The Homework Chain Doing one's homework may be more complicated than you thought! Many parents don't realize that there are many steps involved in doing homework. As ADDIADHD workshop leader ‘and author John F. Taylor, Ph.D. pains out, a student must compte all of the folowing steps in order to sucessfully complate a homework assignment. Mr. Taylor calls tis series of steps "The Homework Chain.” PParenis can help by identifying and improving week inks tthe chain. 41) Realize an assignment is being given 2) Understand what the assignment is 3) Record the assignment accurately 4) Understand exactly how fo do the assignment 5) Remember to bring the corroct books or other materials home 6) Actually ane at home wit those materials (not leave at a friend's house, ec.) 7) Begin homework and complet iin @ reasonable ime © Manage interruptions (phone, doorbel, sibings) © Piorize work being done © Identity if work neads tobe done in a certain order Be able to access materials needed to complete the homework (computer, dictionary, ‘calculator, pan ar pene, paper, et.) © Keep attention focused long enough to completa assignment '8) Check nomawork for completeness, accuracy, and nestness 9) Aska parentto review it 10) Put completed homework in place (2, homework pocket in binder or backpack) so wll remember It the next day 11) Take completed work ta school 12) Arrive in class with homework (not leftin parents car, bus or locker) 13) Tumin homework oss Ne Parents can help ther kids manage their homework assignments ina varity of ways. First, observe your child and see Ifyou can discaverthe stronger and weaker Inks in their "nomework chai this wil tll you where to intervene, Ifyou dont kaw what the problem is, make sure you tak to your child's teacher. Also dont forget to tak to your chia: walk him tough the steps helshe needs to do to fully complete his assignments, make sre he understands each step, and find out whare helshe tends to have trouble. Then, wh your chi, figure ‘out ways to help hinvherstrangthan that link For example, i helshe sometimes doesn't seem to know when an assignment is given or wha the assignment is then ask the teacher to writs down his assignments orto get him a “study buddy’ from his class. Or if your child does hismher homework but somehow seems to forget to take ito schoo, then establish a pocket in Fisther backpack oral homework assignments, and check i with her each night before she goes to bed tensuring the homework is there. Pat of your job a8 a parent isto watch for your chi’ strengths and ‘weaknesses, applaud the strengths, and work wth your child to igure out creative strategies that wil help Finer learn how o improve ther weak areas, \Who would have thought doing homework could be so dificult? And we are not even taking ‘about the assignmant sell As we have seen, there isso much more involved in ding ‘one's homework than just fishing the assignment