Challenge #3: Maintain an Effective Homework Routine
Aug 31, 2014 20:15:47 GMT 9
Post by Adam Beck on Aug 31, 2014 20:15:47 GMT 9

Unless your children receive substantial schooling or tutoring in the minority language, a daily homework routine can be the key to fostering steady growth in their reading and writing ability.
In my case, my two most important daily routines are reading aloud to my kids at breakfast (see Challenge #1: Read to Your Children Every Day) and maintaining an effective homework routine.
I realize that time is tight for busy families, but even 10 or 15 minutes a day, day after day, adds up significantly over the years. My own children have never been schooled or tutored in the minority language, yet their literacy level in English is just as high as their peers at international schools in Japan or schools in English-speaking countries. I largely credit this progress to our daily homework routine. (Above is a small example of my 7-year-old son's writing.)
To date, I've written two very detailed posts about our homework routine. If you haven't seen them, please take a look: I think you'll find a helpful model for establishing and maintaining an effective homework routine of your own, whatever your target language. (And if that language is English, the resources I cite could be useful to you, too.)
Secrets of a Successful Homework Routine, Part 1
Secrets of a Successful Homework Routine, Part 2
Your challenge this time is to read these two posts carefully, then either create or strengthen your own homework routine. How will you organize and sustain this daily routine? What resources will you use? What tasks will you assign your children? Will you sit alongside them during this time, or go over the work together afterward?
Then please tell us about your homework routine! What exactly are you doing with your kids? Are you still facing any challenges in terms of sustaining or improving your routine?
Give this challenge your best effort--an effective homework routine is an important part of your long-term success!