• Find a quiet spot in the home for your children to work - or turn off the TV or music to make it quiet.
  
  
• Pick a location that is close enough for them to ask you or another family member questions about their assignment.
  
  
• Model your expectations by reading, paying bills or engaging in any kind of quiet activity while your child is doing homework.
  
  
• Ask to see the finished homework

If your child often seems confused or unsure about homework assignments, contact the teacher by phoning or sending a note.

The Parent's Role in Supporting Homework
Parents wear several different hats when it comes to getting kids to do homework.  This trick is to know what hat to wear when!

1. Be a stage manager. Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework. Make sure the needed materials (paper, pencils, dictionary) are available.
   
   
2. Be a motivator. Homework provides a great opportunity for you to tell your child how important school is. Be positive about homework. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires.
   
   
3. Be a role model. When your child does homework, don’t sit and watch TV. If your child is reading, you read too. If your child is doing math, balance your checkbook. Help your child see that the skills they are practicing are related to things you do as an adult.
   
   
4. Be a monitor. Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration. If your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers. If frustration sets in, suggest a short break.
   
   
5. Be a mentor. When the teacher asks that you play a role in homework, do it. If homework is meant to be done alone, stay away. Homework is a great way for kids to develop independent, life-long learning skills. Over-involvement can be a bad thing.

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NEAT has adapted A Student-Centered Approach to Accountability to help you learn more about the Roles & Responsibilities of students and parents.