Van Buren - News

Meet the New Principal

How to motivate your student to successfully complete homework

Homework becomes a topic of conversation at the beginning of the school year. Some students can easily complete the work in the time allocated for their grade level, yet others can stretch it to up to four hours. If you child truly does not understand the concepts, please let the teacher know. Otherwise, it may help to help your child learn to be self-motivated. Students in grades 4-6 not completing their homework will be issued a green HOT (HOMEWORK OPPORTUNITY TICKET) ticket and will be given the opportunity to complete their work at recess under the supervision of an upper grade teacher.

Many forms of motivation are instinctive. When we're hungry, we're motivated to seek food; when we're in danger, it's natural to flee. But the motivation to succeed and achieve is not inborn; it is learned, and much of that learning takes place at home.

For sure, motivation has a lot to do with attitude. But it's easier for a child to have the right attitude if he or she has learned the necessary skills. For example, a child has to learn how to set challenging, realistic goals. A child also has to learn how to set high standards for his or her work. To a large degree, children learn these skills by watching and talking to their parents and other family members. Whenever you talk to your child about a personal goal that you have and how you plan to achieve it, you are serving as a model for your child and you are motivating him or her to follow your example.

But setting goals isn't very productive unless your child also has the skill that author and educator Eric W. Johnson calls "stick-to-itiveness." So many children, and adults as well, are goal-setters with great intentions, but have very poor follow-through. They don't stick with it till their goals are achieved. Here are suggestions based on Mr. Johnson's most recent work that could help you strengthen your child's stick-to-itiveness.

* DIVIDE TASKS INTO MANAGEABLE PIECES

Children often lose interest in their goals because they fail to see progress being made. But if a major goal is broken into intermediate goals, this problem is avoided. For example, if your child is planning a party, he or she may first list the things that need to be done: schedule the time, make out a guest list, send out invitations, plan the menu, plan the decorations, etc. If each of these tasks is seen as an individual goal, a sense of accomplishment can be achieved as each mini-goal is reached. Drawing a large check on the list as each goal is reached can enhance that sense of accomplishment.

* BE GOOD TO YOURSELF

Encourage your child to promise him- or herself a reward (a reading or TV break, a refreshment break or whatever is appropriate) as each mini-goal is reached.

* BUILD A SCHEDULE

Too many goals go unachieved because the time was never found to do the necessary work. Help your child establish a schedule for all his or her responsibilities. As new goals are set, they should be written into the schedule.

* REMEMBER PAST SUCCESSES

If your child shows signs of becoming discouraged, recharge the motivation batteries by reminding him or her of past achievements. Also, encourage your child to think of how great it will feel when the goal is reached. Without overdoing it, you may also ask your child to think of how it will feel if the goal isn't achieved.