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Web Guide for Kids

Science & Nature

Find the Best Articles to Help Your Child Succeed in School

Discovery School.com: Homework Help & More

How to Study.com

Homework Spot.com

Smarter Kids.com:
Resolving Homework Problems

United Federation of Teachers: Talking to your child about Schoolwork

Kidsource Online:
Ten Homework Tips

Great Schools.net:
Coping with Homework Horrors

Study Guides and Strategies

The World Fact Book 2002

Newspapers US and World Wide Refdesk.com

Literacy Center.net:
Early Childhood Education Network (Interactive)

US Dept of Education:
Education Resources

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National Mental Health and Education Center:
Homework Survival Guide

also

Parent's Handout
Study Skills

CNN Student News.com:
News for Students, Resources for Teachers

Oxygen: Family and Home: Taming the Homework Monster

Ladies Home Journal:
Too much Homework?

Learning Wave.com

More Great Links at
NetMom.com

Congress for Kids.net

Reed Martin.com:
Helping Your Child Series
FREE Articles from the U. S Department of Education

National Geographic.com

Microsoft Office: Template Gallery
Papers and Reports

Homework Help

Government         Geography          History              English                Math


                                                   Science               Foreign
                                                                              Language

Being Prepared to Achieve and Succeed

As hectic as our lives are, as responsible parents we must find the time to make sure our children are living up to their responsibilities at school. That means homework must be done.

Just as you prepare for a successful meeting at work, your child's homework is preparation for a successful day in class. The flow of information from class work to homework may be reinforcement of material covered during class, or introduction for familiarization of material to be covered the following day. When your child is allowed to neglect that continuation of information it's equivalent to having 5 pages missing out of a proposal for one of your clients at work. The flow of information is interrupted.

Nebraska State Education Association provides some wonderful tips for parents.

It is essential to show your child that you believe homework is important. One key to imparting that belief is maintaining "a watchful eye."

Children are more likely to complete assignments successfully when parents monitor homework. How closely you need to monitor depends upon the age of your child, how independent he or she is, and how well he or she does in school. Whatever the age of your child, if assignments are not getting done satisfactorily, more supervision is needed. Here are some good ways to monitor assignments:

Ask about the school's homework policy. At the start of the school year, ask the teacher:

What kinds of assignments will be given?

How long are children expected to take to complete them?

How does the teacher want you to be involved?

Be available. Elementary school students often like to have someone in the same room when working on assignments in case they have questions. If your child will be cared for by someone else, talk to that person about what you expect regarding homework. For an older child, if no one will be around, let the child know you want him to begin work before you get home and call to remind him if necessary.

Look over completed assignments. It's usually a good idea to check to see that your elementary school child has finished her assignments. If your junior high school student is having trouble finishing assignments, check his too. If you're not there when an assignment is finished, look it over when you get home. After the teacher returns completed homework, read the comments to see if your child has done the assignments satisfactorily.

Monitor television viewing. American children on average spend far more time watching television than they do completing homework. In many homes, more homework gets done when television time is limited. Once you and your child have worked out a homework schedule, take time to discuss how much television and what programs she can watch. It's worth noting that television can be a learning tool. Look for programs that relate to what your child is studying in school, such as programs on history or science or dramatizations of children's literature. When you can, watch shows with your child, discuss them, and encourage follow-up activities such as reading or a trip to the museum.

Helping your child with homework is an opportunity to improve your child's chances of doing well in school and life. Parents are in a unique position to help their child make connections between school work and the "real world," and thereby bring meaning and some fun to that child's homework experience. What's most important is that you, as a parent, are willing to take the time and make the effort to be involved in your child's education.

Getting Parents Involved with Homework:
Easy Solutions to a 30 Minute Nightmare

There are few things more trying in life than completing a 30 minute homework assignment when your child has decided it's going to take at least 3 hours to complete the work. Distractions are abundant, and patience levels, after a long day at work or being a homemaker, are at a minimum.

When your child drags the assignment out, rather than lose your patience, try talking to your child about what his difficulties with completing the work in a timely fashion may be. Then pull up a chair, sit down, and pull out a sheet of paper with your child and get down to business. The fact that you're taking time out of your busy schedule to do homework with your child sends a strong message. It let's your child know and see that this responsibility is important. The benefits of completing the work are important, and the results of the time spent will be rewarding.

Another positive result of taking the time to sit down with your child during homework time is that their academic success becomes a joint effort. Your child will perceive a good grade on a test not only as a source of pride for his accomplishment, but as a reward for you as well for your investment in his success. Believe it or not, that's a huge stimulus for academic performance.

Finally, and as unbelievable as it sounds, even though the homework atmosphere may be rigid and tense, some children drag the process out to the eleventh hour for one simple reason. It may be as simple as a child enduring all the negatives for the positive experience of spending time with a parent. When all iss said and down, the 30 minute break from your hectic evening will translate into the elimination of hours and hours of struggles, anxiety, and stress

Making Homework Fun

	Make homework the first priority after school. Your child may beg and plead for 30 minutes of play, or a favorite cartoon show,...but stick to your guns. Your entire household will be happier once the homework is completed.
	Ask for a syllabus from your child's teacher. It's much easier to monitor your child's completion of assignments when your know what the assignments are.
	Try Classical Music. It really does work like a charm and easily creates an environment where concentration can be maximized.
	Create a competition between you, (yes you) and your child to see who can finish the assignment first. Believe it or not, this creates a lot of laughs for both you and your child. The competition aspect encourages your child to focus and work quickly which will ultimately help increase confidence and improve classroom performance.
	Try not to exile your child until homework is completed. Although children must learn that it is their responsibility to complete their assignments, sometimes they do need our help. Ask them to try the assignment on their own first. If they are still having difficulties then you can offer your help. For good study habits to be formed, learning needs to be a pleasant experience.
	Add incentives to getting the work completed in a timely fashion. A game of catch, a scoop of ice cream, or your reading a long story at bed time might do the trick.
	Search the web for tips from the experts. We've provided a few links to get you started.

Kidsource Online: How Much Homework Is Reasonable?

(excerpt) The National Parent-Teacher Association and the National Education Association recommend the following amounts of homework:

	Kindergarten to 3rd grade: Up to 20 minutes each day.
	4th - 6th grade: 20 to 40 minutes each day.
	7th - 12th grade: Generally up to 2 hours, but recommendations vary according to the type and number of subjects a student is taking.

How Can Parents Get Involved?

	Share any concerns you may have regarding the amount or type homework assigned with your child's teacher or principal.
	Encourage your child to take notes concerning homework assignments in case questions arise later at home.
	Provide a suitable study area and the necessary tools (for example, paper and books) to complete the homework assignments.
	Limit after-school activities to allow time for both homework and family activities.
	Monitor television viewing and establish a specific homework time.
	Plan a homework schedule with your child. Allow for free time when assignments are completed.
	Praise your child's efforts. If questions arise about the assignments, and your child asks for help, ask him or her questions or work through an example rather than simply providing the answer.
	Younger children need more parental assistance with homework than older children. Go over homework assignments with your child. Do several problems or questions together, then observe your child doing the next one or two.
	If your child is in elementary school, check completed assignments. At all levels, ask to look at homework once it has been marked and returned.
	Ask your child's teachers about their homework policy and specific assignments.

Civics and Government

THE OYEZ PROJECT: U.S. SUPREME COURT MULTIMEDIA

Database on major constitutional cases heard by the United States Supreme Court,
with multimedia resources including digital audio of oral arguments and delivery of the
Court's opinion.

Fact Monster.com
Laws & Rights

	Order in the Court
	When People Break The Law
	Laws to Know
	Know Your Rights
	You Have the Right
	Sexual Harassment

US Government

	Government Primer
	Presidents
	Elections
	Congress
	Supreme Court

Ben's Guide to US Government for Kids
North Valley.net: Kids and Government
University of Memphis, The University Libraries: Uncle Sam, Who's Who in the Federal Government
Grolier.com: The American Presidency
Profiles of former presidents and candidates, an overview of the electoral process, quizzes, video and audio clips.
Cornell University Law Dept: The Constitution of the US

Geography

Christmas Around the World

WorldView! - Christmas.com Around the World!

Christmas Around The World

Christmas traditions & customs round the world. How different ...

Kids Domain - Christmas Around the World

National Geographic.com kids:Homework Help

FactMonster.com

Holt Rinehart & Winston: World Atlas

Learner.org: The Power of Place- Geography for the 21st Century

World Fact Book 2002: Reference Maps

History

Fact Monster.com
Documents & Speeches

	The Mayflower Compact (1620)
	About the Articles of Confederation (1776)
	The Declaration of Independence
	U.S. Constitution
	Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
	The Emancipation Proclamation
	Seneca Falls Declaration (1848)
	The Statue of Liberty Poem
	Excerpt from Martin Luther King's “I Have a Dream” Speech
	The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
	The Star-Spangled Banner
	The Great Seal of the U.S.
	Amazing Amendments

Encyclopedia Britannica.com
Invent.org: National Inventors Hall of Fame
Distinguished Women.com: Distinguished Women Past & Present
Metropolitan Museum of Art
History Channel.com
Holt Researcher
National Geographic.com kids:Homework Help
The History Place.com
Internet Public Library: Stately Knowledge
US Library of Congress: Today in History
50States.com: Our 50 States
Internet Public Library: Presidents of the United States
Cornell University Law Dept: The Constitution of the US
Library of Congress: America's Story
FactMonster.com
SchoolhouseRock: America Rock
Early America.com Early America
University of Michigan: Spy Letters of the American Revolution (From the Clements Library)
PBS.org: Liberty! The American Revolution
Libary of Congress: Declaring Independence- Drafting the Documents
CIA.gov - World Fact Book 2002: Flags of the World
CIA.gov World Factbook Fact Search
School Discovery.com: American History Sites from Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educator's

Black History

National Park Service: Our Share Story - Celebrating
African American History and Culture National Parks and Historic Sites
Princeton University Education Dept: The Faces of Science- African Americans in the Sciences
Juneteenth.com Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery."
US Colored Troops in the Civil War

Math

Math Tools to Keep at Home

You’ll find it easier to support your child’s math instruction at home if you have the right tools. Here’s a list of math concepts and low-budget items to keep on hand to encourage your child’s learning:

Sorting, counting and estimating: Buttons, bottle caps, beans, macaroni, etc.
Decimals, fractions: Play money, coins and bills; measuring cups and spoons.
Time measurement: Clocks with movable hands (to measure minutes and hours, teach "early" and "late"), a stopwatch and calendars.
Number values and computation: Playing cards, dominoes and dice (also good for teaching probability), menus, egg cartons into which you can sort buttons, bottle caps, etc.
Linear measurement: Rulers, tape measures, string, yarn.
Standard and metric measurement: Funnels and calibrated pitchers, jars, cups and spoons.
Weight: Bathroom scale, postage scale, wire hangers (for balancing weights).
Geometry: Protractor, compass, pattern blocks and graph paper.
Multiplication/division: A calculator Source: United Federation of Teachers: