• Reading Textbooks & Understanding Homework (from Education News)
    Studying
    READING TEXTBOOKS
    In the fourth grade, children are expected to do more reading on their own from their textbooks. They are also expected to remember and use the information from their books. These new demands may be challenging for fourth graders. Here are some ways you can help at home.
     
    1. Talk about how your child feels about studying mathematics, science, or social studies. Some children dislike a particular subject or are afraid they will fail at it. They have heard, perhaps, that mathematics or science is "hard" and assume they will not be able to learn it. Listen to your child and assure him or her that help will be given to ensure success.
     
    2. Help your child to understand the purpose of studying these subjects. So often, children are confused with the purpose of learning certain things because they don't see how those things fit in their world. As much as possible, tie what your child is learning about in school to real life. Some ways of doing this are:
    ~ Let your child participate in household activities, especially those related to mathematics, science, or social studies. You might have your child help you to measure a room, plant a garden, care for a pet, plan and prepare a meal, recycle bottle and cans, or put together a photo album of a visit to a historical setting.
    ~ Watch television programs or videos that relate to school content and are of interest to your child.
     
    3. Try to make nonfiction material available in your home. You can borrow nonfiction books on topics that your child is interested in from the library. Children at this age like to read books that tell how to make things. Biographies and autobiographies are good choices as well. Magazines are sometimes more appealing to children than books. You might be able to check them out from your library.
     
    Understanding Homework
    Fourth grade can bring changes in the amount and difficulty of homework. Help your child understand that there are benefits to doing homework by explaining some of the reasons teachers assign it.
     
    1. Homework provides practice for school learning. Homework reinforces what was learned at school. It can help both students and teachers determine whether new information was understood.
     
    2. Homework can encourage students' creativity. Some children don't choose to show their creativity while in the classroom. At home, they can explore new ideas in their own creative, individual ways.
     
    3. Homework helps students be independent and responsible. At home, children must manage their own time. They must figure out how long it will take to complete an assignment and then how much time they will have for recreational activities.
     
    How Your Family Can Help Your Fourth Grader:
    ~ Let your child work on homework alone. Provide guidance when needed. Try to help by showing your child how to think through the task. Do not do the work.
    ~ Help you child understand that homework is her or her responsibility. Remind your child about homework, but try not to nag. If your child fails to manage his or her time and doesn't get the homework done, then allow him or her to take the consequences.
    ~ As much as possible, provide your child with a well-lit, quiet place to do homework.
    ~Ask questions that can help your child. For example:
    Do you understand what to do?
    Do you have the materials you need to complete the homework?
    Are there any words you don't know?
    At what point in the assignment did you become confused~
Last Modified on August 13, 2013