving complete control, offer your child choices, so either decision is a good one: “You can choose from 3 topics for your history essay; which one do you want to do most?” Or: “Do you want to start with science or math homework first?” Giving children a choice and then following through with it teaches them that their opinion matters, and helps boost their own motivation.

It’s just one assignment. No big deal!

Students don’t always realize the impact a single “zero” can have on their overall grade. Show them some simple math to demonstrate that one missed assignment can do some serious damage to their grade, or if you can check grades electronically, log in to see how the grade changes after assignments.

I lost my homework!

Some students just have a harder time staying organized than others. Make it easy for your child to keep all important papers in their right place, whether he or she needs to put all homework into one folder, have separate binders for each class, or some other arrangement. Staying organized avoids students getting frustrated before they even start their assignments.

It takes too long!

This may be for a number of reasons. Often, homework takes longer than expected because the student is distracted, or multi-tasking. Make sure your student isn’t watching TV, texting or surfing the Internet while working on homework. This goes a long way toward time-management lessons and skill building. However, remember that some students may have a real issue with the material that does make homework hard to get through in a timely manner, and would benefit from reviewing it with the help of a tutor.

Source: Kruger, Susan. “Homework: What to Do When Students Don’t Do It.” www.soarstudyskills.com.

ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, has gotten a lot of attention recently. When children fall behind or are struggling in class, ADHD is often the first thought. But, according to Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide, authors of The Mislabeled Child, a potential attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may be covering up the real issue—dyslexia. Thought to occur in as many as one in 10 people, dyslexia is a commonly misdiagnosed issue.

Children struggling from dyslexia are often considered to be slow, sloppy, or inattentive, which, according to the Eides, is a major misrepresentation. “Dyslexics are overrepresented in creative and inventive fields like art and architecture, or computers and engineering,” says Fernette Eide. “As young people, their gifts and talents may be overlooked because society only sees their weakest link.”

While dyslexia is a common learning disability, parents and teachers may not be aware of some of its telling signs. Because of this, the Eides feel its even more important for parents to watch out for signs so they can get their child the proper evaluation and help he or she needs.

Here are some red flags, according to the authors:

-Slow and strained reading, especially when reading aloud

-Difficulty understanding or appreciating rhymes

-May skip small words, such as “a”, “an” or “the” while reading

-Dislikes or avoids reading aloud

-Performs better with oral tests

-Better listening comprehension than reading comprehension

-Mixes up order of letters

-Reverses letters or has unusual spelling errors

-Makes wild guesses with new words

-Careless errors in reading test instructions or in math problems

If your child is struggling, the important part is to address the situation right away to figure out the underlying problem. Whether it’s ADHD, dyslexia, another learning disability, or simply being behind in class material, the sooner the diagnosis, the sooner you can get your child the help he or she needs.

Source: Wood, Danielle. “Not ADHD? Think Dyslexia.” www.education.com.

The types of things teenagers spend their time worrying about can seem like small potatoes compared to real-world, adult issues. But, adolescent years are very important years filled with change and development, as young adults begin to figure out who they are and what is important to them. While many teens process these difficult, identity-forming changes by pulling away from their parents, it’s important to stay connected with your teen and be there when they turn to you for support. Peer pressure and media-delivered messages can be powerful and persuasive to young adults. It’s normal for teens to want to spend more time with their friends, but research shows that when parents offer an open, supportive environment at home, kids are more likely to make the right choices on their own.

Even though it may not always seem like it, your teen does want to feel connected to you. Here are some steps parents can take toward keeping the lines of communication open and creating an encouraging parent-child relationship.

Listen Up

Teenagers often complain that their parents don’t really listen to them. It’s important to them that parents are interested in what they have to say. Show your child that you are paying attention when they decide to share with you by asking questions, or discussing topics that interest them.

Time Together

Even though they want to run off with their friends at any free moment, it’s important to still do things together as a family. Movie night or shopping trips are classic examples, or you can get creative by participating in an organized activity, class or workshop. Family dinners are an important and easy time to sit down together too.

A Little Help From Friends

Since teens want to be everywhere with their friends, it’s important to integrate their friends into certain activities. Knowing about their friends also shows that you listen and care who your child spends his or her time with. It’s a good idea to know the friend’s parents too, so you know what kind of environment your child will be in when they are with their friends.

Great Expectations and Goals

While it may not always seem like it, teenagers still turn to parents for praise and encouragement. They want to make you proud, so talking about your expectations and values teaches kids how to make better, more informed choices. Setting long-term goals is also a great way for kids to start taking responsibility for their own actions and future. Young adults who have plans to go to college or enter a specific career typically make smarter choices.

Be Open

It’s important to not only be open when it comes to communication, but also to be open to your child’s individuality. When kids feel that they are supported for who they are, they often find it easier to discuss difficult topics with their parents, getting the guidance they need to discover their own identity and easing the transition into adulthood.

Source: Allen, Kim, “What Can Parents Do To Keep Connection With Their Teens?” www.missourifamilies.org.

By Heather Margaret Hay

The latest buzz on campus is that succeeding in college is a whole lot easier than the actual process of getting admitted. However, using these six insider tips, your chances of college admission will be substantially enhanced:

1. See For Yourself
The summers between junior and senior years afford great opportunities to narrow down your choices by visiting campuses. A campus visit is the best way to see whether the college you are considering is a good match for you, and it gives you a chance to get to know individual Admissions Counselors before you submit your application.

2. Apply Early
Set aside the Admissions’ jargon of “Early Action,” “Early Decision,” and “Regular Decision.” The fact is, applying early gives Admissions Counselors more time to consider your application before the onslaught of applications arrives. According to the Admissions Department of George Mason University, in Fairfax County, VA., early applications are considered “a positive indicator of a candidate’s level of interest….” And for schools with rolling admissions, the earlier you apply, the sooner you receive a decision.

3. Standardized Test Scores, GPA and Class Rank Aren’t Everything
Most Admissions Counselors agree that the types and level of high school classes have a lot to do with whether or not you will be accepted. Take challenging classes as soon as they are offered by your high school, and don’t let up in senior year, often considered a strong predictor of college success.

4. Treat Each Application as if It’s Your Only One
Be careful to include everything that is requested, and remember to send in any required supporting materials, such as transcripts and recommendation letters. Leave enough time for proof-reading and editing, preferably by a third party. Consider hiring a professional Admissions Consultant to advise you on select areas of your application, such as the Admissions Essay and Personal Statement.

5. Show them the Real “You”
Admissions Counselors are instructed to consider the whole person when reviewing applications. Demonstrate your commitment to success out of school by highlighting community service and in school through leadership and membership in clubs and on teams that show a consistent and passionate involvement. Counselors at Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., for example, try to predict a candidate’s “…potential contribution to the Georgetown campus community and the degree to which a student is likely to become globally engaged later in life.”

6. Tell the Truth
There’s a fine line between marketing yourself smartly to colleges and just plain stretching the truth. Think about it: the more honest and open you are about yourself, the more Admissions Counselors can judge whether or not their college is the best fit for both you and the school.

Next month: Sewing Up Scholarships!

Heather Margaret Hay is a principal in J & H Tutoring and Educational Consulting, specializing in Admissions and Scholarships. The firm has offices in Chicago and Milwaukee, but works with students across the United

States, Canada and the United Kingdom. For further information, go to www.jhtutoring.com and email us at jhtutoring2009@gmail.com for special pricing for newsletter readers.

Math skills are inherently important to your child’s schooling; especially as they get closer to high school, where more advanced concepts are taught. Math skills can also be important for college admissions, and a variety of careers. If your child is struggling with math, here are a few ways to help them brush up on and improve their skills.

Cover the basics
Make sure your child understands the basic concepts and facts of math or they will have difficulties as they advance through the grades. Flash cards can be helpful in practicing areas where their skills need help, and some students can benefit from using objects or visualization to better understand problems.

Do Homework the Right Way
Math homework is a central part of driving home the lessons taught in the classroom. Teach your child to start each assignment by first reviewing the examples given. It’s also a good idea to have them try to redo the examples before starting the assignment. This calls to attention any gaps in knowledge or places where they are working incorrectly. It also avoids the frustration of them struggling through an assignment they don’t properly understand.

Practice, Practice, Practice
Practicing math problems is one of the best ways to check for understanding. The teacher may have only assigned one page of problems, but encourage your student to do a few extra problems here and there. The more they work on the concepts, the more they will become second nature to them.

Math Vocabulary
Mastering the concepts with numbers is one thing, but when it comes to word problems, many students get intimidated or frustrated. You can avoid this by helping students in their approach to word problems. Have them read the problem multiple times and identify exactly what they are trying to figure out. If they have to draw diagrams or describe it out loud, that’s okay. If they are having problems with certain steps in a sequence, try substituting smaller, easier numbers to work with and then move up to larger numbers or decimals. Word problems also require a fair amount of vocabulary, so it’s important to check for understanding of basic and new terms. Sometimes working through actual examples is the best way to teach new vocabulary.

Encourage Math in Their Head
It’s not always appropriate, but your child should be able to do math in their head. Discourage them from using a calculator with numbers that are easy to work with. Using a paper and pencil reinforces their knowledge and leaves them less dependent on a machine to figure out the work for them. Doing math in their head doesn’t only have to involve homework. There are plenty of opportunities throughout the day to do some simple arithmetic, keeping the brain fresh. Ask them to calculate the change you are owed at the store, or to help you double a recipe or balance the checkbook.

Don’t Wait to Help
It’s very important that math questions and uncertainties be addressed as they arise. This is especially true for math because it is always building upon previous knowledge and concepts. Children who feel lost can quickly get discouraged and become uninterested in or intimidated by math. If you feel your child is not grasping the material, tutoring is a great alternative for them to practice specific skills, brush up on class material, and build their confidence.

Source: Gisler, Peggy and Marge Eberts. “Top 10 Ways to Help Your Kids Do Well in Math.” www.school.familyeducation.com.

Aside from those people who enjoyed reading Shakespeare and Wuthering Heights, many of us may remember inching through difficult literary tomes in middle and high school. You can imagine that to today’s technologically-savvy students, making their way through Macbeth or War and Peace is just as hard as ever. But with some preplanning, you can help your student make it through the reading in time and with a fine grasp on the material.

Plan the Attack

It’s important to start daunting assignments with some kind of logical plan. Figure out how long the reading assignment is and how many days the student has to complete it. Make a general plan of how many pages must be read per night. However, remember to be flexible: some students will benefit from reading just a few dense pages per night, while others may like to “get in the zone” and do larger chunks of reading, less often.

Consider Different Media

Maybe your child needs an extra boost in making it through the difficult reading material. It’s okay to bring in audio recordings that they can listen to while reading along in their actual book. Movies and onscreen plays can be helpful (just make sure they stay true to their original version) in extending your child’s grasp on the plot, character development and main messages. Some children are more visual learners and would benefit from seeing the play in action, rather than trying to illuminate it with just their imagination alone.

It’s Okay to Get Help from Other Sources

No teacher would be disappointed or upset to hear that your student is using a study guide to help them make their way through a difficult text. As long as the study guide or cliff notes aren’t used in place of the real thing, there’s no harm in having it explained more in depth and in clearer language. Some of these things were written a long time ago.

Help From Parents and Tutors

In place of study guides, students may also benefit from seeking help from the adults around them. If you’re motivated, suggest reading the book at the same time as your child, so you can help them through difficult passages or unclear meanings, and also try to get them excited about the subject, or make modern day comparisons to the topics being addressed. If you feel your child is truly struggling, you may want to approach the teacher for his or her suggestions, or have a tutor walk through and review the material closely with your student.

Source: “Tackling Tough Reading Assignments.”www.life.familyeducation.com

Now that the school year is pushing ahead, chances are your student has already had his or her fair share of tests. Even if students are starting to get into the pattern of learning, reviewing and then putting their new knowledge to work, many face anxiety when they are presented with quizzes and tests. This is common for many students, even if they are well versed in the material.

Test anxiety can bring a host of symptoms, from fear, headache and upset stomachs, to anger or even depression. New research helps examine how this emotional stress can affect students, including inhibiting their ability to understand and remember information. Anxiety can create distraction in the brain and nervous system, impairing our ability to not only retrieve information but also to comprehend it and think logically.

Conversely, positive feelings can lead to synchronization in the brain, allowing us to think more efficiently and clearly. One of the easiest ways to avoid undue stress for your student is to help him or her be prepared with the proper tools and approaches to test taking. Here are some tips, courtesy of the Institute of HeartMath.

Address Emotions and Fear

If your student is anxious about doing well on a test, help them stay neutral in their thinking. Negative feelings can cause a cycle that adds to self-doubt or discomfort. Helping them stay calm can avoid them entering the test day already expecting to do poorly. Some students get anxious over “what if” situations, psyching themselves out by asking questions like “What if I fail?” or “What if my mind goes blank?” While it’s important to acknowledge these often natural thoughts, it’s important to turn them into positive notions, such as “What if I am able to think clearly and remember the material well?” or “What if I go into the test feeling sure of my strengths in this subject?”

Arrive Well Rested and Fed

Big tests in particular can require mental stamina and focus. It’s important that students have a proper night’s sleep, typically 8 to 10 hours, the night before a big test so they are alert and ready to think. The same goes for breakfast. The brain needs fuel to maintain focus and clarity, and eating a healthy breakfast goes a long way towards being prepared. Cereals, eggs and wheat toast provide sustained energy, in contrast to high sugar foods like soda or cookies.

Review the Material and Questions

In addition to being psychologically prepared for a big test, it’s also important that the student has reviewed the material and addressed any areas where they remain unclear. This can include practice tests with parents or in tutoring sessions, including doing exercises such as having the student “teach” you the material so they can see where any holes in their understanding may be.

Source: “Helping Children Overcome Test Anxiety,” www.heartmath.org.

A new study conducted by researchers at Rutgers University has found surprising results regarding struggling students and mathematics. The study focused on minority and low-income students at low performing schools for seven years, and found that those students who struggled their way through difficult math problems eventually had improved test scores and achievements.

According to associate professor Roberta Schorr, researchers found “there is a healthy amount of frustration that’s productive,” and that students gain satisfaction after struggling with a difficult problem. She further explained that many student’s talents go unnoticed without them being effectively challenged. The important piece is that this challenge takes place in a nurturing environment.

Schorr points to the common misconception that a student’s motivation has to do with his or her general preference toward or against math. But what her group found was that students who worked on tough problems with support felt satisfaction in addition to their frustrations, and were driven to work harder in the future—whether they reported “liking” math or not.

Debra Joseph-Charles, a former Newark middle school math teacher who is now a math coach in the district, put these findings to work. She gave her students complex word problems and then allowed them time to work at them in ways that pulled from each student’s individual strengths. In other words, visual learners could draw out the problem on paper and so on, integrating the theory of multiple learning types into the way she instructed the math class.

Using the Rutgers group learning method, the students in Joseph-Charles’s class then split into groups and explained how they arrived at their answer. Others in the group could give feedback about their methods, and then each group presented the best method to the class. Joseph-Charles saw a vast improvement in the students who were formerly failing or struggling. This improvement lead to better confidence, and these same students began showing more interest in math and, in turn, test scores began to rise.

This interesting study points back to motivation and its direct relation to success in math. When students are presented with difficult mathematical problems, but are supported as they work through them, they come away with a positive feeling, recognizing that frustration can be an opportunity for success, rather than a precursor to failure. It’s an important lesson that can be employed in other subjects, and in life goals in general.

Source: Yeung, Bernice. “Arithmetic Underachievers Overcome Frustration to Succeed,” www.edutopia.org.

By Ellen Dye, PhD

The first step in combatting homework problems is developing an understanding of the reasons your child is having difficulty.   Some kids neglect their work due to personality characteristics or normal developmental challenges.  Still others may be bored by a particular subject and make their homework in that class a low priority.  For many kids, effective tutoring can be an important part of the solution.

Other kids may have more significant learning issues.  Some bright students have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or unidentified learning disabilities.  The best approach to identifying the cause of homework problems is to discuss the situation with your child.  Even teenagers can be surprisingly forthcoming when parents have a positive attitude and show a genuine desire to comprehend the student’s perspective.

Kids who continue to struggle despite the best efforts of parents, teachers, and tutors may need more thorough evaluation by a psychologist. Recommendations can include homework strategies, school accommodations, diagnoses, and referrals to appropriate resources.  Parents and students are also educated about the child’s learning style, which is critical in deciding how to approach a problem and to make future academic decisions.  Tutors can work with parents and teachers to implement the recommended strategies.

In some cases, psychotherapy may be a critical component of solving academic problems.  Students are often more willing to communicate with a neutral professional who is not involved in monitoring their academic progress than they are with parents, teachers, and even supportive tutors.  A therapist is essential if underlying psychological disorders, such as depression, are at the root of the problem.  Family therapy can be helpful in improving parent-child communication and helping a student to understand that parents are on her/his side and are the student’s best advocates and advisors.

Ellen Dye is a Licensed Psychologist in Rockville, MD Ellen Dye, Ph.D. For additional information, she can be contacted at (301)770-0275 or EDyePhD@aol.com

Standardized Tests Don’t Reflect Real Education. It’s true that some students naturally perform better on standardized tests than others, but there are important academic skills that are covered by these types of tests. For example, the ACT and SAT tests each have students write a timed essay, in which they must develop a thesis, organize information, and use persuasive strategies to drive their point home. This is an important skill that will pop up again in their college courses, as well as in their future place in the job market.

SAT and ACT tests also allow students to better recognize their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to grammar, reading and mathematics. Each of these disciplines, while they may not be the student’s favorite, will be important in their academic careers. Throughout their lives, students will be judged by their ability to communicate clearly, comprehend and respond to the written word, and employ basic mathematics.

Students Attending Good Schools Are Well Prepared. A good school curriculum does not necessarily directly relate to the material in standardized tests. In the SAT and ACT tests, students may encounter content that was taught to them several years ago, or that was never taught in an effective way. Some students are surprised to see material from middle school pop up on these tests, such as certain math or grammar foundations. That’s why it’s important for students to review their whole body of knowledge, not just rely on what they’ve learned recently to carry them through the test. Often sessions with tutors addressing SAT/ACT prep can help them review some of the foundation concepts that more advanced skills are built upon, making sure they are comfortable with their knowledge across the board.

Don’t Try to Beat the System. It’s true there is some strategy to taking the SAT and ACT tests, but be weary of general advice that doesn’t rely on a true demonstration of what the student has learned. For example, picking a random letter when unsure of a multiple choice question isn’t always in the student’s best interest.

Other advice regarding essay questions can also hurt a student’s performance. For example, some people believe it doesn’t matter what students write their essay about, as long as the essays sound good and fill the given space. The truth is the scorers of these tests are well educated and are looking for appropriate tone, style and substance more than length and fancy wording.

When it comes to the math sections, some advise students to plug in each answer and use their calculator to test them. While this may allow students to arrive at the correct answer, it not only wastes time but also eliminates their efficient modes of thinking and reasoning through each question. It undermines the very knowledge the students have worked so hard to gain.

The same goes for the reading sections and those who suggest skipping a thorough reading of the passage and simply testing each answer. Many of the questions on the comprehension sections not only ask for specific details, but also test student’s understanding of the author’s tone and overarching message-an important part of developing proper reading and comprehension skills.

So how can you help your student avoid these tempting but inefficient strategies? A timed practice test goes a long way in locating areas where students can use some brushing up with their parents, teachers or tutors.

Source: “SAT and ACT Myth Busting.” www.education.com