Site Meter Parenting Teens » Blog Archive » Homework Helper-Helping Teens Study

Homework Helper-Helping Teens Study

by Gayle

1book6-thumb1.jpg

This week’s Homework Helper is not a website, but a tip-something it’s sometimes easy to forget with teenagers. Despite being older, crankier, ignoring you, and driving you crazy-they do still need help with homework sometimes!

It isn’t always easy to help them at this age. Believe me, I know. My teenage daughter is a math whiz. Just the sight of the problems in her textbooks makes me cringe. My helping her with math is out of the question. If she needs help with her math (which, being a proud parent, I can say she rarely does), she turns to her stepdad or my brother. My brother majored in physics and his entire job involves sitting at a computer and working calculations all day-but that’s another story!

However, I do help my daughter with writing essays, studying for tests, etc. We have a lot of fun with history, which we both enjoy, and with literature. We compare notes on stories and the meanings we both got out of them.

Sometimes, one of the most difficult parts of helping a teen with homework is, simply, getting them to talk with you about it! During the teen years, they don’t want to share a lot about their lives with you at times-plus they think their own parents have GOT to be some of the dumbest people on earth, and what could they possibly know about this stuff!

One of the most fundamental things to remember is to show an interest in your teen’s homework. This means not just asking them if they’ve started it or finished it yet! Talk with them about their assignments and what’s going on in their classes. If they have projects, ask if you can help them shop for the supplies they need. If you share a common interest in a particular subject, discuss it often, outside of the context of homework. It can be a great way for you and your teen to get to know each other better.

If they have a test coming up, help them study. Sit down and help them make a study outline. Or help them make flashcards. Then you can ask questions and they can answer. Or, take a page from “Jeopardy” and give them the answer, then have them come up with the question.

Just remember that the need for homework help doesn’t stop with teenagers. They often need it more, especially if they’re looking to get into a particular college or career and need to keep their grades up. Helping teens with homework can be a good learning experience for both of you.

, , , , , , , ,


Leave a Reply


About Parenting Teens

Parenting Teens is a fun and informational site dealing with the joys and challenges of parenting teenagers. As well as serious news dealing with topics such as health and education, we also write about the fun stuff. Check with us often for discussion, news and advice about parenting today's teens.

Parenting Teens Author(s)
    » Lessa

Blogging Flair

Parenting Teens Blog - now Featured on
Alltop, confirmation that I kick ass

Parenting & Family Channel Posts

  • Go vote - I know it is different, but it is very much the same
    I know that I have changed the blog format some and as of late I've spent a lot of time raging about my own's public school experience.  But, I am trying to get back to the basics here which is [...]
  • Homeschoolers Delight
    This is a great tale of learning about spiders, a trip to the zoo and you got it, no public school in sight. Technorati Tags: homeschooling,homeschool,public [...]
  • What are your kids eating today?
    We've all heard stories of a friend who was in Wal-Mart and witnessed a seven-year old using a pacifier and a one-year old with a bottle full of Coke. Some of us prefer to feed our kids as much [...]
  • Angelina's breastfeeding cover
    And here it is, the oh-so shocking W Magazine cover featuring Angelina breastfeeding one of her twins. The internet is abuzz with people asking questions like, "Is it tasteful or too revealing?" [...]
  • Ministry
    With so many options for ministry and reaching out to others with the Gospel; helping others with their physical needs, such as food and clothing, giving time to help at a nursing home, doing [...]
  • Three Reasons To Homeschool
    I have a guest poster writing this for me.  Remember all the whining over TMJ and sinus's and the like, people felt sorry for me.  Now, before you read this guest post from Luke Holzmann, [...]
  • Blogging will get the job done..
    I've blogged for a while.  I've been featured in the local paper and on a blog or two, a website or two but my blogging has never led me to anything like this next exchange...until now. Last [...]
  • AFO
    Tony got his AFO (Ankle Foot Orthotic) yesterday for his Posteromedial Bowing of the Tibia. It seemed to fit pretty well, and, in his usual Tony way, he seemed to take it in stride…no pun intended. [...]
  • Just For The Record...
    I've been reading the second part of The Case Against Homework by Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish.  And, after sitting in the neurologist office for 4 and a half hours today, you can figure, I [...]
  • This seems like another one of my weird issues
    My son comes home from school and immediately I put him on his feet playing.  Go play, play outside?  Ok, let's go.  Play at Nanny's?  Sure, if she's home.  Play in your [...]

Hot Off The Press

  • Back in Action
    Scene: At our favourite local coffee shop. Mr. JM and I are sitting across from each other, he reading the newspaper and I thinking about various things as I stir my chai. In our hurry to get there [...]
  • Go vote - I know it is different, but it is very much the same
    I know that I have changed the blog format some and as of late I've spent a lot of time raging about my own's public school experience.  But, I am trying to get back to the basics here which is [...]
  • Pop Culture Buzz Turns 2 Years Old!
    CLICK HERE TO READ MY VERY FIRST POSTING! I WANT TO THANK ALL MY READERS AND 451 PRESS FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN DOING WHAT I LOVE! ENJOY THE MUSIC, NEWS, REVIEWS AND MORE....SPREAD [...]
  • Halo 3: Recon - Some Facts
    Halo 3: Recon won't be out for a very long time yet, but that doesn't stop Halo fans from wanting to know every last detail about the game. I've got some quick facts for you with my thoughts [...]
  • Out and about…
    Britney Spears lunched in the sun at Chateau Marmont in LA Tuesday, taking a break from the dance studio to relax. It’s definitely a good time to relax, what with the single Womanizer at number one [...]
  • Halloween Bags
    This year instead of just handing out candy for Halloween, I have decided to make these Halloween bags to house the sweet treats. We really go overboard with Halloween candy and found the parents [...]
  • Palin Boo'd Before Dropping the Ball (or Puck)
    As we told you last week, Sarah Palin was invited by the owner of the Philadelphia Flyers to drop the ceremonial first puck at the Flyers' season opener this past weekend. How did it go for [...]
  • The View Schedule for October 13th-17th
    Here is the schedule for The View for October 13-17th, subject to change: MONDAY, OCT. 13 - "Day of Hot Topics"; musical guest T.I. TUESDAY, OCT. 14 - Jim Cramer; Paula Deen (author, "My First [...]
  • Oops, sis did it again!
    Or did she? That all depends on which tabloid magazine cover you believe this week! First up, we have OK Magazine, where Jamie Lynn’s baby daddy speaks up to talk about the rumors about his [...]
  • Hi There!
    My name is Lessa, and I’ll be taking over Britney Spears watch for a while! Please bear with us while we get things reset and ready to go (including the name change. *L*). I’ll do my best to get [...]