homework assistance miami

homework assistance miami

Enhancing Academic Success: A Comprehensive Guide to Homework Assistance in Miami

1. Introduction to Homework Assistance

Homework is also an academic necessity as students are provided with practice in time management, leading to increased independence. Students should begin to appreciate and take responsibility for their own learning. The school, student, and parent place a strong emphasis on the student’s need to work effectively during homework time. The content and structure of homework for elementary school students should reflect this philosophy. Parents cannot delegate their role in the education of their children totally to schools. The time spent interacting in the homework process is a valuable tool for effective communication between parents and children.

In today’s world, the question of academic success is indeed an important issue for our children. Schools place a strong emphasis on academic success, and the need to keep current with other children is further intensified by a competitive environment for entry into prestigious schools beginning from Pre-K and continuing through high school. The Miami-Dade Public Schools has devoted substantial resources to the improvement of education, making a special effort in the area of Parent School Community Relations. Miami-Dade County has identified the need for a support system that will enhance the elementary student’s academic success.

2. Available Resources and Programs in Miami

On-site School-Age Child Care Programs: Some after-school child care programs have a special room and staff to help school-age children do their homework. The children go to this room first thing after school, complete their homework with help available from the staff, and then join the “regular” program. Some also provide support during the summer. Cost-effective and convenient, this arrangement is a plus for many families. The program can hire a certified teacher specifically for this purpose.

On-site Educational Help: Some universities offer programs, often housed in their education department, to provide after-school or weekend assistance to children who are having trouble in school, particularly in reading and math. In addition to tutoring, such programs might help children prepare final reports and papers, serve as library and research resources, or assist with college and testing applications. The university students gain valuable training in education or social work, while the children receive individual attention. The coordination of care and monitoring provided by such a program is an added bonus.

3. Effective Study Strategies and Time Management Techniques

One way to approach the study of homework is to study under various different or changing physical conditions. For example, the student may be supported in ideal conditions or in conditions that are somewhat aversive. The following study strategies have been demonstrated to be effective: (a) variation of reinforcement or changing what is reinforced (example: using a timer, study under preferred conditions until timer goes off, and use additional reinforcers as time increases) thereby likely to increase a response rate, i.e., speed, (b) modifying or eliminating distracting or aversive conditions, (c) focusing on or eliminating the amount of time spent on the study, (d) eliminating overactive, negative, or inappropriate behaviors are equally effective. These simple strategies require minimal supervision and can optimally be effectuated independently by the student.

Time management during study can also be facilitated by breaking the study period into two major sections: the Ante (before) Section and the Post (after) Section. The Ante Section is the time devoted to the actual study task. The Ante Section is divided into four subsections: planning the study, active study time, organizing study environment, and reflecting on study effort. Planning requires that the student is aware and can prioritize what homework or study task should be done and when. Planning requires active problem-solving skills using short- and long-term semantic or procedural memory. This means that the student must be able to produce a study plan when he or she needs to study and specify the goals the plan will address. These goals may be: “I want to be able to write two meaningful paragraphs,” or “I want to focus on understanding the summary and purpose of the chapter.” By specifying the need when planning, the student will maximize the learning experience. In addition, while planning, a quick check of environmental factors present can be made or changed. Is the lighting adequate? Is there space to move around?

One of the primary obstacles to effective homework completion or study is ineffective time management. This refers to either personal or academic activities. When time is not used efficiently, all tasks take longer to complete. This leads to longer periods of study or specific study tasks and adds to procrastination when the student perceives that his or her break has been short. One way to facilitate time management techniques is to categorize tasks by specific types such as immediate or long-term tasks to facilitate planning and pacing study.

4. Building a Supportive Learning Environment

A consistent schedule and some pace during that time can be valuable. For some children, a half-hour TV break, for example, between when they get home and after dinner can keep energy up. This is a useful break (as long as they are not forbidden to stop doing their homework to watch a favorite show). Some children work best after dinner, if that is their time of lowest exhaustion. Make it clear how much you value school and what your expectations are for academic performance.

A supportive home environment is vital for children to be ready to learn. On those critical days when parents are working late or struggling to make ends meet, your assistance can prevent homework from standing in the way of learning. Suggest that students’ homework time be slow and maybe even sacred time, with as many distractions as possible eliminated. Younger siblings are probably the biggest distraction, so if possible, suggest that students do their homework in a separate room. Only minimal interference, such as a snack or a question about the assignment, should be tolerated.

5. Conclusion and Future Directions

It is through the practice of skills such as organization and time management – even in the challenging context of handling daily homework – that children and young adults acquire the confidence to approach any question or problem, tolerate ambiguity or uncertainty, and work through to a solution. It is through their study skills that students discover the exhilarating experience of applying effort and succeeding. It is through daily homework completion that concentration, written expression, and other pivotal processing skills improve, thus contributing to the avid curiosity necessary to become a lifelong learner. Everyday practice then is the first step in motivating and maintaining intrinsic interest in the learner. Each day then is the occasion for learning, and the direct reward for good homework is immediate success. The true key to the success of our educational system then relies on a child’s ever-building desire to learn and excel. With each child’s inherent qualities as the foundation, practice with a well-taught teacher that extends beyond the school day becomes the frame for the development of a strong building.